Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver
Pick your date
Highlighted days have spots open. Grey days are sold out or not running.
September 2026
Loading live availability
Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 73 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver worth booking?
Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver is a 10-hour experience in Tokyo, Japan, from $23250 per person. It scores 77 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 73 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 77 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (73)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $23250 per person
Our tour is fully organized and operated by local Japanese experts. As one of the pioneers in offering private tours around Kamakura, we combine extensive experience and local insight to deliver a refined, fully customi
What you get
- Air-conditioned private vehicle (van) and bottled water
- Fuel, Highway tolls and Parking Fees
About this experience
Our tour is fully organized and operated by local Japanese experts. As one of the pioneers in offering private tours around Kamakura, we combine extensive experience and local insight to deliver a refined, fully customized one-day tour that stands above the rest. Step into a world where samurai once walked and temples whisper stories of centuries past. Our tour immerses you in the heart of Japan, where history, spirituality, and nature exist in perfect harmony. Visit the Great Buddha, and stroll through the serene garden of Hasedera Temple, where seasonal flowers bloom and captivate visitors throughout the year. In the afternoon you may like to feel the sea breeze at Enosima island, steeped in legends and dotted with hidden shrines. Yokohama, with its fusion of oriental and occidental cultures, provides a captivating contrast to Kamakura. Explore its highlights, including the panoramic Landmark Tower, Redbrick Warehouse, and Cup Noodle Museum, etc.
What's included
Included
- Air-conditioned private vehicle (van) and bottled water
- Fuel, Highway tolls and Parking Fees
Not included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
What you'll see and do
Kotoku-in - Great Buddha of Kamakura
It is a gigantic bronze statue of Amida Buddha (13.5m, 44 ft.) in an open air. It is the only national treasure in Kamakura. You can enter inside the body for only 20 yen. (admission fee 200 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Hokoku-ji Temple
Rated 3 stars in the Michelin travel guide. The temple is famous for having the most beautiful bamboo grove in Kamakura. You can enjoy matcha green tea and Japanese sweet in a teahouse overlooking the bamboo grove. (admission fee 600 yen per pers. including matcha and sweet) (20 to 60mn)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Hasedera Temple
It’s known as a temple of flowers. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas around late May to late June, and maple leaves in autumn. It’s also famous for 9.18 meter-tall gilded wooden eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. (admission fee 400 yen per pers.) (30 to 60mn)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the god of war and the god of the samurai in general. It is a popular site for weddings and is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom or azalea season. (30 to 60mn)
30 minutes here
Kamakura Komachidori
It is a long shopping street near Tsurugaoka Hahchimangu Shrine. The street is lined up with numbers of restaurants, cafes and shops. Some popular souvenirs are carved lacquerware (Kamakura-bori), pigeon-shaped cookies (Toshimaya Hato sable), and bean snacks (Kamakura mameya). (20 to 80mn)
20 minutes here
Kencho-ji Temple
It’s the oldest and the highest ranking zen temple in Kamakura. It offers meditation practice on certain dates. Zen t-shirts are sold here. (admission fee 500 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Engaku-ji
It is the second important zen temple in Kamakura, famous for its large temple gate and bell. You can find the grave of famous film director Yasujiro Ozu here. There is a café within the temple compound where you can enjoy lunch, Japanese sweets, and matcha green tea and other drinks on certain dates. (admission fee 300 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple)
It is famous for blue hydrangeas from late May to late June. Many people queue up to take a picture of the circular window in the main hall which frames the scenery of the garden behind it. (admission fee 500 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Shinto Shrine where is believed an increase of income by washing cahs with its holy water.
30 minutes here
Tokeiji Temple
This quiet little temple served as a shelter for women who suffered abuse by their husbands and sought a divorce at a time when only men were allowed to ask for a divorce. Visitors can enjoy flowers all year round, such as plums in early spring, iris and climbing hydrangea in June, in gardens stretching back to the wooded hills.(admission fee 200 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Kamakura Kokomae Station
This photogenic railroad crossing having the beautiful blue sea in the background was used in the opening sequence of a famous Japanese anime “Slam Dunk”. A short photo stop is possible.
