• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine - This shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron deity of the Minamoto clan and samurai. The enshrined spirits include the deified Emperor Ojin, identified with Hachiman, Hime-gami, and Empress Jingu.

• Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) - The Great Buddha of Kamakura (鎌倉大仏, Kamakura Daibutsu) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha located at Kotokuin Temple. Standing at 11.4 meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, only surpassed by the statue in Nara’s Todaiji Temple and some newer creations.

• Hase-dera Temple - Hasedera (長谷寺) is a Jodo sect temple, renowned for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The 9.18-meter-tall, gilded wooden statue is one of Japan’s largest wooden sculptures and is displayed in the temple’s main building, the Kannon-do Hall.

• Hokokuji Temple (Takedera Temple) - Hokokuji Temple is famous for its beautiful, small bamboo grove behind the main hall, featuring over 2000 dark green bamboo stalks. Narrow paths lead through the bamboo to a tea house where, for a small fee, visitors can enjoy matcha tea while admiring the grove. Behind the temple are shallow caves believed to hold the ashes of some Ashikaga lords.

• Enoshima Island - A short train ride west of Kamakura, Enoshima (江の島) is a tourist-friendly island connected to the mainland by a bridge. The island offers attractions such as a shrine, park, observation tower, and caves. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible.

Enoshima is divided into a yacht harbor accessible by motorized traffic and a forested hill, which can only be explored on foot (and paid escalators) and contains most attractions. Several shrine buildings, collectively known as Enoshima Shrine, are dedicated to Benten, a goddess of good fortune, wealth, music, and knowledge. Benten is believed to have created Enoshima and subdued a five-headed dragon that terrorized the area.

• Engaku-ji Temple - Engakuji (円覚寺) is a leading Zen temple in Eastern Japan and the second of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples. Founded by regent Hojo Tokimune in 1282, a year after the second Mongol invasion was repelled, the temple honors fallen Japanese and Mongolian soldiers.

Engakuji is nestled in the forested hills of Kita-Kamakura. The first main structure is the Sanmon main gate, dating from 1783. Behind it is the Butsuden, the main hall, displaying a wooden statue of the Shaka Buddha. The Butsuden was rebuilt in 1964 after the previous building was lost in an earthquake.

• Kencho-ji Temple - Kenchoji (建長寺, Kenchōji) is the foremost of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples. The oldest Zen temple in Kamakura, Kenchoji was founded by regent Hojo Tokiyori in 1253 during the Kencho Era. Its first head priest was Rankei Doryu, a Zen priest from China.

Although smaller than in its prime, Kenchoji still has many temple buildings and subtemples, stretching from the entrance gate at the valley’s bottom into the forested hills. After passing through the Sanmon main gate, visitors will see Kenchoji’s temple bell (Bonsho), a national treasure, on their right.

• Zeniarai Benten Shrine - Zeniarai Benten Shrine (銭洗弁天) is a popular shrine in western Kamakura, where people wash their money (zeniarai means “coin washing”). It is believed that money washed in the shrine’s spring will double.

Minamoto Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura government, ordered the shrine’s construction after a god appeared in his dream, recommending the shrine’s creation to bring peace to the country. The dream occurred on the day, month, and year of the snake, leading to the shrine’s dedication to Benten, a Buddhist goddess associated with snakes.

• Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple) - Meigetsuin Temple (明月院) is a Rinzai Zen Sect temple founded in 1160 in Kamakura. Known as Ajisaidera (“Hydrangea Temple”), it features abundant hydrangea blooms during the rainy season in June. 95% of the hydrangea are the Hime Ajisai (“Princess Hydrangea”) variety, named for their pretty blue colors.

Originally a repose built by a son in memory of his father who died in the Taira and Minamoto clans’ power struggle in the late Heian Period, it later became part of a larger temple complex called Zenkoji, which was abolished during anti-Buddhist movements after the Meiji Restoration, leaving only Meigetsuin as an individual temple.

• Ankokuronji Temple - Ankokuronji (安国論寺) is one of several Nichiren sect temples in the southeast hills of Kamakura. Nichiren founded Ankokuronji around 1253 when he first arrived in Kamakura, and he is said to have lived there for several years.

Visitors can walk a short hiking trail through the wooded hills around the temple buildings, enjoying a nice view of Kamakura. Some trail passages are steep and should be explored with good walking shoes and in dry weather.

