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A Wonderful Half Day in Kyoto (East Kyoto) 4h
Joined 2018
This tour is recommended for the first visitors to Kyoto. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for 1000 years and has many old temples and shrines to visit. In this tour, you can visit two of the most famous and popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto and see the wonderful tradition, especially about Buddhist culture.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel (lobby) (in Kyoto)
Sanjyusangendo Temple
You can see 1001 statues of Buddha in a hall. It's a 'Forest of Buddha'. You will be amazed at the scenery. It is said that you will find the Buddha which resembles you among these statues.
Please be noted that you have to take off your shoes to enter the building.
Please be noted that you cannot take any pictures in this hall. Please imprint the breathtaking view in your memory!
Kiyomizudera Temple
This temple was built on the 13-meter cliff without using any nails in the 8th century. (UNESCO World Cultural Herigate site)
You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kyoto city, shopping and eating on its approach way. (There are many souvenir shops around this temple and you can enjoy shopping. Kiyomizu Pottery is produced in this area and you will find good presents for your family and friends.) How about trying some pieces of 'Yatsuhashi' (specialty sweets of Kyoto area)? You can try some different kinds of 'Yatsuhashi'.
You can also visit waterfall which is famous because the water gives you, 'longevity, love, or study (wisdom)'
This temple is so beautiful with cherry blossoms in spring and colored maple leaves in fall. Please enjoy!!
Jisyu Jinjya Shrine
This shrine is famous as the Shinto shrine for love and many young people like to visit this shrine.
(Jisyu Jinjya Shrine will start its renovation in August 2022 and be closed for public for 3 years.)
Zuigudo
You can hold on to the string of Buddhist rosary beads in the dark hall and feel like to go back to your mother's womb.
(If you don't like, you can omit here.)
Ending Point
Exit of Kiyomizudera Temple (Nio Mon, a Deva gate) , however, I will give you some advice, where to have lunch around the temple, how to go back to your hotel, and so on.
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto area
Transportation fee (you and your guide)
Entrance fee : Kiyomizudera Temple, 400 Japanese Yen/person
Sanjusangendo Temple, 600 Japanese Yen/person
(Zuigudo, 100 Japanese Yen/person)
Tour Important Information
Kiyomizudera Temple is now being renovated and the main hall is covered.
In Sanjyusangendo Temple, you cannot take pictures. Also, you have to take off your shoes.
Important message from the supplier
If you book me early, I can exchange mails with you many times to know what you want to do in details, collect information and prepare a lot for your plan. Please don't hesitate to ask me anything in advance.
I can guide you in the morning almost every day.(from 8:30 or 9:00 AM till 13:00 or 13:30PM)
This year, in case of the full day tour, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, are available.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2018
About Tour Guide Tomoe S.
Hello! My name is Tomoe. I'm a national licensed guide interpreter(English). I made my page here, TripleLights in October 2018. Thank you for finding me.
I was born and grew up in Otsu,Shiga, which is the next city of Kyoto.
I graduated from the university in Kyoto and lived there for four years due to my husband's job.
I like history and like to visit temples in Nara.
My hobby is to plan trips and have visited many cities and towns in Japan and abroad. One of my favorite places is the AIRPORT!!
I have enjoyed meeting and guiding people from abroad, to sightseeing spots in my country.
I really want many people from abroad to enjoy visiting many places and have wonderful experiences in my country. I'll be really happy if I can have such experiences with you!!
Please tell and ask me if there are any places which you want to visit and anything which you want to do in my country. I'll plan the trip only for you.
I am cheerful and always positive. I like to talk with people. I would like to talk with many people from many countries. Please tell me about your country, too!!
I'm looking forward to seeing you!!
* If you want, I will take you back to your hotel (within the time or with the extra hourly rate)
Or, I will show you how to go back to your hotel when we finish the tour.
* If you want, I will give you some advice about what to and where to eat your lunch/dinner.
