Kamakura

Kamakura trip ideas

Kamakura Half Day Walking Tour with Kotokuin Great Buddha

Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura Walking Tour Explore Nature and History

5 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Per group

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Overview

Experience the shrines and temples of Kamakura, one of Japan’s most prominent religious centers, on a 5-hour walking tour. In a small group limited to 10 people, you’ll visit historical sites such as Tokei-ji Temple, Jochi-ji Temple, and Genji-yama Park, while learning about the foundations of Buddhism and Shintoism. Plus, you’ll marvel at Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura), a 47-foot (14-meter) Buddha statue that dates back to the 13th century.

Enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city
Flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences
Informative, friendly and professional guide
Step back in time on a history tour
Soak up the atmosphere on a walking tour

What's Included

Professional guide
Landing and facility fees

Food and drink
Public transportation
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Kita-Kamakura Station
Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062, Japan
Your guide will waiting for you at the west exit of Kita-Kamakura station.

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

Hase Station
2 Chome-14 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
The tour end at Hase station. Usually, the guide accompanies by Kamakura station.

What To Expect

Jochiji Temple

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Kamakura Hiking Trails

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ugafuku Shrine ( Goddess of Money Washing)

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sasuke Inari Shrine

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Hase-dera Temple

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Yuigahama Beach

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level

Please add 4000 yen per person to the tour price for hotel pick up
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Tour duration can be extended at a rate of 1,000 yen per person, per half hour, payable in cash.
You will walk at least 5 km including a mountain pass. So please wear shoes that are easy to walk in.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

95 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 95 reviews

Great tour, even with rain!

Elizabeth_J, Apr 2024

Yumi was an excellent guide and we had a fantastic experience despite relatively constant rain. The temples and shrines are beautiful and it was great to learn more about them as well as Japanese history and culture. Thank you to Yumi for a lovely day!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you so much for the positive feedback! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Yumi. We hope to be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future! Best regards, Mariko

Excellent experience be prepared to walk!

Reshma_R, Mar 2024

Excellent Tour. We washed our money and saw both the inside and outside of Great Buddha. Our guide was very informative. This tour is a lot of walking uphill. My daughter had a banged up knee and we had to take Taxi and missed the hike which while uphill and long appeared to be very beautiful and peaceful. I am sorry to have missed it. However, our guide accommodated us admirably and we were still able to make it to the main sites. A big thank you to her for being so wonderful. I will update once I remember her name.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time write this review, it really means a lot to us! We are a small company, so every feedback is extremely helpful. I hope we'll be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future! Best regards, Mariko

Great walking tour in Kamakura

Katie_J, Mar 2024

We had a wonderful time with our guide, Teiko, on this tour! We saw beautiful shrines and temples and Teiko provided us with background information on these spots that we otherwise would not have known. I would recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you so much for the positive feedback! We are so glad to hear that you　enjoyed learning about the history of Kamakura with Teiko. 　 We hope to be able to help you explore Japan even more in the future! Best regards, Mariko

Amazing tour guide and city!

JAZMINE_W, Dec 2023

We were a group of three and we took a day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura. Our wonderful tour guide (and new friend) Yumi, was so amazing! She’s incredibly sweet, knowledgeable and has such a kind spirit. My son is on the autism spectrum and I informed her ahead of time that he may need frequent breaks if he gets overwhelmed. She was so understanding and went out of her way to help accommodate him and he really took a liking to her. We loved the temples, the beach, the shops, the train, the food, the people, the Great Buddha and more! We’re already talking about planning our next visit! We’d love to have her as a guide again and recommend her to everyone we know!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you so much for this lovely review! I am really glad that you were able to enjoy your tour the the fullest with Yumi. We are so lucky to have her in our team. When you'll come back to Japan, we'll make sure that she will be your guide again! Best regards, Monica

We had an enjoyable tour...

