Kanagawa: Hasedera Temple & Kotokuin Temple — Guide Koba
October, 2024
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 11:00 Meet at Yokohama Port Post Office
- 12:30 Hasedera Temple
- 13:10 Kotokuin Temple
- 15:10 Disband at Yokohama Osanbashi Pier
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kanagawa began at 11:00, when the guide met the guests at Yokohama Port Post Office, and finished at 15:10. The day ran to 4 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited Hasedera Temple at 12:30 and Kotokuin Temple at 13:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nihon-odori to Yokohama by train (224JPY); Yokohama to Kamakura by train (356JPY); Kamakura to Hase by train (200JPY); Daibutsu-mae to Kamakura Station by bus (200JPY); Kamakura to Yokohama by train (356JPY); Yokohama to Nihon-odori by train (224JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,560JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Day Trip from Yokohama to Kamakura Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The meeting point was the post office at Yokohama Port, but the guests did not arrive at the scheduled time, which made me a little anxious, though it turned out they were waiting near the service entrance. As planned, we proceeded through Nihon-odori, Yokohama, Kamakura, and Hase, but the train rides were long and we had to buy tickets each time, so the guests seemed a little bored. I first guided them to the Great Buddha in Hase. There was no problem walking up the stairs, but it was raining and they did not seem very interested. When I took them to the Kamakura Great Buddha, it turned out this was their goal, and they were very pleased. Since they had been saying "Great Buddha, Great Buddha" from the beginning, I asked what they would like to do next and whether we should have lunch and go to Kenchoji Temple as planned, but they said they would eat a hamburger or something on the ship and were ready to head back. We took a bus from the Great Buddha to Kamakura Station, then returned by the same route as the outbound journey, and finally I accompanied them all the way to the reception at Osanbashi Pier. There was a lot of conversation among the group, so I was not able to talk much, but at the end they gave me a tip.
Click here for more details: Kamakura Zen Temples & Gardens Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Nihon-odori～Yokohama | 224JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Yokohama～Kamakura | 356JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Kamakura～Hase | 200JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Daibutsu-mae～Kamakura Station | 200JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Kamakura～Yokohama | 356JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Yokohama～Nihon-odori | 224JPY |
| Total | 1,560JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kanagawa tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Yokohama Port Post Office at 11:00, and the tour finished at Yokohama Osanbashi Pier at 15:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 10 minutes in total, from 11:00 to 15:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hasedera Temple and Kotokuin Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,560JPY per person across 6 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Koba is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kanagawa itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
Please call me Koba.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly appreciated his knowledge of the history of Tokyo and Japan and his very pleasant demeanor. He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to tour with in Tokyo.
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit…
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit to Tokyo, and our tour with Koba made the experience truly exceptional. We’re a family of four with two teenage boys (14 and 16), and Koba was wonderfully kind, patient, and engaging with each of us. The experience started even before we arrived—his first communications laid out a thoughtful, customized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests as first-time visitors. Our six hours together were full, seamless, and incredibly rewarding. Koba’s deep knowledge of the city, his attention to detail, and his warm, easygoing approach made the tour an ideal fit for our family. It was the perfect way to get a broad yet meaningful introduction to Tokyo in a short time. We’re so grateful he was our guide and highly recommend him to anyone visiting the city.
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience…
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience see learned a lot about Tokyo and our guide Koba was perfect in every way and very helpful. We had a perfect time together.Thank you Koba
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family…
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family and I. He was patient and helped carry a large toy my daughter won. I wished we had another day. Having a guide saved us hours of navigating the subway and metro.