The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron god of the Minamoto family and of the samurai in general. The deified spirits of the ancient Emperor Ojin who has been identified with Hachiman, Hime-gami and Empress Jingu are enshrined at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura (鎌倉大仏, Kamakura Daibutsu) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 11.4 meters, it has long been the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todaiji Temple and some recent creations.
Hasedera (長谷寺) is a temple of the Jodo sect, famous for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The 9.18 meter tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculpture in Japan and can be viewed in the temple's main building, the Kannon-do Hall
Hokokuji Temple is best known for the beautiful, small bamboo grove found behind the temple's main hall, which lies thick with over 2000 dark green bamboo stalks. A few narrow pathways lead through the bamboo to a tea house where, for a small fee, you can sit and enjoy a cup of matcha tea while enjoying views into the bamboo grove. Also located behind the temple are a series of shallow caves carved into the hillsides, which are believed to hold the ashes of some of the later Ashikaga lords.
Kamakura is surrounded by the ocean in the south and by wooded hills in all other directions. Attractive hiking trails lead through the woods along these hills and connect various atmospheric temples. They are a great way to travel between some of Kamakura's sights. Many of the trails do not take long to complete - typically between 30 to 90 minutes - and allow visitors to enjoy a mix of nature and cultural sights.
Only a short train ride west of Kamakura, Enoshima (江の島) is a pleasantly touristy island just off the coast but connected by bridge with the mainland. The island offers a variety of attractions, including a shrine, park, observation tower and caves. Views of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed on days with good visibility. Enoshima is divided into a yacht harbor accessible to motorized traffic and a forested hill which can only be explored on foot (and paid escalators) and contains most of the sights. Several shrine buildings, collectively known as Enoshima Shrine, are found around the island and are dedicated to Benten, a popular goddess of good fortune, wealth, music and knowledge. Benten is believed to have created Enoshima before subduing a five headed dragon that had been terrorizing the area.
ngakuji (円覚寺) is one of the leading Zen temples in Eastern Japan and the number two of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. Engakuji was founded by the ruling regent Hojo Tokimune in the year 1282, one year after the second invasion attempt by the Mongols had been reverted. One purpose of the new temple was to pay respect to the fallen Japanese and Mongolian soldiers. Engakuji is built into the slopes of Kita-Kamakura's forested hills. The first main structure encountered upon entering the temple grounds is the Sanmon main gate, which dates from 1783. Behind it stands the temple's main hall, the Butsuden, which displays a wooden statue of the Shaka Buddha. The Butsuden was rebuilt relatively recently in 1964 after the former building was lost in an earthquake.
Kenchoji (建長寺, Kenchōji) is the number one of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. The oldest Zen temple in Kamakura, Kenchoji was founded by the ruling regent Hojo Tokiyori in 1253 during the Kencho Era after which it was named. Its first head priest was Rankei Doryu, a Zen priest from China. Although considerably smaller than during its heydays, Kenchoji still consists of a large number of temple buildings and subtemples, and stretches from the entrance gate at the bottom of the valley far into the forested hills behind. After passing through the Sanmon main gate, visitors will see Kenchoji's temple bell (Bonsho), designated a national treasure, on their right.
Zeniarai Benten Shrine (銭洗弁天) is a popular shrine in western Kamakura, which people visit to wash their money (zeniarai means "coin washing"). It is said that money washed in the shrine's spring, will double. Minamoto Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura government, ordered the shrine's construction after a god appeared in his dream and recommended him to build the shrine in order to bring peace to the country. Because the dream occurred on the day of the snake, in the month of the snake of the year of the snake, the shrine was later also dedicated to Benten, a Buddhist goddess associated with snakes.
Meigetsuin Temple (明月院) is a temple of the Rinzai Zen Sect founded in 1160 in Kamakura. It is also known as Ajisaidera ("Hydrangea Temple") because hydrangea bloom in abundance on the temple grounds during the rainy season around June. 95% of the hydrangea here are of the Hime Ajisai ("Princess Hydrangea") variety; they are thus named because of their pretty blue colors. The temple was originally a repose built by a son in memory of his father who had died in the struggle for power between the Taira and Minamoto clans in the late Heian Period. It later became part of a larger temple complex called Zenkoji, which was abolished during anti-Buddhist movements soon after the Meiji Restoration, leaving only Meigetsuin to remain as an individual temple today.
