Kamakura Private Tour with Licensed Guide & Driver

Walk temple grounds and shrine paths while a guide explains the samurai and Buddhist history behind each one

A private 10-hour guided tour of Kamakura with a licensed local guide and air-conditioned vehicle, letting you pick 4 to 6 stops from temples, the Great Buddha, Enosima island and Yokohama. The guide speaks English, Spanish, French, Russian and three other languages; pickup is included, and you choose which sites to visit after booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kamakura and Yokohama highlights

• Visit Great Buddha of Kamakura
• Enjoy bamboo grove and matcha tea
• Explore Hasedera Temple gardens
• Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
• Walk along Komachi Street shopping
• Visit Kencho-ji Zen Temple
• Visit Engaku-ji Temple and café
• See blue hydrangeas at Meigetsu-in
• Visit income-increasing Shinto shrine
• Explore Jomyo-ji Temple gardens
• Photo stop at famous railroad crossing
• Visit Minato Mirai 21 area
• Tour traditional Japanese garden
• Explore Enoshima Island attractions
• Enjoy panoramic view from Landmark Tower
• Relax at Yamashita Park
• View Yokohama Minato Mirai area
• Visit English Garden scenic point
• Stop at Yokohama Chinatown
• Visit Cup Noodle Museum
• Explore Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

The Experience

Kamakura's temples and shrines anchor the day. You'll see the Great Buddha—a 13.5-meter bronze statue of Amida Buddha standing in the open air, the only national treasure in Kamakura—and can enter inside the statue itself for a small additional fee. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, dedicated to the god of war and the samurai, sits at the center of the old town. The guide will walk you through the grounds and explain the history as you move between sites, so the day builds as a narrative rather than a checklist.

Which temples you visit depends on what you choose after booking. Hasedera Temple is known for seasonal flowers—cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in late May through June, maple leaves in autumn—and holds a 9.18-meter-tall gilded wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Hokokuji Temple (also called Takedera) has the most beautiful bamboo grove in Kamakura and serves matcha green tea and Japanese sweets in a teahouse overlooking it. Engaku-ji is the second-ranking Zen temple, famous for its large gate and bell, with a café inside the compound. Meigetsuin draws crowds for its blue hydrangeas and the circular window in the main hall that frames the garden. The guide can advise you on which ones fit your interests once you've booked.

In the afternoon, you can add Enosima island—steeped in legends and dotted with hidden shrines—or shift to Yokohama, where the Landmark Tower offers a panoramic view from 273 meters high, the Red Brick Warehouses provide shopping and dining, and the Cup Noodles Museum lets you learn the history of instant ramen and make your own bowl. A photogenic railroad crossing with the sea in the background, used in the opening of the anime "Slam Dunk," is a short photo stop if you want it. The van is air-conditioned, bottled water is provided, and fuel, tolls and parking are covered. The tour runs 10 hours, and the price stays the same whether you use the vehicle for all of it or arrange your own transport for part of the day.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned private vehicle (van) and bottled water.
• fuel, highway tolls and parking fees.
• licensed local guide in your choice of language.
• pickup from your hotel or location.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Japan Star Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who knows Kamakura's history and can explain the temples and shrines as you walk through them, rather than navigating on your own. The private vehicle and guide let you move at your own pace between sites and skip the ones that don't interest you—you pick 4 to 6 stops from a longer list after you've booked, so the day fits what you actually want to see.

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Top questions

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

The Great Buddha is a 13.5-meter bronze statue of Amida Buddha standing in the open air—it's the only national treasure in Kamakura. You can enter inside the statue's body for a small fee (200 yen admission, 20 yen to go inside).

Can I choose which temples and sites to visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

You choose your stops after booking. The tour includes around 4 to 6 sites from a list of temples, shrines, and attractions in Kamakura, Enosima and Yokohama. The guide will advise you on which ones suit your interests once you've reserved.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide is a licensed local expert who speaks English, Spanish, French, Russian and three additional languages.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but the guide can suggest restaurants and make stops at places like Yokohama's Chinatown or the Cup Noodles Museum (where you can make and eat your own bowl) if you want to eat during the day.

Does the tour include entry to the temples and attractions?

Entry fees to individual sites are not included in the tour price. Each temple and attraction charges a small admission (ranging from 200 to 700 yen per person), which you pay separately when you visit.

What if I want to visit Enosima island instead of Yokohama, or do both?

You can choose your route after booking. The guide will help you plan whether to spend the afternoon on Enosima island, Yokohama, or split time between both, depending on your interests and how many stops you want to make.