Kanagawa: Hokokuji Temple & Kotokuin — Guide Seizo
October, 2026
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.
Tour Itinerary
- 09：30 Meet @ Hotel
- 10：20 Hokokuji Temple
- 11：00 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
- 11：30 Komachi Street
- 12：15 Hasedera Temple
- 13：00 Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
- 13：30 Lunch @ Juwari Soba Koga Kamakura Branch
- 15：30 Dismissal @ Hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ Hotel at 09:30, the group explored Kanagawa until the tour ended at 15:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Juwari Soba Koga Kamakura Branch at 13:30.
The itinerary covered Hokokuji Temple at 10:20, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine at 11:00, Komachi Street at 11:30, Hasedera Temple at 12:15 and Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura) at 13:00.
What Is a Private Car Tour of Kamakura Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America, visiting Japan for the first time. After sightseeing in Kamakura, they planned to depart the next day on a 12-day cruise tour. At Hokoku-ji Temple, they appeared impressed by the beautiful bamboo garden. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, they listened with great interest to explanations about the differences between shrines and temples, as well as the Kamakura Shogunate. At Hase-dera Temple, they seemed moved by the large statue of Kannon and the beautiful ocean view from the observation deck. At Kotoku-in, they showed interest in the sheer size of the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Since I accommodated the guests' wishes as requested, I believe they were satisfied.
As this was a tour by private car, there were no transportation expenses to be reimbursed.
Click here for more details: Kamakura from Yokohama by Private Car with Licensed Guide
I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto
Sep 27, 2026
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Seizo was a tremendously fabulous…
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Seizo was a tremendously fabulous and friendly tour guide. He made us feel welcome and took great care to explain the tour and what we would be seeing during the day. It was a great way to see the city’s sights and a great help navigating the transit system. Loads of trains rides to get us to each new location.
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Higly recommend
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…
Sep 11, 2026
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Higly recommend
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto. He was very knowledgeable, easy going, great sense of humour and taught us a lot about Japanese culture and history. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour and our guide Seizo. Would highly recommend.
Sep 8, 2026
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Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our guide for Kamakura. He was an excellent guide for the whole day and it really made a difference with an experienced person who knew the area. He was very friendly and accommodating with our plans for Kamakura, including me picking out which temples and shrines to visit. He met us at our hotel in Asakusa and dropped us back off at the hotel even if it is an hour from Kamakura. He also recommended a great sushi restaurant that I would not have even known existed, even if I was looking straight at it. I would highly recommend bringing a guide like Seizo if you want to maximize your time in Kamakura to explore the area.
Our tour went to 3 places in the morning and 2 places in the afternoon. The morning places were a bit out of the way and less crowded, but were beautiful on their own. The morning places where Engakuji Temple, Meigetsu-in Temple (slightly out of season for September but some hydrangeas were still blooming and the temple itself was very beautiful with nature all around), and Kencho-ji Temple. The afternoon was in the busier places of Kamakura, but the crowds weren’t too bad. They were Hasedera Temple and the Giant Buddha of Kamakura Temple. Each place was different and pretty in their own ways.
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We had a great time learning about little Edo. Our guide, Mr. Seizo, was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and patient with the number of questions we had.