Ankokuronji (安国論寺) is one of several temples of the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism along the hills in the southeast of Kamakura. Nichiren himself founded Ankokuronji around 1253 when he first came to Kamakura, and he is said to have lived at the temple for several years. Visitors can walk along a short hiking trail through the wooded hills around the temple buildings. A nice view of the city of Kamakura can be enjoyed underway. Some of the trail's passages are quite steep and should only be explored with good walking shoes and during dry weather.
Jomyoji Temple (浄妙寺, Jōmyōji) is a Zen temple in the hills of eastern Kamakura. Ranked fifth among the five great Zen temples of Kamakura, Jomyoji was founded by the influential Ashikaga family and at its peak was made up of seven buildings and several pagodas. Over the centuries, however, many of the structures were destroyed by fire, and only its historic main hall, reception hall, main gate and warehouse remain today. The main hall sits at the end of a garden and houses a statue of Shaka Nyorai, the historical Buddha. Jomyoji Temple also has a restored teahouse where visitors can sit and enjoy a cup of tea for a small fee while enjoying the view of a nice dry garden. On the hillside behind the main hall is the temple's spacious cemetery, while a path leads up the hill to a small western-style restaurant. The restaurant is operated by the temple and offers good views out over Kamakura from its patio.
Zuisenji (瑞泉寺) is a beautiful Zen temple in the far east of Kamakura, in the back of a narrow valley and surrounded by wooded hills. It is a branch temple of the Engakuji Temple. Zuisenji was founded by Muso Kokushi, a leading Zen master of his time and one of Japan's most famous garden designers. The temple is known for its pure Zen rock garden behind the temple's main hall, designed by Muso himself. The temple furthermore attracts with its many flowers and blooming trees in the other parts of the temple grounds, including a large number of plum trees.
Myohonji (妙本寺, Myōhonji) is one of several temples of the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism along the southeastern hills of Kamakura. The temple was founded by Hiki Yoshimoto in 1260, and features a statue of Nichiren to the left of the main hall. The temple is connected via the Gionyama hiking trail with some other nearby temples and a shrine. It leads through the wooded hills of Kamakura, and should be explored only with good walking shoes and during dry weather, because there are a few steep and rough passages.
Jochiji (浄智寺, Jōchiji) is the number four of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. It is a branch temple of the Engakuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its head temple, the Engakuji Temple, stands just a few hundred meters away on the opposite side of the railway tracks. Jochiji was founded in 1283 by members of the ruling Hojo family on the occasion of the premature death of a son. Once a large temple complex with many buildings and subtemples, Jochiji is now small and calm. In its main hall, the Dongeden, the temple's main object of worship, a Buddhist trinity of the Amida Buddha, Shaka Buddha and Miroku Buddha, is displayed.
Tokeiji (東慶寺, Tōkeiji) is a small branch temple of the Engakuji school within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its head temple, the Engakuji Temple, stands just a few hundred meters away on the opposite side of the railway tracks. Tokeiji was founded by the wife of the regent Hojo Tokimune in 1285 after Tokimune had died at a young age. Until the end of the Edo Period, the temple served as a shelter for women who suffered abuse by their husbands and sought a divorce. An official divorce could be attained by staying at the temple for three years.
Jufukuji Temple (寿福寺) is the number three of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. It is a branch temple of the Rinzai sect's Kenchoji school. Jufukuji was established by the order of Minamoto Yoritomo's wife Masako after her husband had passed away. Its founding priest was none other than Eisai, the man responsible for introducing Zen Buddhism into Japan. Besides the often photographed pathway that leads towards the temple, Jufukuji is not open to the public.