Nathan_S, Nov 2023

We had an enjoyable tour of Kamakura with our fantastic guide Teiko. Although we had a rainy day, we were able to get around by bus and on foot to see all the shrines and temples without any problems. Teiko was great at explaining the history and significance of each location and even taught us a little about Buddhism and Shintoism.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Valued Custom, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review! We are glad that we were able to help you explore Kamakura and that our guide's passion and detailed explanation added depth the experience. I hope that we will be able to help you explore Japan again soon! Best regards, Monica

A walk through the mountain trail

Bryce_D, Jun 2023

Yu was a great guide and we enjoyed our tour. It was nice to get away from downtown Tokyo to experience some nature and a number of beautiful shrines. Yu booked a great restaurant for lunch and helped us back to the station at the conclusion of the tour. You will need to be prepared to walk but it is worth it!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your feedback regarding your tour with Yu. We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed exploring the nature and beautiful shrines outside of downtown Tokyo. If you have any further travel plans or require any assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to assist you again. Regards, Mariko

The best guide ever!!

Sarah_S, Apr 2023

Yu went above and beyond to personalize our tour and ensure everything was perfect for us. She made a reservation at a lunch place where we enjoyed cooking on a grill, hibachi style, and it was so lovely. I tripped on the sidewalk and Lu took care of everything to ensure I was cared for as if I had my Mom with me… she truly was amazing. We absolutely loved the tour and Yu!!!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Sarah, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour with our guide Yu and that we were able to provide you with a great experience. We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future. Best regards, Mariko

Beautiful hike in the hills of Kamakura with interesting shrines and temples along the way

Leanna_D, Apr 2023

This tour of Kamakura was one oof my families favorite experiences in our 11 day tour of Japan. Yu was our local tour guide and she was fantastic. We travelled with our 11 year old twins and she was kind to them and explained each of the stops at the shrines, temples and beautiful spots on the hiking path in a way that was interesting to the adults and the kids. The nice hike on a beautiful trail from the Northern hills to a shrine that overlooks the ocean was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. We would highly recommend this half-day tour and cross your fingers that Yu is your guide.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour with Yu and that we were able to provide you with a great experience. We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future. Best regards, Mariko

10/10. Amazing tour, the...

Isabel_S, Mar 2023

10/10. Amazing tour, the weather was perfect and our guide, the length of tour was perfect for a half day tour. Error loading the pictures but the pictures we took came out really well. The spot for lunch was also delicious. Wear comfortable shoes. Very informative and good tour of the area.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Isabel, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour and that we were able to provide you with a great experience. We take pride in offering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service, and we are pleased to see that our efforts have paid off. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be shared with our team. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on one of our tours in the near future. Best regards, Mariko

Scenic and personal tour of Kamakura

Yegor_T, Jan 2023

It was a pleasure to have Noriko as a guide to tour Kamakura's local shrines, temples and Buddha statue particularly around the Hatsumode new year period. She brought a local flavor and passion to the tour explaining the Shinto and Buddhist significance and traditions of various scenic locations and the background and history of the coastal town.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thank you so much for joining Kamakura tour and posting an excellent review! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Noriko. We appreciate your participation so much and when you have the chance to travel Japan again, we will be happy to host you anywhere at any time. Best regards, Takeshi

Fantastic experience, great day trip from Tokyo!

kramermegane, Feb 2020

This tour was my favorite part of visiting Japan. I cannot speak highly enough of Noriko and her warm personality, thoughtful commentary, and knowledgeable guidance. She crafted the tour based on our interests and her expertise; weather interfered slightly with our original plan but she was flexible in finding other great ways to fill the day (even making last minute arrangements for a tea ceremony). Be prepared to pay small amounts for bus/train fare based on what you choose, what is open, and how walkable the day is. She took us to the major landmarks (complete with helpful and insightful explanations) but also to areas off the beaten path that we would never have found (or understood) on our own. She led the tour as if we were guests visiting her hometown, as opposed to tourists trying to check off sightseeing stops. This tour made me want to visit Kamakura again simply because of how enjoyable it was to be there and spend time learning from Noriko.

Nice tour with a lot of spots in Kamakura

Clemens_F, Mar 2019

We booked this tour because it's was combining a decent walk with visiting variuous sports around Kamakura. As based on our research (which might be wrong of course) the walking paths around the town are usually not signposted in English, we decided to look for a guided tour instead of something self-organized. The weather was pretty bad raining pretty much the whole day. Therefore the tour was changed a liitle e.g. by going by train and bus to the first spot instead of walking there. In the end there was no real walking experience, apart from going along the streets of Kamakura from spot to spot. I guess because of the weather that was a feasible decision and we were totally OK with it. We obviously can't really judge about how the actual walking experience would have been on a day with good weather.

