Buddha, Bamboo & Zen - Bespoke Kamakura Private Walking Tours

Sip a cup of freshly made matcha green tea overlooking a stunningly beautiful bamboo grove.

2,000 moso bamboo plants at Hōkoku-ji - a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1334.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura - an iconic 13.35m statue cast in bronze during the 13th century.

Majestic, snow-capped Mt. Fuji & Enoshima Island seen from Cape Inamuragasaki.

Guests enjoying a peaceful & secluded Shintō shrine in the Kamakura Hills. The rhododendrons start blooming in April.

Honeymooners interviewing the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Duration6h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Buddha, Bamboo & Zen is an all-day bespoke walking tour designed exclusively for you and your family/friends. Stroll around at your own leisurely pace, stopping whenever you feel like it. Visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura, the Bamboo Temple (enjoy some green tea) and a famous Shinto shrine. Our guide is conscious of guests being templed out. We can call it a day whenever you are satisfied.

Share your own itinerary with us & we'll tailor a day walk for your group or hand over the reins to us and we'll guide you around our favourite spots.

See some man-made caves called yagura.

Step back in time and learn about samurai history and zen, while enjoying the Spartan charm and understated elegance of the rustic temples.

Escape the Tokyo megalopolis for a day and restore your equilibrium in this charming coastal town.

A charismatic native English-speaking (Australian) local guide will make you feel at ease.

What's included

Guiding services

Temple admission fees are excluded & must be paid by each guest separately (approx. 2,000 yen)
All food/drinks (matcha green tea), snacks, lunch, etc are excluded & must be paid by each guest separately.
Buses & trains
Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
Hokoku-ji Temple Bamboo Grove
Hasedera

What to expect

Kotoku-in - Great Buddha of Kamakura
1h · Admission ticket not included

The tour begins with a visit to Kotoku-in, a Buddhist temple. You will see the majestic Great Buddha of Kamakura, an iconic bronze statue. The 13.35 metre statue was originally carved in wood and then cast in bronze during the 13th century. For a small fee (50 yen), you can enter the interior of this statue. General admission is 300 yen, child admission (for ages 6-12) is 150 yen and there is no charge for children under 6 years old.
Hasedera Temple
45m · Admission ticket not included

See the stunning 9.18m tall “Eleven-headed Kannon” wooden statue carved 1,304 years ago in 721AD.

Enjoy the beautiful gardens with a large variety of flowers blooming throughout the year. The hydrangea path in June is gorgeous - with more than 40 kinds of hydrangea flowers dotting the hills.

Enjoy a scenic view of the sea and town of Kamakura.

Check out the thousand jizo statues standing in long rows.

Explore a small cave and enjoy the statue of Benzaiten and her followers chiseled out of the rock walls.
Hokoku-ji Temple Bamboo Grove
1h · Admission ticket not included

Hokoku-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1334 and is affectionately called the "Bamboo Temple". The highlight of a visit to this temple is undoubtedly the 2,000 moso bamboo plants. For a small fee (¥600), you can sip authentic matcha green tea in a teahouse that overlooks a stunningly beautiful bamboo grove. If you listen carefully, you'll be able to hear the wind whispering between the bamboo. Seasonal flowers, moss gardens, bonzai and statues can be appreciated throughout the temple grounds.
1h

Komachi Street is the main pedestrian shopping street that runs through the heart of Kamakura. It is fun to explore the nooks and crannies of this street. You can enjoy a diverse range of dining options, including the freshest local seafood, gourmet burgers, craft beers and sake, desserts, coffee shops and delicious street snacks. You can rent a kimono for a day of sightseeing. Souvenir shops abound selling knives, ceramics, personalised name-engraved chopsticks, retro toys, trinkets and more. There's even an indoor pig park - where it is possible to hug a micro baby pig.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
1h

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura. The shrine was originally established in 1063 and is dedicated to the deity, Hachiman, the tutelary god of warriors. You will approach the shrine via Wakamiya Ōji street and pass under some red shinto gates called "torii". You will cross a small bridge over a canal that joins two ponds. A little further along, you will reach a pavilion called 'Maiden'. If you are lucky, you may be able to see a traditional Japanese wedding, dance or music performance here. You will then climb the Great Stone Steps to the main hall of the shrine. A wonderful panoramic view of the city can be enjoyed from the top of these steps. People make wishes and pray for good fortune at this famous shrine.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your guide will be waiting for you outside the East Exit of Kamakura train station. He will be standing in front of the Kamakura Tourist Information Centre and holding up a placard with 'Buddha, Bamboo & Zen' on it.

End point

Your guide will be waiting for you outside the East Exit of Kamakura train station. He will be standing in front of the Kamakura Tourist Information Centre and holding up a placard with 'Buddha, Bamboo & Zen' on it.

Additional information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that I have allocated two hours travel time to access the various attractions on foot, train and bus and also to include rest and food/drink breaks.
We recommend that each guest bring 2,000 yen to cover temple admission fees & transportation. Some extra cash for food & drinks is also recommended.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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