Eisho-ji Temple (英勝寺) is the only surviving nunnery in Kamakura, located near Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Founded in the early Edo period by a woman connected to the Tokugawa family, it’s known as a “flower temple” for its seasonal blooms. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful bamboo grove and a graceful Amida Buddha statue said to be by the famous sculptor Unkei. The quiet atmosphere makes it a hidden gem worth visiting.
We had a fantastic day exploring Kamakura with Masami as our guide. He expertly guided us through the train stations and around the attractions in Kamakura, and to a delicious lunch. Masami was friendly, knowledgeable. and a pleasure to spend the day with. We learned so much from him and appreciated his guidance. Thank you.
Great arrangement, Maruyama San is very kind, knowledgeable, enthusiastic. He took us to some spots we’re not on our list but really worthy to go. Memorable experience
Seizo Kamiuto was out guide for this wonderful and beautiful area of Kamakura. He was full of cultural and historical knowledge and provided valuable context during our walks and visits. Makes me want to visit again hopefully in the near future.
Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed visiting the beautiful gardens and shrines. Hiro was a great guide. Having him guide us made the day stress free and much more enjoyable. It was interesting learning about Japan and the culture. I would definitely recommend this tour and visiting Kamakura.
Masa Masatoshi was our guide and he was most helpful and understanding.
My wife and I had a memorable day with our guide May Takahashi on our walking tour of Kamakura and Enoshima. May met us at our hotel in Tokyo where he planned out our day based on what we were most interested in doing. May escorted us on the various rail transports to Kamakura and back, ensuring we had the best seating and views. We had a great experience with May exploring and learning about the temples, shrines, history, and culture of the local area. May ensured we tasted the local food, including a delicious lunch at a nice typical restaurant in Kamakura. May led us to the best photo spots and took pictures of us, including some awesome ones with Mount Fuji in the background.
Our visit to Kamakura with our guide Takako was really enjoyable and enlightening. The temples and shrines were stunning, but Takako's commentary and explanations about the history and significance of each site meant we received so much more than just a visual experience.
We had a great day trip to Kamakura. Our guide Taka was fantastic! He reached out before the trip to ask us if we had any specific sites we wanted to visit, and then developed an itinerary that covered everything we had hoped to see and do in Kamakura. Taka was very knowledgeable about the history of Kamakura and its numerous temples and shrines.
We had a great day trip out of Tokyo visiting Kamakura and Enoshima. Koba was a great leader and took us to many sites and customized our trip in the fly. Incredible lunch and a lot of walking which we enjoy. July is very hot and humid but Koba had cool towels and umbrellas for us. We loved the Great Buddha and the Golden Buddha, island views and bamboo forest. We also appreciated Kuba teaching us how to properly observe temple and shrine etiquette. What a great experience! Thank you!!
Hi-Ro was an amazing guide. He loves his job which he does to keep himself active. You know he is fully into what he does, when he says he does it for the people! Doesn’t need to do it, but wants to do it to show Japan to others. He truly does love Japan and his job. His knowledge is out of this world. He was extremely punctual (per the Japanese way). He knew about all the places and even answered our hard questions. Kamakura is a wonderful place and away from busy Tokyo. Still busy with tourists, but Hi-Ro knew what to do and when to do it. We loved this tour and highly recommend it!
I highly recommend taking this tour! Our guide Taka was highly knowledgeable about all of our chosen locations, and he was able to take us to each place from our hotel with ease. He was very kind and funny as well. Great option for families, especially if there are specific needs that require personalized tours such as mobility concerns.
Mia, our guide, was a gem! She came to our hotel in Tokyo to guide us back to her hometown. She was so thoughtful and attended to our every need. Her communication was very thorough, starting with planning the whole day with us as soon as we booked. We cannot recommend this tour and Mia strongly enough!
Our tour was excellent! We took alot of Pictures. We really enjoy it. And the tour guide was very nice and helpful. We definetly recommend it.
Taka planned the perfect day! Everything we saw was chosen with thoughtful care in order to maximize the time and prioritize the things we wanted to see. He was very knowledgeable and funny. He even helped us with a dinner reservation for later in the evening and sent us to one of his favorite hidden gems for the best sushi we have ever had. If you are visiting Hakone or Kamakura don’t see it without Taka! One of the best guides during our three week trip!
