I offer a one-day excursion by car to Kamakura, the old capital of Japan which is located near the Pacific Ocean.
Kamakura is one of the most popular day trips. On your way to Kamakura you will not only see the famous Great Buddha Temple or the Hasedera Temple complex with its magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean but you can also visit Kamakura’s old town with its many shops or go to Enoshima island. There is also the possibility to go swimming in the Pacific Ocean between May and September if you wish.
Why I recommend travelling by car
Fast and comfortable. We pick up travellers directly from the hotel and return them back to the hotel. You can also travel with suitcases if you plan to stay overnight and then travel on to Kyoto the next day.
You will visit places where you cannot go without a car. Enoshima or the Pacific coast. And a unique opportunity to explore Japan’s highways and mountain roads.
You’ll really enjoy the trip. Due to the huge number of tourists going to Kamakura from Shinjuku or Shinagawa Station you may have to spend an hour on the train standing. Also the Enoshima train line is always packed with tourists. So if you want to get there quickly in comfort and spend the whole day efficiently, a trip by car is the best solution.
Vehicle: Nissan Serena or similar
Driver/guide: english/japanese speaking guide Andrew
Number of persons: maximum 4 persons
Directions
8:30 Check-out from Tokyo hotel
10:00-11:00 Sightseeing tour of Hokokuji Temple. This temple is also known as the Bamboo Temple because of the exceptionally beautiful bamboo forest inside the temple. Hokokuji was founded in 1334 and is one of the 33 temples of the Kamakura Pilgrim Way.
11:30-12:30 Sightseeing tour of Hasedera Temple. Hase-dera (長谷寺) is the main temple of the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism. The main hall of the temple is a Japanese national treasure. The temple was first built in 686 and dedicated to Emperor Tenmu. The temple is particularly popular in spring, when the 700 Chinese peonies that line the staircase bloom. Hasedera also looks spectacular in autumn, when the leaves of the many maple trees on the temple grounds turn red. The main hall of the temple is a national treasure. The eleven-faced Kannon statue stands in this hall. It is said to be the largest wooden statue in Japan. Its faces consist of one main face and ten secondary faces, which are said to allow the Kannon goddess of mercy to see all around her should anyone need her help.
12:30-13:30 Lunch at the Hasedera Temple restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
13:45-14:30 Sightseeing tour of Kotoku-in (高徳院) – Buddhist temple. Travellers call it the Temple of the Great Buddha. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is one of Japan’s most famous Buddha statues and is a national treasure. The Great Buddha of Kamakura, cast in the 13th century. The Great Buddha of Kamakura (鎌倉大仏, Kamakura Daibutsu) is a large bronze statue of Amitabha on the temple grounds. Including the base, it is 13.35 metres high and weighs about 93 tonnes. The statue was erected around 1252.
15:00-17:30 We can choose whether to go to Kamakura town centre with its many shops or to Enoshima Island and the maritime museum next to the island, or, if tourists prefer, to take a dip in the Pacific Ocean. We will decide individually what is more interesting for you.
17:30 Departure to Tokyo.
19:00 Return to your hotel in Tokyo.
TOUR PRICE
Tour price 350 EUR.
RESERVATION FORM
