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
- 7:55 Meet, explanation of the historical significance of Kamakura. 8:45 Depart Shinjuku by train, arrive Kamakura 9:45. 9:06 Take the Enoden, get off at Hase, Goryo Shrine, Hasedera Temple, lunch, then Great Buddha of Kamakura. 13:45 Bus to Kamakura Station 14:15, via Komachi Street, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, return to Kamakura Station. 15:36 depart by train, arrive Shinjuku 16:37, ride together on the train, I get off at Yokohama Station at 16:00 and disband.
タイトル: What's a Private Kamakura History Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests had a deep interest in Japanese culture and history, so before departure I explained the historical significance of Kamakura, along with the difference between the emperor and the shogun, how to distinguish between shrines and temples, and how these relate to our daily customs. At Goryo Shrine, they experienced the quiet Shinto atmosphere, and at Hasedera Temple they felt the Buddhist atmosphere. For lunch they enjoyed Japanese cuisine seated on tatami mats, where we talked about kanji characters and had an enjoyable time. They were impressed by the majesty of the Great Buddha and also observed its interior. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, I compared the Genpei War to the Wars of the Roses in England, which helped them feel a sense of familiarity. They were surprised by Komachi Street, which was so crowded it was almost impossible to move.
Click here for more details: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shinjuku～Kamakura | 950JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kamakura～Hase Station / Enoden Bus | 200JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Daibutsu-mae / Keikyu Bus～Kamakura Station (East Exit) / Keikyu Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Kamakura～Yokohama | 440JPY |
| Total | 1,810JPY | ||
I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
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Jun 30, 2026
G2432BLtimothyc
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
6 hour tour of Hakone
we had a great experience with…
Jun 30, 2026
G2432BLtimothyc
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
6 hour tour of Hakone
we had a great experience with our guide, Hiro. Despite the weather not cooperating (rain),
Hiro was great about making adjustments so that we could see as much as Hakone as
possible.
Jun 25, 2026
T7734IPbrandons
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in hakone
Niro was perfect for us. He was…
Jun 25, 2026
T7734IPbrandons
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in hakone
Niro was perfect for us. He was flexible for our first time in Hakone and the kids enjoyed it
Jun 8, 2026
JasonB6980
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hiro-san knows Hakone!
Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…
Jun 8, 2026
JasonB6980
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hiro-san knows Hakone!
Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing us to the area of Hakone – leading us on a great tour of several requested destinations. We were lucky to see Mt. Fuji at the top of the ropeway, had a fun ride on a pirate ship on Lake Ashi, enjoyed a fantastic lunch at a local restaurant, and picked up some great souvenirs at a puzzle-box store which have wowed our family and friends. One of the great things that Hiro did throughout the day was to educate and amuse us with numerous pictures, stories, and lessons from his backpack. It felt like Hiro-san was part of our family that day and we can’t imagine having tried to experience Hakone’s great sites without him.
Jun 7, 2026
Tourist31988989961
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
Great Day and Tour
Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…
Jun 7, 2026
Tourist31988989961
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
Great Day and Tour
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.