Taka was very helpful to me and my 70 yr old mom. My mom cannot eat gluten and he went out of his way to find a restaurant that served a gluten-free dish--it was delicious! He was very thoughtful, patient, and ensured that we saw everything that we wanted to see. He also took a ton of pictures for us and air dropped them so we didn't have to worry about taking pictures. I would definitely recommend this trip with Taka! Kamakura was the highlight of our 10 day trip to Japan! Beautiful!
We had a fun and educational experience. Taka was friendly and knowledgeable. We learned about Japanese religion and culture. We tried excellent food. We were late meeting our guide and he was very accommodating.
Great way to see the most interesting locations in Kamakura. Shinji was an excellent guide. I booked the tour several months prior and he contacted me by mail to ask me what I wanted to see in Kamakura. I gave him the names of five locations and he set up everything so that we could see everything in one day in the most efficient manner possible. If this is your first time in Japan, I would recommend hiring a guide to show you around because if you decided to do everything on your own, you would waste a lot of time figuring out what train or bus to take at what time and so on. Be careful, the price indicated on Viator doesn't include transportation, entrance fees to the temples and shrines or food. Still worth it though, as having a Japanese guide allows you to ask any questions you might have about Japanese culture. It's a good way to learn more about the country. As for Kamakura itself, it is absolutely worth a visit: great atmosphere, beautiful temples and shrines, the Great Buddha of Kamakura and the island of Enojima,... Very touristy though so be aware of that before you set off.
Our guide Kenji Was excellent. We had a very enjoyable day in Kamakura. The weather was definitely in our favor as we had a beautiful sunny day with a breeze and that afforded us perfect view of Mount Fuji. The Buddhist temples that we visited were lovely, and we were even fortunate enough to see some blooming cherry trees. We did not expect to be here at the right time for that, so it was very exciting for us. Kenji was so accommodating in meeting our needs and we appreciated all of the information he gave us about Japan. We would highly recommend this tour.
We had a great tour time with Hiroshi Kojima. He was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to show us the scheduled sites. We had a great lunch and a lovely tea at the bamboo forest. I highly recommend this tour. Thank you very much for showing us around.
Our guide picked us up promptly from our hotel and gave us a very nice tour of Kamakura and ample info. Our lunch stop was very good. Kamakura is a lovely town and a must have tour. It is great to have a guide to cruise you smoothly through Tokyo to Kamakura.
The guide Hide was very helpful and was able to get us to Kamakura via the rail network. We had an interesting tour and saw the major attractions. Kamakura is very beautiful. My only concern about this trip, and this has nothing to do with the guide, is that is a long day with the travel time to and from Tokyo.
This was an excellent day tour from Tokyo. Sam was very informative. He reached several weeks prior to trip and built an itinerary taking our interests into consideration. Highly recommend this tour.
Our guide Yoshii Kenichi was fantastic. We were able to visit many shrines and temples, a festival of a temple bell casting. Terrific visual experience. Yoshii was extremely informative and very attentive to our interests. We highly recommend this excursion and guide!
Andy was super knowledgeable about this area. We learned a lot on this tour from history and culture perspectives. Andy also communicated with us prior to the tour to ensure meeting location, time, etc. He was flexible and made the priority to ask if there’s anything specific that we’d like to see and my son’s request was to visit Akira Kurosawa’s grave - and he made it happen! We had a wonderful experience and totally enjoyed the tour and his company! Thank you, Andy!
Our Guide Mr Michio was a gem of a person. He took us to the right places and ensured our requests were all met. Our driver was another excellent person and would not rest until he found us the right place to eat. In short, it was a great trip. Always ask for Michio.
It’s been amazing. Andy has been great. We spend together every single minute of our trips. I said “we” because has been like a companion to our travel more than a guide. With him, we also made two exceptions from original plan, went to Yokohama and see also Pokémon event and a relaxing trip cruising with the boat. I highly suggest, if you have the chance to go with him, you will love it!!!
