Kamakura Private Tour with Local Guide: Great Buddha & Temples

Walk through torii gates, climb stone steps to shrine views, and sit in a bamboo grove with matcha tea.

A full-day private tour of Kamakura with an English-speaking guide, starting at Kamakura Station and covering four core landmarks within walking distance: the 11-meter Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine with its grand approach, Hokokuji Temple's bamboo grove, and Komachi Street's cafes and shops. You choose between public transportation for the central route or a private vehicle that adds Enoshima Island, a 15–20 minute drive away, where you can visit Enoshima Shrine and see the island cliffs. The itinerary can be adjusted to fit your interests within the allotted time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Great Buddha of Kamakura45m
2. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine1h

Explore Kamakura's landmarks and shopping

• Meet at Kamakura Station
• Visit Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple
• Walk through Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
• Relax in bamboo grove at Hokokuji Temple
• Enjoy matcha tea at Hokokuji Temple
• Shop and eat on Komachi Street

The experience

You meet your guide at Kamakura Station and spend the day moving between four sites all within 5km of the city center. The Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple is an 11-meter bronze statue that has stood for over 750 years, surviving typhoons and tsunamis. You'll have time to walk around it and feel the scale of the thing. From there you head to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura's main Shinto shrine, where you walk through grand torii gates and climb stone steps that open onto a view of the city and the Dankazura approach below.

Hokokuji Temple, known as the Bamboo Temple, holds over 2,000 bamboo stalks in a grove thick enough to feel like a separate world. You have the option to sit down and drink matcha tea while you're there, turning the quiet into something you can taste. The tour finishes on Komachi Street, a busy shopping lane packed with cafes, craft shops and street food like seafood crackers and matcha ice cream, so you can grab something to eat or pick up a souvenir before heading back.

The choice between public transportation and a private vehicle changes what you can fit in. Public transport keeps you to the four central stops and works well if you want to move at a slower pace or explore the neighborhoods between them. A private vehicle covers the same four sites and adds Enoshima Island, which sits 15–20 minutes away by car. There you can visit Enoshima Shrine and walk the island cliffs. Because you're working with a guide who knows the area, the route can shift if something catches your interest or if you want to spend more time at one stop.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• public transportation or private vehicle (your choice at checkout).
• access to all four core sites in central Kamakura.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour using public transportGuide in English · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Public transport

Tour using a private vehicleGuide in English · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Private vehicle

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to2d before

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel Japan Together Tokyo

Is this one for you?Choose public transportation if you want to move at a relaxed pace and explore the neighborhoods between stops. Pick the private vehicle option if Enoshima Island's shrine and cliffs are on your list and you'd rather not navigate the route yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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

The Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple is an 11-meter bronze statue of Amida Buddha that has survived typhoons and tsunamis for over 750 years. It sits outdoors, so you can walk around it and see the scale and detail up close, and the age of the thing is visible in the patina and the way it's held up.

Can I add Enoshima Island to the tour?

Yes, Enoshima Island is available as a paid upgrade when you choose the private vehicle option. It's a 15–20 minute drive from central Kamakura, and you can visit Enoshima Shrine and see the island cliffs while you're there.

How do I get around Kamakura on this tour?

You choose between public transportation, which covers the four central sites within 5km of the station, or a private vehicle, which covers the same four stops and adds Enoshima Island. All the core attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Is there food included on the tour?

Lunch is not included, but the tour ends at Komachi Street, a shopping lane full of cafes and street food vendors where you can eat before heading back. You also have the option to drink matcha tea at Hokokuji Temple's bamboo grove.

Can the itinerary be changed if I want to spend more time somewhere?

Yes, the itinerary can be adjusted within the allotted time based on your interests. Your guide knows the area and can work with you to shift the route or spend longer at a stop you want to linger at.