Excellent tour many shires, temples...

Amelia l, Jul 2017

Excellent tour many shires, temples, giant Buddha and very knowledgeable guide name Famiko.The history of Kamakura is wonderful the atmosphere is very good and the guide from beginning to end excellend.

My tour through Kamakura with Yoko...

Farrah M, Jul 2017

My tour through Kamakura with Yoko was brilliant! The destination was beautiful, serene and spiritual - just what I was hoping from my trip to Japan! The temples and shrines nestled amongst the diverse and extensive gardens and greenery are just magnificent. It's a bustling place yet so calm. Yoko was very knowledgable and informative and I was fascinated by the history and beauty of the places we visited upon our walk. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting this beautiful part of Japan!

This tour went way above my...

Renee T, Jul 2017

This tour went way above my expectations. Beautiful sights, cultural experience, hiking, food, etc: it was a great way to spend a day in Kamakura. Yoko was a delightful guide and provided us with cultural insights and historical details that you would not get if you go on your own.

Our tour consisted of the Hokokuji...

kbn818, Jun 2017

Our tour consisted of the Hokokuji temple, Great Buddha in Kotoku-in, and Hasedera Temple. The Hokokuji temple has beautiful bamboo garden. We were impressed with the height of the Great Buddha 13 meters. The Hase temple has colorful hydrangeas and peaceful Zen gardens. We highly recommend this tour due to the beautiful sights and the excellent customer service pf the tour coordinator Takeshi and tour guides Shijuko and Yu. Takeshi was very thoughtful and responsive to my email correspondences prior to my arrival to Tokyo and during my stay at Tokyo. Takeshi noticed that there were some elders in our group and suggested alternative itinerary to minimize walking. He also assigned 2 guides so that one guide can attend to two elders and the other guide to the rest of the group. Takeshi also informed me prior to the tour that due to the rain and the slipperiness of the mountain road, he suggested that we skipped 2 shrines on the mountain. Shijuko and Yu were very considerate and knowledgeable. They explained the histories of the attractions well. Shizuko even brought extra umbrellas and lent to us so that we can covered ourselves from the hot summer sun. Shizuko and Yu accompanied us to the train stations from Kamakura to make sure that we would not get lost. In addition, they informed us about various transportation methods to the shopping centers and attractions in Kamakura and Tokyo. Overall, we really appreciated the care and attention of Takeshi, Shijuko, and Yu.

This walking tour is for the hardy...

Gail H, Apr 2017

This walking tour is for the hardy walker - more a mountainous hike than walk. Since there were only 3 in our group the guide was able to slow down the pace in the mountains. The temples and landmarks were scenic, the Great Buddha- huge, walk through the historic shopping street nice and a pleasant relaxing lunch with the guide was overall a good worthwhile tour.

Our Kamakura Walking Tour was a...

Douglas G, Apr 2017

Our Kamakura Walking Tour was a personalized tour for our family. Our tour guide, Yu, was very knowledgeable and fun. We really enjoyed the hiking and shrines. She took us to a fantastic restaurant at the top of a hill...only 165 steps to climb. We finished the tour at the beach. We highly recommend this walking tour of Kamakura.

Excellent tour of Kamakura! We took...

Joshua_T, Dec 2016

Excellent tour of Kamakura! We took this tour with our two small children. Yoko, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the history of the city and its temples and shrines, as well as Japanese customs. She was also very helpful and understanding with regard to the needs of our children. We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Kamakura, which should be a stop on any itinerary of Japan. It is a beautiful city with many great attractions, including but not limited to the Great Buddha.

Our tour guide, Naho was excellent...

kerry y, Nov 2016

Our tour guide, Naho was excellent. She spoke english well, had extensive knowledge of the temples visited and the areas we walked through, provided excellent instructions on the etiquette when visiting temples, and found a great restaurant for lunch that was reasonably priced. Most of all, she was sincere in ensuring we had a memorable tour taking extra time to answer all of our questions and taking us to Kamakura station. Naho provided us a memorable tour of Kamakura that we will always cherish.