Our Guide was lovely, met us promptly at our hotel and guided us through the public transport on our tour- saw everything we hoped to see!
Our tour in Kamakura with our guide Andy was amazing!! Andy met us in our hotel in Tokyo and we all took the train to Kamakura where he showed us all the amazing sights and told us a lot of history about the area. He was very professional and very thoughtful. He was also kind enough to take tons of pictures of us at all the stops and he answered all our questions. The day we spent with Andy was probably one of the best days of our trip. I highly recommend this particular tour with Andy and this tour company.
Higashi was an amazing guide! So professional, knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs as we had 2 teenagers and 2 infants. She assisted without hesitation and made a full day trip so easy for us all. Highly recommended! 6 stars!
We went to Kamakura with Shinji who was very accommodating to our needs and very pleasant in every way. Our trip was by public transportation. He thoughtfully explained key information for the sites visited, and at the end of the day he accomplished us back to a spot where we can find our way back to hotel. We had a particular request for lunch and he went out of the way to make it work for us. Lunch was another wonderful experience. Although humidity was difficult for us from Southern California, we had a wonderful day.
Andy, our guide was great. Very knowledgeable and experienced. Communicated very well in English. Very flexible, modified our itinerary couple of times to cater our interests. Felt like he was part of our family.
We had an amazing day out with Fumio-san as our guide. Before we arrived, Fumio communicated extensively with me to design the perfect itinerary that was to our liking. He also took into consideration the weather providing 2 options in case it would rain. On the day of the tour, we were a few minutes late, but he took it on stride. (Don't make the same mistake lest your itinerary is compromised). He led us on the trains to Kamakura, and we saw a handful of Shinto and Buddhist shrines, including the Giant Buddha. A highlight was drinking matcha tea at a teahouse in front of a bamboo grove. Throughout the day, Fumio-san shared significant history and religious information about each stop. We also needed a vegan-friendly restaurant for lunch, which Fumio-san found and reserved in advance for us. At the end of a very long day, Fumio-san went above and beyond to help us secure a shinkansen reservation the following day. He spent over an hour in line and at the ticket counter helping us! In summary, we covered a tremendous amount of ground in one day with a lovely guide. There is no way we would have seen as much as we did if we were on our own. It was worth every penny.
Our guide, Fumio-San was great. We spent an insightful and action-packed day at beautiful Kamakura, visiting temples (including the stunning Great Buddha), eating amazing food and ended with the Enoshima island tour. A memorable day, highly recommended.
An was amazing!!! She was very responsive to all my emails and questions before our tour with her. She was flexible and was patient with our plans due to having my kids (4 and 7 years old) on the tour. They loved her! She even recommended some restaurants for us which were fantastic!
Yoshi, our Kamakura guide was the most knowledgeable guide we have had so far. He was able to devise an itinerary that totally fits what we wanted to explore in Kamakura. As such, the sights especially the temples and shrines that we visited in Kamakura were the best example of Japanese culture that we experienced in Japan.
The compound is so small and there is nothing much to see apart from the Buddha. Historically significant. If you happen to be in the area, you can visit.
So glad we booked this trip! We were too late for the Cherry Blossoms, but right at the beginning of Hydrangea Season and Hasedera Temple was absolutely stunning. It was the perfect break from our week in the city. Our guide, Haru, was friendly, knowledegable and did her best to keep us on track when we aimlessly wander a lot :) The Great Buddha is so picturesque and beautiful, the Shrine was fascinating and we had a blast in the Komachi shopping area. Would 10/10 recommend this excursion, we would not have been able to do all of these activities without a wonderful guide.
Fumio provided a wonderful tour for my dad and me to Kamakura. He met us at the hotel and was very organized throughout the day. He balanced the amount history/information and kept a quick pace, so we could get all the attractions in. Overall, a great day. Daniel-san O’Meara
I really enjoyed the day trip and my guide, Taka, was excellent. Taka had originally blocked some time in the afternoon for shopping, but I told him I wasn't a big shopper, and would prefer to spend time seeing more sights. He immediately figured out a new/revised sightseeing plan and we squeezed in two more Kamakura temples that afternoon. Both temples were impressive. Really glad that Taka was flexible on the day's itinerary and that I was able to do that rather than shop.