Pass by without stopping
Yokohama Minato Mirai 21
Minato Mirai 21 is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama. Some major attractions are the Landmark Tower (the second tallest building in Japan), Cosmo World amusement park, and the Red Brick Warehouses shopping center. (30 to 60mn)
30 minutes here
Sankeien Gardens
It is a traditional and typical Japanese-style garden designed by a wealthy businessman. 17 precious buildings transferred from Kyoto and other places are skillfully arranged to match the beauty of the garden. (admission fee 700 yen per pers.) (30 to 90mn)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Enoshima Island
There are various attractions such as a shrine, aquarium, botanical garden, observation tower and caves. Mount Fuji can be viewed from various places if the weather permits. (30 to 150 mn)
30 minutes here
Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden
Enjoy the panoramic scenic view of the Yokohama Bay area and bay of Tokyo from 273m (900f) high. You can also get a good view of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. (admission fee 1000 yen per pers.)
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Yamashita Park
If you feel like strolling in a park with a coffee in hand, Yamashita Park would be ideal as it is beloved by the locals to come and relax. Street performers are here to entertain on the weekend. A photo stop is possible upon request
10 minutes here
Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
You can get a very beautiful view of the Yokohama Minato Mirai area
10 minutes here
Another scenic viewing point and landmark of Yokohama bay area with it's The English garden. It is located next to the residential districts of the western people when Yokohama opened as one of the important international ports at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
10 minutes here
Yokohama Chinatown
If you want to try Chinese food while you are in Japan or to have a different feeling, the biggest Chinatown in Japan is in Yokohama. Possible to make a stop or have lunch upon request.
Pass by without stopping
Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama
Run by Nisshin, the very first company that invented Cup noodles. You can learn about the story of the instant noodle, topping and making your original noodle, try different tastes from worldwide noodles, and get some original souvenirs only found in this unique place.(admission fee 500 yen per pers.) (45 to 90mn)
45 minutes here · Admission not included
Shinyokohama Ramen Museum
If you are a ramen lover, Shinyokohama ramen museum is a must go place.You can enjoy 8 different type of ramen all in one place (admission fee 310 yen per pers.)
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ru, zh-TW, ko, ja, en, zh-CN, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Japan Star Travel Agency
Know before you go
- 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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The itinerary on the What to Expect is a list, please select around 4 to 6 sites.
- You can ask our guide for advice and suggestions after booking.
- Please advise for any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking, vegetarian option is available.
- The tour will not be cancelled or refunded even if some spots are not fully visible due to weather conditions. The activity schedule is subject to change/cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
- The price remains the same with or without the vehicle.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 73 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Pace and timing
3 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
73 verified traveler reviews for Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Kamakura day
Our trip to Kamakura was excellent! Our guide , Emiko and our driver Tac were very knowledgeable with the history of Tokyo. The Cup of Noodles factory was a lot of fun! Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine and great Buddha were beautiful and an amazing experience. Emiko took us to chopstick stall where we bought beautiful chopsticks and had them engraved. Thank you Emiko and Tac for a memorable experience.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your review. I am really glad you enjoyed the whole day. I would like to express my gratitude for walking with me on an extremely busy Komachi Street and to a shrine on a hot day. It was so nice that you could buy special chopsticks as souvenirs for your family! Please visit Japan again to enjoy other wonderful places. Emiko
via Viator
Visiting Kamakura
We had a wonderful time visiting Kamakura. Our tour guide, Toshi, was exceptionally well-organized and knowledgeable, and he made the entire experience truly memorable. We visited Hokokuji Temple and its beautiful Bamboo Garden, where we enjoyed an authentic green tea experience right in the heart of the garden.