Reviews
“A great and enjoyable experience”
If you're planning a trip to Kyoto and want to truly immerse yourself in the city's rich history and culture, look no further than Tomoe, our exceptional guide for a full-day tour. From the moment we met, Tomoe's calm demeanor and cheerful disposition set the tone for what would be an unforgettable experience. Kyoto, with its bustling streets and countless attractions, can be overwhelming for visitors. However, Tomoe effortlessly guided us through the chaos, transforming what could have been a stressful day into a pleasant journey of discovery. Her intimate knowledge of the city's layout allowed us to maximize our time and see more than we ever thought possible in a single day. One of Tomoe's most impressive qualities was her ability to breathe life into Kyoto's ancient stones. As we explored iconic sites like Akando, Nanzenji, and Fushimi Inari, Tomoe's knowledgeable commentary transported us back in time. Her stories were not mere recitations of dates and facts, but vivid narratives that painted pictures of samurai, geishas, and emperors walking the very paths we trod. Traveling with children can be challenging, but Tomoe's approach made our family tour a delight for all ages. She had a special knack for engaging our son and daughter (10 and 11), adapting her stories and explanations to capture their imagination. What truly set Tomoe apart was her storytelling ability. Her tales were a perfect blend of historical facts and engaging narratives. From amusing anecdotes about ancient emperors to poignant stories of Kyoto during wartime, Tomoe's repertoire seemed endless. Her passion for Kyoto's history was infectious, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for the city long after our tour ended. Our day with Tomoe was very enjoyable. Japanese culture. Her calm and pleasant demeanor, coupled with her vast knowledge and storytelling skills, made for an enriching experience that appealed to all ages in our group.
Tomoe S.
(122 reviews)Dear Joanne, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. I'm glad to hear that you were satisfied with the day with me. I also enjoyed the day with you, taking more than 40! pictures of such a nice family with autumn foliage. I hope that you like the pictures of you, which I sent. Kyoto has many other places with long history. I hope that you will come back to Kyoto. TOMOE
“A delightful and charming guide to Kyoto - we would love to repeat this tour!”
From the moment we met Tomoe, we knew we were in good hands. She guided us exploring temples and gardens in Kyoto during autumn. Although the leaves weren't at their peak this year due to hotter weather than usual leading up to our visit, we still had a wonderful day. Tomoe took us to both popular and less visited spots, and although some were busy, her cheerful and positive demeanour kept the day feeling fun and surprisingly relaxing. She enhanced our visit with her excellent knowledge of each site. One of the things that makes Tomoe special is her ability to charm everyone she meets, including various locals. Throughout the entire day, she made everyone around her smile. She really has a gift with people, on top of her knowledge and ability to organise well. She's also a talented photographer with an eye for great shots, and I'm grateful for the photos she sent us afterwards. She showed us many great viewpoints we would have missed walking through on our own. We enjoyed the excellent local place she suggest I highly recommend her if you are visiting Kyoto, and we will certainly hope to see her if we visit again. Thank you for a superb tour, Tomoe!
Tomoe S.
(122 reviews)Dear Fiona, Thank you very much for your really warmhearted review! Visiting places and sharing so many pictures with you was so much fun for me, too. Nice meeting with the local souvenir shop owner on the local bus, talking with the ladies at local okonomiyaki restaurant while they are cooking our lunch, another talking with local 93 years old lady owner at local coffee shop... I will never forget such a wonderful day with you. Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. I miss you so much! I do hope that you will visit Kyoto and I can see you again! TOMOE
Karen N.
Very Special 1 day Kyoto tour just for you (7H)
Customized
“Beautiful Kyoto gardens”
I had a wonderful time visiting temples and gardens in Kyoto with Tomoe. She told me lots of interesting information and knew the best places to visit for autumn colours! She took many excellent photos and shared them with me. Tomoe is very kind and patient and really made my visit memorable. I would highly recommend her and hope to have her as my guide again when I next visit Japan.
Tomoe S.
(122 reviews)Dear Karen, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. I spent wonderful 2 days with you in Kyoto. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed autumn foliage visiting places which are located in both of 2 sides, east side and west side of Kyoto, even though the autumn foliage season has been coming a little later this year. I hope that I can see you again! Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. TOMOE
$126/ per group
Reserve
