When traveling to places like Japan, with a long, rich history, it is always important to try to learn about the sites you visit. However, sometimes it can be a little bit difficult, as it can be difficult to find the best places to see in Japan, and unfortunately, people often do not speak English. Recently, on one of my frequent trips to the coastal town of Kamakura (鎌倉), I finally managed to drag my incredibly busy girlfriend away from work to show her around the area. Even though I have visited Kamakura several times since moving to Tokyo, I always find new and interesting places to visit and things to do. This time we did a perfect Kamakura couple’s activity: the rickshaw tour!
Learn About Kamakura’s History and Culture with a Rickshaw Tour
The guided rickshaw tour, run by a company called ‘EBIYUSA Kamakura,’ offers various packages ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours and can seat up to 3 people. The seats were a little strange (probably because it was my first time), but our guide made us comfortable and even provided a blanket to shield our legs from the sun. The rickshaw also has a cover that can fold up or down, depending on your preference.
They will provide you with a map in a brochure, from which you can select where you would like to be taken. We asked our guide that day, Satoshi-san, to take us where he thought would be best.
Satoshi-san has been running rickshaw tours in Kamakura for six years. We met our guide at the Family Mart near JR Kamakura station. The rickshaw itself is quite comfortable!
Our first stop was this small bridge, which Satoshi-san explained was named after the harp instrument due to the sound the wind would make as it blew through the trees growing alongside the river.
He then brought us to the area leading up to Myohonji Temple. Though I had seen it once before, the air amongst the trees was beautifully fresh as it was coming into the summer season.
It appeared that we interrupted an amateur camera club, or two foreigners riding a rickshaw in Kamakura was exciting. We instantly became D-list Kamakura celebrities!
After Myohonji, Satoshi-san brought us back into town, passing another temple and weaving through Kamakura’s backstreets.
The ride is incredibly smooth, and the rickshaw is surprisingly quiet (not at all ‘rickety,’ as the name suggests). It is a comfortable experience!
Before concluding our tour, we were pulled along Wakamiya Street, the main road of Kamakura, which leads up to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Along the way, Satoshi-san pointed out several stores and their relevance to Kamakura’s history. Throughout the tour, he was incredibly knowledgeable about the area, so hopefully, you will learn something interesting about Kamakura!
After all was said and done, he agreed to pose for a photo and gave us some souvenirs to take back to Tokyo. As we were only able to do the 30-minute tour, time completely flew by, so I would recommend going for longer if you can. It was a lot of fun, and our guide was informative and fun. The tours are great for anybody interested in visiting Kamakura, not just couples but elderly travelers or small groups (as it beats walking!).
How to Make a Rickshaw Reservation
You can make online bookings with Ebisuya on their website.
If you are exploring Kamakura and want a unique and interesting experience, do not pass up Ebisuya Kamakura’s rickshaw tours!
