Private Car Tour of Kamakura and Yokohama: Unveil the Highlights from Tokyo

Experience the highlights of Kamakura and Yokohama on a private car tour from Tokyo. Customize your itinerary, enjoy roundtrip transportation, and explore at your own pace!

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) - This is a colossal bronze statue of Amida Buddha (13.5m, 44 ft.) situated outdoors. It stands as the sole national treasure in Kamakura. Visitors can enter the statue for just 20 yen. (admission fee 200 yen per person)

  • Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple) - Awarded 3 stars in the Michelin travel guide, this temple is renowned for its stunning bamboo grove. Guests can enjoy matcha green tea and a Japanese sweet in a teahouse with a view of the bamboo grove. (admission fee 600 yen per person, including matcha and sweet) (20 to 60 minutes)

  • Hase-dera Temple - Known as the temple of flowers, it offers cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas from late May to late June, and maple leaves in autumn. It also features a 9.18 meter-tall gilded wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. (admission fee 400 yen per person) (30 to 60 minutes)

  • Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine - This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the god of war and the samurai. It is a popular wedding venue and is especially beautiful during cherry blossom or azalea season. (30 to 60 minutes)

  • Kamakura Komachidori - A long shopping street near Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, lined with numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops. Popular souvenirs include carved lacquerware (Kamakura-bori), pigeon-shaped cookies (Toshimaya Hato sable), and bean snacks (Kamakura mameya). (20 to 80 minutes)

  • Kencho-ji Temple - The oldest and highest-ranking Zen temple in Kamakura, offering meditation practice on certain dates. Zen t-shirts are available for purchase. (admission fee 500 yen per person)

  • Engaku-ji Temple - The second most important Zen temple in Kamakura, known for its large temple gate and bell. The grave of famous film director Yasujiro Ozu is located here. A café within the temple grounds offers lunch, Japanese sweets, and matcha green tea on certain dates. (admission fee 300 yen per person)

  • Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple) - Famous for its blue hydrangeas from late May to late June. Many visitors queue to photograph the circular window in the main hall that frames the garden scenery. (admission fee 500 yen per person)

  • Zeniarai Benten Shrine - A Shinto shrine believed to increase income by washing cash with its holy water.

  • Tokeiji Temple - This small, quiet temple once served as a refuge for women seeking divorce from abusive husbands at a time when only men could request a divorce. Visitors can enjoy flowers year-round, such as plums in early spring and irises and climbing hydrangeas in June, in gardens extending to the wooded hills. (admission fee 200 yen per person)

  • Kamakura Kokomae Station - This picturesque railroad crossing, with the beautiful blue sea in the background, was featured in the opening sequence of the famous Japanese anime “Slam Dunk.” A short photo stop is possible.

  • Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 - A seaside urban area in central Yokohama, featuring major attractions like the Landmark Tower (the second tallest building in Japan), Cosmo World amusement park, and the Red Brick Warehouses shopping center. (30 to 60 minutes)

  • Sankeien Gardens - A traditional Japanese-style garden designed by a wealthy businessman, featuring 17 historic buildings relocated from Kyoto and other places, skillfully arranged to complement the garden’s beauty. (admission fee 700 yen per person) (30 to 90 minutes)

  • Enoshima Island - Home to various attractions such as a shrine, aquarium, botanical garden, observation tower, and caves. Mount Fuji can be seen from several spots if the weather is clear. (30 to 150 minutes)

  • Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden - Offers a panoramic view of the Yokohama Bay area and Tokyo Bay from 273m (900 ft) high. On clear days, Mount Fuji is also visible. (admission fee 1000 yen per person)

  • Yamashita Park - Ideal for a leisurely stroll with a coffee, this park is a favorite among locals for relaxation. Street performers entertain visitors on weekends. A photo stop is possible upon request.

  • Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal - Provides a stunning view of the Yokohama Minato Mirai area.

  • Minatonomieruoka-koen-mae [Minato-no-mieru Oka Park] - Another scenic viewpoint and landmark of the Yokohama Bay area, featuring an English garden. It is located next to the residential districts established by Westerners when Yokohama opened as an international port at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

  • Yokohama Chinatown - The largest Chinatown in Japan, perfect for those wanting to try Chinese food or experience a different atmosphere. Stops or lunch can be arranged upon request.

  • Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama - Operated by Nisshin, the company that invented Cup Noodles. Visitors can learn about the history of instant noodles, create their own original noodles, sample different flavors from around the world, and purchase unique souvenirs. (admission fee 500 yen per person) (45 to 90 minutes)

  • Shinyokohama Ramen Museum - A must-visit for ramen enthusiasts, offering 8 different types of ramen in one place. (admission fee 310 yen per person)

What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Bottled water included
  • Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
  • No additional surcharges on fuel
  • Parking fees covered
  • Van transportation includes highway tolls and gasoline
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Gratuity *5-20%
Additional Information

We will create your private tour to explore two fascinating Japanese cities in one day. Discover the ancient capital Kamakura where the first samurai-led history started. It is also home to the famed Great Buddha and numerous enchanting Shrines and Temples such as Tsurugaoka Hachiman, Hokokuji famous for its bamboo garden where you can relax with a cup of matcha. Find souvenirs, crafts, and delicious street food at Komachi Street before continuing your day in Enoshima or Yokohama. Yokohama will be an interesting comparison after Kamakura with a gap of 850 years where oriental and occidental cultures met. Enjoy exploring this new city’s highlights such as Landmark Tower Sky Garden, Redbrick Warehouse, Cup Noodle Museum, etc.

