Kamakura — The Samurai's Oath
Kamakura, 1199. Uncover the traitors who swore loyalty to Shogun Yoritomo but plotted his downfall. Decode their hidden signs across sacred sites to expose the conspiracy before it strikes.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1199, Kamakura pulses as the heart of Japan's first Shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, the iron-willed samurai lord who forged a new era from the ashes of civil war
Kamakura — The Samurai's Oath
You are an emissary for Regent Hōjō Tokimune, sent to Kamakura in 1282.
Your mission: consolidate the alliance of temples against the Mongol threat
Delve into the martial soul of medieval Japan, where samurai oaths forged the Shogunate Capital of Kamakura.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura's main Shinto shrine, founded in 1063 by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and moved to its current location in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo. This site, dedicated to Hachiman, god of war and protector of the Minamoto clan, is the spiritual heart of the city. The 61 steps of the main staircase, stretching 61.3 meters, lead you to samurai treasures, including over 1,500 artifacts housed in the Treasure Museum. The Genbu-ike pond, dug in 1812, with its two islands symbolizing yin and yang, testifies to the deep spirituality of Kanto.
Walking down Wakamiya Ōji, a 1.8 km processional avenue laid out in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo, you follow in the footsteps of the shoguns. This straight avenue, averaging 25 meters wide and lined with century-old ginkgo biloba trees, connects Yuigahama Beach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangū. It was the nerve center of medieval Kamakura, the capital of the shogunate from 1185 to 1333, and has been used for the Gion festivals in July since the 13th century.
Continue to Kencho-ji, the first of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples, founded in 1249 by the Chinese monk Rankei Doryū under the Hōjō shogunate. Its main Sanmon gate, built in 1327 and 24 meters high, has been designated a National Cultural Property of Japan since 1922. The founding Hat-to pavilion, 36 meters square, houses a 1.8 m Buddha statue. This temple, a cornerstone of Zen Buddhism, is an essential part of your immersion in Kanto's Shinto and Buddhist heritage.
The Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Jinja, a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, goddess of arts and wealth, awaits you after 500 steps from Wakamiya Ōji, about 1 km away. Founded in 1180 following an oracle from Minamoto no Yoritomo, this site is famous for its natural cave where visitors have been washing bills and coins since the 13th century, believing it multiplies their fortune. This shrine, though more modest, reveals a unique facet of Kamakura's popular beliefs and the depth of the region's religious syncretism.
Your journey concludes at Engaku-ji, the second of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples, founded in 1282 by Regent Hōjō Tokimune to pray for the end of the Mongol invasion. This complex, spread over 10 hectares and featuring 18 main buildings across 7 valleys, stands as a testament to Kamakura's resilience. The Shariden (relic hall), built in 1282, has been designated a National Treasure since 1909. The main gate, 22 meters high and adorned with 14th-century carvings, embodies the grandeur of Japan's National Cultural Properties. You depart with the secrets of the samurai and the rich heritage of Kanto.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Forgotten Manuscript
Reconstruct fragments of an ancient document revealing a plot.
Samurai Intrigues
Dive into the heart of power games and betrayals of the first Shogunate.
Speaking Stones
Decipher symbols carved on ancient stones and monuments.
Honor is heavier than a mountain.
But betrayal can make it crumble.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the martial soul of medieval Japan, where samurai oaths forged the Shogunate Capital of Kamakura.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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