Kamakura — Tea and Zen
One-day tour of the samurai capital: immersion in the aesthetics of Zen and tea

Kamakura — Tea and Zen

A unique experience in the samurai capital, away from the bustling tourist routes

  • Duration: 8 hours
  • Price: On request
  • Departure: Departure and arrival at the Tokyo hotel

Overview

This tour offers a special introduction to Kamakura for guests wishing to enjoy tranquility, aesthetics, Zen philosophy, and the charm of historic Japan away from the bustling tourist routes. 

 

Kamakura, the ancient capital where Japan’s first samurai government was established, is a small city located on the scenic coast of Sagami Bay. Here, among temples, bamboo groves, and quiet streets, the spirit of the shogunate era and Zen Buddhism can still be felt. 

 

Unlike standard sightseeing routes, this tour reveals a more intimate and refined side of Kamakura—a place where Japanese aesthetics, serenity, and harmony with nature are experienced especially deeply. 

 

Itinerary: hotel in Tokyo → Jufuku-ji → Zeniarai Benzaiten → Hokoku-ji (bamboo grove and teahouse) → Zuisen-ji → Sagami Bay coast → hotel in Tokyo

Key Features

  1. Jufuku-ji — the oldest Zen temple — Founded in 1200, it ranks third among the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. A place of seclusion and inner harmony, it is rarely visited by large tourist groups.
  2. Zeniarai — Shinto shrine — The Shrine of Good Fortune. A uniquely atmospheric place hidden among rocks and caves. It is said that washing coins in the sacred spring water brings luck.
  3. Lunch/ COFFEE TIME — Seasonal Japanese traditional cuisine, vegetarian shojin-ryori, or seaside fare—choose to your taste. Kamakura is renowned for its excellent coffee.
  4. Hokoku-ji — bamboo and tea — In the tranquil atmosphere of a Zen temple amidst a bamboo grove, enjoy a special moment of meditation with traditional matcha tea in a teahouse.
  5. Zuisenji — Zen gardens — The famous garden created by the Zen master Muso Soseki features impressive stone compositions and seasonal flowers. One of the most beautiful Zen temples in Kamakura.
  6. The coast of Sagami Bay — On the way back to Tokyo, enjoy a walk along the coast of Sagami Bay. On clear days, you are treated to breathtaking views of Enoshima and the sacred Mount Fuji.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Kamakura — a day of serenity amidst Zen culture

  • 10:00 Departure from the hotel in Tokyo
    After meeting your guide, a private driver will pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable car. Your journey to the ancient city of Kamakura begins.
  • 11:30 Jufuku-ji Temple
    The first stop in Kamakura is Jufuku-ji Temple, one of the oldest Zen temples in the city. Founded in 1200 by Hojo Masako, who invited the Zen master Eisai. The temple ranks third among the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura. Surrounded by ancient trees and moss-covered stone paths, the temple is filled with an atmosphere of seclusion and inner peace. Large tourist groups rarely visit here, so the place retains its unique tranquil ambiance.
  • 12:30 Zeniarai Benzaiten
    One of the most unique and atmospheric places in Kamakura, the Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, is quietly nestled among rocks and caves. According to ancient tradition, washing money in the sacred spring water is believed to bring luck, prosperity, and financial well-being.
  • 13:30 Lunch
    In Kamakura, you can choose seasonal Japanese cuisine, vegetarian dishes at Zen temples, or coastal restaurants overlooking Sagami Bay—depending on your preferences.
  • 14:30 Hokoku-ji — bamboo grove and teahouse
    One of the most memorable places of the journey is Hokoku-ji. Widely known as the “Bamboo Temple,” this Zen temple is home to around two thousand tall Moso bamboo stalks, filling the grounds with a sense of perfect tranquility and seclusion.
    Light filtering through the bamboo, the rustle of leaves, and a leisurely stroll through the gardens invite you to a special moment of meditation.
    In the teahouse, you can enjoy traditional matcha and sweets while admiring the view of the bamboo garden.
  • 15:30 Zuisenji Temple
    The tour concludes at Zuisen-ji, one of Kamakura's most beautiful Zen temples. The temple is renowned for its exquisite garden created by the great Zen master Muso Soseki, impressive rock formations, seasonal flowers, and an atmosphere of profound tranquility.
  • 16:30 The coast of Sagami Bay
    Time for a walk along the coast of Sagami Bay before returning to Tokyo. On clear days, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Enoshima and the sacred Mount Fuji.
  • 18:00 Tokyo
    Return to the hotel.

TEA & ZEN

The Story of Tea and Zen

At the dawn of the Kamakura period, Zen master Eisai—the founder of the Japanese Rinzai Zen school—brought tea seeds from China (Song dynasty) and wrote the treatise Kissa Yōjōki (“On the Health Benefits of Tea Drinking”), thus laying the foundation for Japanese matcha culture.

 

During zazen—seated meditation—matcha tea helped monks clear their minds, maintain inner silence and focus, freeing the mind from wandering thoughts. In Zen monasteries, there was also a special practice known as sarei—the “monastic tea ceremony.” Several times a day—after meditation and the chanting of sutras—monks would gather to share a bowl of tea. This ritual was a symbol of harmony, unity, and spiritual tranquility.

 

Even today, a bowl of matcha enjoyed in the silence of a bamboo grove transcends ordinary tea drinking, becoming a special moment—a touch of contemplative spirit and the aesthetics of Zen.

Additional options (upon request) 
・Private tea ceremony 
・Meditation in a monastery
・Visit to the Great Buddha in Kamakura (Kotoku-in) 
・Visit to Hasedera Temple 
・Visit to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
 ・Grave of Minamoto no Yoritomo 
・Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura branch
・Aristocratic villa Ichijo Ekan-ko. A rare surviving example of sukiya architecture from the Edo period (by advance reservation only) 
・Enoshima
・Sunset on the coast of Sagami Bay 
・Photo session with a professional photographer (kimono rental available)

Practical Information

Start time / Duration
10:00 / 8 hours
Included in the price
- Private car transfer with driver
- Accompaniment by a professional guide
- Entrance tickets, tea, and Japanese sweets

*Please note: the cost of meals and additional fees are not included in the tour price.