1)A qualified guide and a driver or a guide with both skills will accompany your party in a private car
2)Fully operated by Japanese staff who have great knowledge of the surroundings, and curate your personalized hassle-free tour
3)Please ask if you are over 9 pax

  • The itinerary on the What to Expect is a list, please select around 4 to 6 sites.
  • You can ask our guide for advice and suggestions after booking.
  • Please advise for any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking, vegetarian option is available.
  • The tour will not be cancelled or refunded even if some spots are not fully visible due to weather conditions. The activity schedule is subject to change/cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
Location
Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
4 Chome-2-28 Hase,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(42 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Anna_c
Aug 1, 2024
Good time. - Kenji our tour guide and driver where both very nice and made the experience very good. We had a good trip
Review provided by Viator
Susanhg1867iv
Jul 9, 2024
Great, comfortable private tour of Kamakura and Yokohama - Both tour guide and driver were prompt, friendly and very helpful. The car was very comfortable. Yokohama/Kamakura are 1-1.5hrs from Tokyo, but so very different in terms of vibe and energy. Kamakura had a fun beach town vibe to it, and Yokohama is much larger but has some interesting sites as well. Our guide was able to share local history and knowledge to make the trip more meaningful. The company helped craft a great private tour from a list of different options, and even booked a lovely 5-star sushi lunch for us in Kamakura. I would definitely recommend this tour company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandy
Jul 6, 2024
Great tour of Yokohama - Our tour guide Teddy was able to create a custom tour for our family of 9 people that included elementary age kids and multiple seniors over 70. He communicates promptly over text messages to identify our interests and needs, such as the need for frequent bathroom breaks and to stay out of the humid hot June weather as much CB as possible. We visited the ramen museum, cup o noodles factory, the Pokémon center in Yokohama, lunch in Chinatown and a driving tour of the city landmarks. Of note was that he called ahead to the pokemon center and discovered that there was a new release that day, and that they would only allow a limited number of people to enter if they stood in line and grab the ticket first thing in the morning. He arranged our tour so that we could get an entrance ticket first thing in the morning and to return back to the Pokémon center in between trips to the other sites that we wanted to see. He went above and beyond just with this one act so that we were able to pack in a full day in Yokohama and see everything that we wanted to without over exerting members of our family. He was patient, communicative and coordinated with precision each rendezvous with the driver of our small tour van so that we spent very little time waiting to be picked up from the different sites we visited. What was especially impressive was how he found us a restaurant in Chinatown at lunchtime when nearly every restaurant was packedand at capacity. He speaks English, both Cantonese and Mandarin and Spanish! Our family highly recommends working with Teddy and his company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G9550szlisah
Jul 1, 2024
Excellent tour of Kamakura and Yokohama - My daughter (18 years old) and I went on this tour today and we could not have asked for better. The vehicle was clean, spacious, and very comfortable. We saw many lovely sites in Kamakura and Yokohama. Our tour guide Yoshimi was very knowledgeable and taught us history and culture of Japan. She catered to our interests and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommended this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_h
Jun 30, 2024
Great, comfortable private tour of Kamakura and Yokohama - Both tour guide and driver were prompt, friendly and very helpful. The car was very comfortable. Yokohama/Kamakura are 1-1.5hrs from Tokyo, but so very different in terms of vibe and energy. Kamakura had a fun beach town vibe to it, and Yokohama is much larger but has some interesting sites as well. Our guide was able to share local history and knowledge to make the trip more meaningful. The company helped craft a great private tour from a list of different options, and even booked a lovely 5-star sushi lunch for us in Kamakura. I would definitely recommend this tour company.
Review provided by Viator
Travelingtara1
Jun 30, 2024
Absolutely amazing day with the sweetest Guide and Driver! - Just a dream team! Comfortable van, perfectly planned day, delicious lunch recommendations, took lots of family photos of us together, was an absolute wealth of knowledge and so informative at the locations and in the van traveling too. We could not have asked for more from our guide Yoshi! She was amazing and our favorite day so far!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tara_p
Jun 29, 2024
Incredible Informative Day with Delightful Guide and Driver - Our guide Yoshi was simply an absolute joy to spend the day with. Her energetic attitude and her love for her culture and country shined through in her stories and information she shared with us all day long. We learned so much about customs, manners, traditions, history, local life, and more. Our driver who we didn’t spend as much time with was equally as kind and nice and prompt as well. This was an A team line up of women who made our day spectacular. The van was very accommodating and comfortable for the ride as well. Lunch recommendations were delicious with sashimi, tempura, etc. We cannot thank them enough as this has definitely been our best day in Japan so far.
Review provided by Viator
Belamy
Jun 23, 2024
Highly recommended private tour - Lucy was attentive and helpful. We had an enjoyable private tour and they were very accommodating to include some personal requests! Definitely recommended to try their service!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trip302520
May 30, 2024
Kamakura experience - Kenji gave us a lot of knowledge of the Kamakura area. We saw the awesome giant Buddha and the beautiful grounds of the Hasedera temple. Great info.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Soumitran181
May 28, 2024
A 5 star trip with history, culture, scenic wonders made 7 star by the best guide one can hope for - Temples were not only a visit where one found ones inner self but also the rich history made you wonder. For teens and inquisitive minds having a highly learned guide and bubbling with understanding more was ultimate . While kamakura provided us with gardens, temples, shrines; enoshima was an island experience with carefully crafted step up in the history. We concluded the tour with Yokohama and its deep rooted port culture. What made it worthwhile was our guide Ms Yoshimi became a friend ..we just loved it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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