Response from the operator: Dear Sepi-san, Thank you so much for your very nice review about our Kamakura tour! I’m so glad to know that you and your family really enjoyed beautiful bamboo garden and Matcha experience in Hokoku-ji temple. That is also one of my best favorite temples in Kamakura! I enjoyed it so much together with you, too! There is a lot more of beautiful places and interesting experiences in Japan, so please come and visit us once again in Japan. We are looking forward to seeing you once again. Best regards, Toshi
via Tripadvisor
Ayaka our guide was excellent
Ayaka our guide was excellent - she was in touch with me several days before our trip to agree the stops we would make that would interest us and give me approximate timings. This is so helpful when travelling with 2 teenagers who have limited attention span sometimes! We enjoyed stopping at the Kamakura Buddah and several shrines, particularly the Zen temple with the bamboo trees which was great for photos. Enoshima Island was gorgeous and we were lucky to eat in one of the restaurants right at the top with pacific ocean views. Komachi street was great for shopping and snacks. Lastly we stopped at the cup noodle museum and made our own cup noodles to take home where you can design your own packaging and pick your own flavours. Ayaka was very engaging when we were driving as well telling us about her life and Japan and also taking an interest in our lives. Our teenagers thought she was the best guide we have had all holiday which is high praise (and I agree with them!). The driver was also very polite and efficient which we appreciated. Highly recommended tour to mix a bit of history, culture and modern day Japan.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It truly made my day. I'm so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed your time in Kamakura and Enoshima. It was a pleasure getting to know all of you, and your teenagers were so lovely. Thank you also for sharing so much about British culture and food with me. I really enjoyed our conversations, and I learned a lot from you. This weekend, I'm going to try making jacket potatoes and a Sunday roast! I hope you have many more wonderful family adventures together, and I'd love to welcome you back to Japan someday. Best wishes, Ayaka
via Viator
Kamakura Tour
My husband and I were picked up from our hotel by our driver, Tak, and our tour guide, Yuko. We were worried that the rain would cancel the tour, but we're presently surprised that the rain helped make the tour even more special. Our first stop in Kamakura, the Kotokuin Great Buddha, we had the location all to ourselves. So beautiful 😍 The Hasedra Temple we learned about the Jizo amongst the beautiful gardens. At the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, we learned about the Samurai history of Japan. We had lunch at a Cafe called Muji Cafe which had incredible Calm Chowder and Japanese beer. Then we went to the Hokokuji Temple with an amazing bamboo zen garden which served homemade matcha, so peaceful and serene. We ended our tour with a trip to the Ramen Museum. Yuko was the best tour guide. She was very professional and so informative. This was definitely our favorite tour in Japan well worth the money ❤️
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for joining the Kamakura tour. I am also truly grateful for your wonderful review. Despite the heavy rain, you had the Great Buddha all to yourselves! That is a very rare occasion, and it almost felt as if the Great Buddha was looking down on just the two of you with eyes of mercy and compassion. I believe the rain also made the greenery look deeper and the hydrangeas even more beautiful, allowing you to fully enjoy Kamakura's nature. Thank you for showing such a keen interest in samurai culture and listening so attentively to my stories. And at our last stop, the Ramen Museum, it was wonderful to see just how much you both love ramen! It was an absolute pleasure being your guide. Arigato gozaimashita!! Yuko
via Tripadvisor
Excellent day touring Shrines & Temples and more
We had a wonderful day from start to finish and highly recommend Shun as a guide and his driver Corby to visit Kamakura and Enoshima. Having been to Kyoto, Kamakura with its beautiful shrines and temples and gardens with gorgeous flowers was a wonderful surprise so close to Tokyo. We learnt so much and saw so many beautiful places at a pleasant pace and very efficiently. June is especially a great month for the hydrangeas! It gets quite crowded so definitely go with a guide/driver and start early in peak season.
Response from the operator: Thank you for joining our tour to Kamakura and Enosihma. We are very glad to hear your review. It was perfect timing to view such a beautiful hydrangea in Meigetsuin Temple and Hase Temple. The color of flowers were totally different between the two temples. That was a wonderful contrast. We hope you will have the chance to visit Japan again in a different season, and we would be delighted to assist you with another memorable journey! Have a good time. Shun Japan Star Travel Agency
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $23250 to $170000
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 26
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 77
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Tokyo.
How much does Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver cost?
+
Prices start at $23250 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Tokyo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver take?
+
Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Tokyo is not rushed.
Is Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 77 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 73 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Tokyo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver?
+
Around 26 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Tokyo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Tokyo and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Tokyo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Tokyo?
+
Tokyo is less a city than a stack of neighborhoods with completely different opening hours. A guided food crawl through Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho gets you past the no-tourist curtains, while the day trips west to Hakone and Fuji need an early start to be worth the fare. Our ranking weighs guide quality heavily here, because in Tokyo the guide is the product. On Outty we rank every Tokyo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Tokyo Shinjuku Chopsticks Making Class, Tokyo : Asakusa Chopsticks Making Class, Shinjuku Night Food and Bar Crawl. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
+
Late March to May for blossom, October to November for clear Fuji views. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Kamakura Historical Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver.
Pick your date
