Kamakura & Enoshima Private Tour: Great Buddha & Shrines

The Great Buddha, four temples and shrines, and a nostalgic train ride to the coast

A private half-day tour of Kamakura and Enoshima with a live English guide, visiting Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hase-dera Temple, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, and Enoshima Island. Your guide explains samurai history, Buddhist beliefs, and local culture at each stop. The tour includes entrance fees and runs about five hours with flexible pacing suited to your group alone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine45m
2. Great Buddha of Kamakura45m · entry included

Explore Kamakura and Enoshima highlights

• Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
• Travel by train to Enoshima Island
• Walk and explore Enoshima Island
• Visit Hase-dera Temple and gardens
• See the Great Buddha of Kamakura

The experience

The tour opens at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura's most important Shinto shrine and the spiritual center of the city. Your guide walks you through the grand approach and shrine grounds, explaining samurai history and the role this shrine played in shaping Kamakura's identity. From there, you travel by the Enoden railway, a nostalgic local train, to Enoshima Island, a small coastal destination known for sea views, historic shrines, and lively shopping streets where your guide shares stories about the island's history and culture.

The route then takes you to Hase-dera Temple, famous for its peaceful gardens and the statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. You walk the temple grounds and learn about Buddhist traditions and seasonal practices before the tour concludes at Kotoku-in Temple, where you see the Great Buddha of Kamakura: one of Japan's most recognizable bronze statues. Your guide explains its history and significance as a symbol of Japanese Buddhism.

Because this is a private tour, the pace and stops are flexible. Your guide adjusts to your group's interests and energy. Entrance fees to all temples and shrines are included, as is the train fare to Enoshima. The five-hour duration leaves room for lingering at sites that matter most to you, and the small group size means you move without the crowds that gather at these popular landmarks.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all four temples and shrines.
• Enoden railway fare to Enoshima Island.
• live English-speaking guide for the full five hours.
• flexible pacing and route adjustments based on your group's interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteJP¥ 710

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your group wants to move at its own pace without other travelers slowing you down or competing for space at the shrines. The private guide and included entrance fees mean you skip the logistics of buying tickets separately and navigating the sites alone.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Great Buddha of Kamakura actually like when you stand in front of it?

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a massive bronze statue housed at Kotoku-in Temple, one of Japan's most famous Buddhist monuments. Your guide explains its history and meaning as a symbol of Japanese Buddhism, and you have time to view it and the temple grounds at the end of the tour.

Does the tour include the train ride to Enoshima, or do I pay for that separately?

The Enoden railway fare to Enoshima Island is included in the tour price. You travel by this nostalgic local train as part of the route, and your guide accompanies you and shares stories about the island along the way.

How much walking is involved over the five hours?

The tour involves moderate walking across four temple and shrine sites, plus walking through Enoshima Island's streets and viewpoints. The operator notes that travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Your private guide can adjust the pace and stops to match your group's comfort.

Can the guide adjust the itinerary if my group wants to spend more time at one site?

Yes. Because this is a private tour, the pace and stops are flexible. Your guide tailors the experience to your group's interests, so you can linger at temples, shrines, or Enoshima as long as you'd like within the five-hour window.

What does entrance to the temples and shrines cost, and is it included?

All entrance fees to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hase-dera Temple, and Kotoku-in Temple are included in the tour price. You do not pay separately at each site.