Kanagawa in Half a Day: Engakuji Temple — Guide Toru
September, 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
- 11:00 Meet at the hotel in Ofuna
- 12:30 Engakuji Temple
- 13:30 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
- 14:15 Hokokuji Temple
- 14:45 Great Buddha of Kotokuin
- 15:30 Disband at Ofuna Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 11:00 at hotel in Ofuna and ended at 15:30. The day ran to 4 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Engakuji Temple at 12:30, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine at 13:30, Hokokuji Temple at 14:15 and Great Buddha of Kotokuin at 14:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ofuna to Kita-Kamakura by train (160JPY); Kita-Kamakura to Kamakura by train (160JPY); Hachimangu by bus (240JPY); Jomyoji by bus (240JPY); Kamakura to Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) by train (200JPY); Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) to Ofuna by train (400JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,400JPY per person.
What's a Private Rainy-Day Tour of Kamakura Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Before this day they had enjoyed sightseeing in Sapporo and Tokyo, and had taken lodging in Ofuna to come and explore Kamakura. Unfortunately, the weather brought a heavy rain warning, but the garden of the abbot's quarters at Engaku-ji Temple, along with the dry landscape garden and bamboo grove beside the approach to Hokoku-ji Temple, were gently dampened by the rain, presenting a quiet beauty that moved everyone. Walking straight along Wakamiya-oji, we headed toward Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and after descending once from the main hall, I had them look at the main avenue leading from the sea up to the shrine and the surrounding town, so they could understand the layout and origins of Kamakura. They were delighted by how wonderfully the scale of the Great Buddha blended with the surrounding atmosphere. A notable stop on the tour was the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Located at Kotoku-in Temple, this monumental bronze statue of Amida Buddha stands over 11 meters tall and dates back to the 13th century. Originally housed within a temple hall, the structure was washed away by storms and tsunami centuries ago, and the Great Buddha has sat in the open air ever since, which adds to the serene and striking impression it leaves on visitors.
Click here for more details: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ofuna～Kita-Kamakura | 160JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kita-Kamakura～Kamakura | 160JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Hachimangu / Keikyu Bus～Jomyoji / Keikyu Bus | 240JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Jomyoji / Keikyu Bus～Kamakura Station (East Exit) / Keikyu Bus | 240JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Kamakura～Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) | 200JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture)～Ofuna | 400JPY |
| Total | 1,400JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kanagawa tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel in Ofuna at 11:00, and the tour finished at Ofuna Station at 15:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 30 minutes in total, from 11:00 to 15:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Engakuji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hokokuji Temple and Great Buddha of Kotokuin.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,400JPY 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?
Toru 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.
Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
Aug 19, 2026
Y589EGbriang
Wonderful Tour
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Toru was an amazing guide. So knowledgeable…
Aug 19, 2026
Y589EGbriang
Wonderful Tour
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Toru was an amazing guide. So knowledgeable about the auction as well as the whole fish industry. Answered all our questions in great detail. The sushi restaurant aftermath auction was some of the best sushi we had on our whole trip. He seemed to know everyone in the market and took us to great stalls. Great conversation, learned a bunch and had some amazing tastes. Would highly recommend him to everyone.
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.