What an amazing day we had with Andy! He was everything you can wish in a guide. Knowledgeable, engaging, fun. He went beyond what we had asked. I would recommend anyone going to Kamakura to Do it with him. Thanks Andy. You gave us the best memories.
This was a great tour- Taka was very informative about Kamakura but he was also helpful in creating a better understanding about Japanese culture. He had the perfect balance between talking and letting us experience Kamakura. We liked him so much that we asked to help us on another tour during our visit. I highly recommend him and a visit to Kamakura!
What an absolutely amazing day we had with our guide Andy. First of all, Kamakura was stunning. Andy created our itinerary for us from a number of must-see sights we had requested, and it was perfect. If you like nature, I recommend including a hike. Kamakura has been the highlight of our trip so far. Secondly, Andy went above and beyond as a guide. My wife is pregnant and he ensured that there was always somewhere for her to sit on public transport. He translated for us on two occasions where little old obachans wanted to make conversation with us. He took so many photos for us and had answers to all our questions. But more than that we feel like we’ve really made a friend! Thank you for an unforgettable day Andy!
Kamakura is a beautiful town and worthy of more than a full day of touring. The temples and shrines are beautiful. They scenery of the ocean lovely. The shopping is ok but mostly tourist items. Our tour was dampened by our guide’s limited knowledge of the sites and general personality. If I were to do it again I’d stay a couple of days and enjoy the community.
Our guide MAkoto, was extremely considerate and patient as he led us from our hotel to the streets of Kamakura. His insight into the Japanese culture and history made our experience that much better. He was efficient without hurray and guided us through the crowds and sites proficiently. He took time th answer questions and provide context, while taking our pictures and engaging in meaningful conversations. The day went by quickly and was a memorable experience.
We had a simply AMAZING day in Kamakura!. Our guide was Andy and he was nothing short of exceptional. We booked last minute, Andy was very responsive and always in contact, customizing the tour to us and what we wanted to see, also guiding us of what we should see in the limited time. From the Great Buddha, Enoshima Island, Hase Temple, Houkokuji Temple (Bamboo) to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine where we finished, the tour was seamless, beautiful and very educational. Andys knowledge of Kamakura and caring approach made us feel very special to be having a tour with him. Andy was our guide, he is now our friend! Highly, Highly recommended!
We had a great day with our guide Fumio. Very knowledgeable and from the area. He kept in touch with us before our arrival, met our expectations and more, enjoyed every place he showed us. The entire day was an experience we won’t forget!
Taking us to see numerous temples with a very knowledgeable tour guide Yazu. He was patient and help us tremendously. I recommend him 100%.
When you can give an excellent review for a tour that was 100% in three pouring rain, you know it was good. Our day with Shuji in Kamakura was exceptional. Shuji made adjustments as necessary due to the weather so we still were able to see a number of sites, enjoy lots of history of the area (,and Japan in general) Highly recommended.
Our tour guide, Yuko, showed us the important sights at Kamakura. She met us at our hotel in Tokyo. She arrived early and had done the research to know the best times to catch public transportation. She had a visual guidebook that was helpful. She helped us get our Suica card for public transportation and off we went to see the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shirne, Hokokuji Temple, the bamboo grove and more. Excellent knowledge of the area, the history, the sights and culture. Easy to understand and she had excellent English. Yuko adapted the schedule to meet our needs and return us back to Toyko with smiles on our faces. Highly recommend!
Our guide Tachi was very responsive to messages, experienced and accommodating. I had specific requests to visit certain temples and shrines, as well as the Kamakurakokomae Station on Enoden Line and she planned it all out nicely for me. Her recommendation for lunch turned out to be the best meal we had in the entire Japan trip. Definitely a great and fuss free experience to experience Kamakura.
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