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
- 09:30 Meet in front of Yokohama Port Post Office
- 10:00 Visit Engaku-ji Temple
- 10:45 Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
- 11:45 Visit Hokoku-ji Temple and Sugimoto-dera Temple
- 13:30 Visit the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple
- 14:15 Shonan Coast (from the Enoden train window)
- 15:30 Disband at Yokohama Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 09:30 at front of Yokohama Port Post Office and ended at 15:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Engaku-ji Temple at 10:00, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine at 10:45, Hokoku-ji Temple and Sugimoto-dera Temple at 11:45, the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple at 13:30 and Shonan Coast (from the Enoden train window) at 14:15.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Yokohama to Kita-Kamakura by train (320JPY); Kita-Kamakura to Kamakura by train (150JPY); Wakamiya-oji by bus (220JPY); Jomyoji by bus (220JPY); Kamakura to Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) by train (200JPY); Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) to Fujisawa by train (310JPY); Fujisawa to Yokohama by train (420JPY). Across 7 sections the fare came to 1,840JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kamakura Day Tour from Yokohama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The tour experience and guest reactions
The guests came to Kamakura after enjoying a 10-day cruise around various parts of Japan, disembarking at Yokohama on the final day, with plans to fly back to their home country on an evening flight that same day. They had joined the tours organized by the cruise at each destination, but said they had always felt rushed and never had time to slowly enjoy the places they visited. Since the guests seemed interested in Zen, at Engaku-ji I briefly demonstrated how zazen (seated meditation) is practiced (having experience with zazen myself in the Rinzai tradition), and let them immerse themselves in the world of Zen for a while. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, they were able to experience passing through the chinowa (grass ring) and happened to see a wedding ceremony at the main hall, which they found very satisfying. They were impressed by every place we visited, saying they could not rank which was the best.
Because of the time constraints of the evening flight, the guests wished to return to Yokohama on schedule to collect their luggage, so I escorted them to Yokohama Station and ended the tour.
2. Other impressions, notes, and requests
They listened attentively to my guiding, which made this a very rewarding tour to lead.
I would like to report that Kamakura was crowded on an October afternoon, and boarding the Enoden line was extremely difficult.
Click here for more details: Kamakura Customized Private Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Yokohama～Kita-Kamakura | 320JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kita-Kamakura～Kamakura | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Wakamiya-oji / Keikyu Bus～Jomyoji / Keikyu Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Jomyoji / Keikyu Bus～Kamakura Station (East Exit) / Keikyu Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Kamakura～Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture) | 200JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Hase (Kanagawa Prefecture)～Fujisawa | 310JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Fujisawa～Yokohama | 420JPY |
| Total | 1,840JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kanagawa tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at front of Yokohama Port Post Office at 09:30, and the tour finished at Yokohama Station at 15:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 09:30 to 15:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Engaku-ji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hokoku-ji Temple and Sugimoto-dera Temple, the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple and Shonan Coast (from the Enoden train window).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,840JPY per person across 7 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!
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.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.