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.
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.
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
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)
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.
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.
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.
“Great tour with Tomoe”
My family and I had a lovely day in Kyoto with Tomoe. She has a calm and relaxing manner and guided us very efficiently using the public transport system. It was great to hear her personal stories about her family and about life in Japan. She took us to a great place for lunch and gave us enough time at each location. Would highly recommend a private tour with Tomoe!
Tomoe S.
Dear Sui, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. I had a wonderful day with such a nice family in Kyoto! Visiting places with you, taking pictures of you, talking with you gave me an amazing time. I wish I had more time with you! I hope that you will come back to Kyoto (and Nara, too!) and I can see you again. Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. TOMOE
Nicolas G.
Very Special 1 day Kyoto tour just for you (8H)
Customized
“A Great day in Kyoto”
We did the 8 hours tour with Tomoe in Dec. 17 , what a wonderful day we had, we went to beautiful places, Tomoe guided us around the traditional Kyoto visiting places and by request some less touristy , also she is a great photographer dont get shy to ask for a picture, we talked a lot, learned a lot about japanes tradition, kyoto history , food and even sake and whisky! We highly recomend her as a guide, we had a lot of fun , some pictures of our wonderful day.
Tomoe S.
Dear Nicolas, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. What a super exciting and wonderful day I spent with such a nice couple! We laughed a lot during the tour, right? Once upon a time, there was an old lady who tried to check in her heavy suitcase at an airport...I will never forget such a funny story! Please come back to Kyoto with more funny stories to tell me...I do hope that I can see you again! TOMOE
Adam K.
Very Special 1 day Kyoto tour just for you (8H) east side of Kyoto
Customized
“TOMOE is highly recommended by us!”
We just spent two full, busy and wonderful days with TOMOE in Kyoto. She was kind, attentive, knowledgeable, well organized, and speaks wonderful English. She worked hard to find restaurants that accommodated our dietary requirements and was patient with our ordering! We are so fortunate to have had her as our guide. She showed us a lot of the city, both what you’d expect as a tourist and also quieter streets where locals live. She also knows transportation very well and made getting on and off the buses and trains and purchasing tickets very easy for us.
Tomoe S.
Dear Adam and family, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review! I had wonderful 2 days with you, such a nice family in Kyoto. I enjoyed visiting flea market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine ( 'Tenjin san'), Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park on the 1st day, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizudera Temple, Gion and Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) on the 2nd day. Sharing the lunch time with you also gave me precious experience. Thank you very much for booking me as your guide in Kyoto. TOMOE
$122/ per group