• Jomyo-ji Temple - Jomyoji Temple (浄妙寺, Jōmyōji) is a Zen temple in eastern Kamakura’s hills. Ranked fifth among Kamakura’s five great Zen temples, Jomyoji was founded by the Ashikaga family and once comprised seven buildings and several pagodas. Over time, many structures were destroyed by fire, leaving only the historic main hall, reception hall, main gate, and warehouse. The main hall, at the garden’s end, houses a statue of Shaka Nyorai, the historical Buddha.

Jomyoji Temple also features a restored teahouse where visitors can enjoy tea for a small fee while viewing a dry garden. Behind the main hall is the temple’s spacious cemetery, with a path leading to a small western-style restaurant offering good views over Kamakura from its patio.

• Zuisenji - Zuisenji (瑞泉寺) is a beautiful Zen temple in Kamakura’s far east, nestled in a narrow valley and surrounded by wooded hills. It is a branch temple of Engakuji Temple.

Zuisenji was founded by Muso Kokushi, a leading Zen master and renowned garden designer. The temple is known for its pure Zen rock garden behind the main hall, designed by Muso. The temple grounds also feature many flowers and blooming trees, including numerous plum trees.

• Myohonji Temple - Myohonji (妙本寺, Myōhonji) is one of several Nichiren sect temples in Kamakura’s southeastern hills. Founded by Hiki Yoshimoto in 1260, it features a statue of Nichiren to the left of the main hall.

The temple connects via the Gionyama hiking trail to nearby temples and a shrine. The trail leads through Kamakura’s wooded hills and should be explored with good walking shoes and in dry weather due to steep and rough passages.

• Jochiji Temple - Jochiji (浄智寺, Jōchiji) is the fourth of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples. It is a branch temple of the Engakuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its head temple, Engakuji Temple, is just a few hundred meters away across the railway tracks.

Jochiji was founded in 1283 by the ruling Hojo family after a son’s premature death. Once a large complex with many buildings and subtemples, Jochiji is now small and tranquil. In its main hall, the Dongeden, the temple’s main object of worship, a Buddhist trinity of the Amida Buddha, Shaka Buddha, and Miroku Buddha, is displayed.

• Tokeiji Temple - Tokeiji (東慶寺, Tōkeiji) is a small branch temple of the Engakuji school within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its head temple, Engakuji Temple, is just a few hundred meters away across the railway tracks.

Tokeiji was founded by the wife of regent Hojo Tokimune in 1285 after Tokimune’s early death. Until the Edo Period’s end, the temple served as a refuge for women suffering abuse and seeking divorce. An official divorce could be obtained by staying at the temple for three years.

• Jufukuji Temple - Jufukuji Temple (寿福寺) is the third of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples. It is a branch temple of the Rinzai sect’s Kenchoji school.

Jufukuji was established by Minamoto Yoritomo’s wife Masako after his death. Its founding priest was Eisai, who introduced Zen Buddhism to Japan. Besides the often-photographed pathway leading to the temple, Jufukuji is not open to the public.

• Eishoji Temple - Eisho-ji Temple (英勝寺) is the only surviving nunnery in Kamakura, near Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Founded in the early Edo period by a woman connected to the Tokugawa family, it is known as a “flower temple” for its seasonal blooms.

Visitors can enjoy a peaceful bamboo grove and a graceful Amida Buddha statue, said to be by the famous sculptor Unkei. The quiet atmosphere makes it a hidden gem worth visiting.

• Sankeien Gardens - Sankeien (三溪園) is a spacious Japanese-style garden in southern Yokohama, showcasing historic buildings from across Japan. The garden features a pond, small rivers, flowers, and scenic trails reminiscent of Kyoto.

Built by Hara Sankei and opened to the public in 1904, the garden includes historic buildings such as a daimyo (feudal lord) residence, tea houses, and the main hall and three-storied pagoda of Kyoto’s old Tomyoji Temple.

• Yokohama Chinatown - Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街, Yokohama Chūkagai) is Japan’s largest Chinatown, located in central Yokohama. The narrow, colorful streets are filled with Chinese stores and restaurants. Various events and festivals, such as Chinese New Year in early February, are held in Chinatown.

Yokohama Chinatown developed quickly after Yokohama’s port was one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade in 1859. It became home to many Chinese traders. Today, there are more businesses than residents in the area.

Four colorful gates mark Chinatown’s entrances, with five more gates within. The Kanteibyo is a brightly colored temple in Chinatown’s center, constructed in 1873 by Chinese residents and dedicated to the Chinese god of good business and prosperity.

• Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 - Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい 21) is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama, meaning “harbor of the future.” It features many high-rises, including the Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest building from 1993 to 2014. The area was a large shipyard until the 1980s when it was developed into a new city center.

Minato Mirai boasts a prime waterfront location and numerous attractions. Visitors can find shopping centers, hotels, a convention center, an amusement park, a relaxation center with hot spring baths, museums, and park space.

• Motomachi Park - During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Japan’s rulers restricted almost all foreign interactions. When isolation ended in the 1850s, Yokohama was one of the few port towns where foreign traders could reside. While the Chinese established a Chinatown, Westerners settled in the Yamate area, also known as “The Bluff.”

The Yamate area (山手) retains sites related to its history as Yokohama’s main Western residential district. However, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, few predate 1923. Today, Yamate is a hilly residential area with pleasant parks. Visitors will notice international schools and churches, indicating the continued presence of Western residents.

• Yamate 234ban Residence - During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Japan’s rulers restricted almost all foreign interactions. When isolation ended in the 1850s, Yokohama was one of the few port towns where foreign traders could reside. While the Chinese established a Chinatown, Westerners settled in the Yamate area, also known as “The Bluff.”

The Yamate area (山手) retains sites related to its history as Yokohama’s main Western residential district. However, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, few predate 1923. Today, Yamate is a hilly residential area with pleasant parks. Visitors will notice international schools and churches, indicating the continued presence of Western residents.

• Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama - The Cup Noodles Museum (also known as the 安藤百福発明記念館, Andō Momofuku Hatsumei Kinenkan) is an engaging and interactive museum in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai District, showcasing the history of instant ramen noodles through whimsical exhibits and hands-on workshops. Opened by Nissin Food company, whose founder invented instant ramen in 1958, it is the second cup noodles museum in Japan; the first is the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka.

Tickets are only available on the day of the visit. Visitors must line up before 10 am at the museum to purchase tickets.

• Yamashita Park - Yamashita Park (山下公園, Yamashita Kōen) is a public park stretching about 750 meters along Yokohama’s waterfront. The park is approximately 100 meters wide, consisting mainly of open green space. It was constructed after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

While strolling through Yamashita Park, visitors will notice the massive ocean liner beside the promenade. The ship, Hikawa Maru, was first put into service in 1930 along the Yokohama-Vancouver/Seattle line. It featured first-class cabins that attracted the imperial family and Charlie Chaplin for transpacific journeys. Retired in 1960 after 30 years at sea, the ship now serves as a museum with informative displays and 1930s-style interiors.

• Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal - The Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal (大さん橋国際客船ターミナル, Ōsanbashi Kokusai Kyakusen Terminal), also known as Osanbashi Pier, is located between Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park. It is where international cruise ships dock when visiting Yokohama. The 400-meter pier features walkways and green spaces open to the public, making Osanbashi Pier an interesting attraction even for those not boarding a ship.

Originally built in 1894, the pier was reconstructed in 2002 as a passenger terminal. Its bold new design incorporates grass and floorboards mimicking rolling waves. The pier is one of Yokohama’s best spots for a walk and offers unobstructed views of the Minato Mirai skyline. Below the walking area are boarding facilities, shops, restaurants, and a hall for small exhibitions and events.

• Shinyokohama Ramen Museum - The Shinyokohama Raumen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館, Shin Yokohama Ra-men Hakubutsukan) is a unique museum dedicated to ramen, a popular Japanese noodle dish originally introduced from China.

On the first floor, the Ramen Museum presents the history of ramen noodles in Japan, including the success of instant ramen. It displays the variety of noodles, soups, toppings, and bowls used across Japan and shows how the noodles are made.

On the two basement floors, visitors can explore a 1:1 replica of streets and houses from Shitamachi, Tokyo’s old town, around 1958, when ramen’s popularity was rapidly increasing. Nine ramen restaurants are featured, each offering a ramen dish from a different Japanese region.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Yokohama/Kamakura
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private transportation
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Enjoy an efficient, one-day walking tour of Yokohama or Kamakura accompanied by a government-licensed and experienced English-speaking guide!

For options to experience both modern and traditional sides of Japan outside of Tokyo, the cities of Yokohama and Kamakura are great. Let us know which city you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hour tour that’s best for you!

Note1: You cannot visit all the sites on the itinerary. You will be able to visit about 3 sites, with a maximum of 4, in the time provided.
Note2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

• Travel time between Yokohama and Kamakura is about 30 minutes one way.
• This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

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