Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakusai (West district) and Central district. Visiting Rakusai , Tenryu-ji temple represents the Kitayama culture. Nijyo-jo castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace in Rakuchu (Central district) are the cultural center during Heian, Momoyama and Edo periods.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
At your hotel in Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Kyoto or Nara)
We take you to Osaka METRO station or JR, private railway station to lead JR Osaka station whichever closer to your hotel. If you stay in Kyoto or Nara, we can save 30 ~ 45 min travel by train to JR Saga Arashiyama Station. 20 min walk from JR Saga Arashiyama Station to Bamboo Grove. Tenryu-ji Temple is located annexed in halfway walking through Bamboo Grove.
30 min ride from Arashiyama station, Keifuku line to Nijo-jo-Mae, Kyoto METRO station.
10 min ride from Nijo-jo-Mae Kyoto METRO station to Maruta-machi Kyoto METRO station.
At your hotel in Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Kyoto or Nara)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Included:
*Guide fee, hotel pick-up fee in Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto)
*Travel expense for the guide as required to travel with customers by means of public transportation such as train, subway, bus.
Travel expenses included herein are limited within Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto)
*Admission fees, tickets for the guide as might be incurred at temples, shrines or the like.
*Meals , drinks or the like for the guide during the tour
*Any tax or the like as might be incurred by the guide in Japan
*Gratuity
Not included:
*Fees to cruise river or sea or the like for the guide
*Tickets for Universal Studio Japan, museum or the like as might be required for the guide at private or public entertainment facilities.
Arashiyama changes its color from season to season and Sagano is a tranquil spot, beloved by emperors and nobles. Bamboo grove make you feel romantic and become a movie star. A shrine called Nonomiya-shrine built in the midst of grove, may help you find a partner for life soon. Fantastic to walk a beautiful bridge, Togetsu Bridge and listen to the murmuring of the Katsura river. Carefully maintained and preserved Bamboo grove is also a must-see spot. The head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism has both a botanic garden and a gorge-water garden, borrowed landscape from Mt Arashiyama to part of the garden. Tokugawa shogunate came to an end in this castle, Nijo-jo castle in 1867 with the announcement of hand over the authority back to the Emperor by last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Kyoto Imperial Palace was partly open to public from July 26, 2016 and is held in high regard as a piece of Japan’s cultural heritage. Nijo-jo castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace will tell you long historical tale in Kyoto from 794 to 1867.
- IMPORTANT -
Not suitable for tours with infants, children, wheelchairs and strollers.
Take your shoes off before stepping on designated area (Nijo-jo Castle) and tatami mat.
Be quiet and respectful in Shrines and Temples
Remove hats and sunglasses in front of main sanctuary in Shrines and Temples
Not to touch old buildings, old remains and objects
Not to take pictures where prohibited in Shrines, Temples, Castles and Imperial Palace.
Lived in Chicago (5 years), Toronto (1 year), Singapore (2 years), Indonesia (4 years) and Birmingham, UK (11 years) to construct business platform, now retired after 40
years employment in Japan. Dynamic tour guide who develops many different ways along with rich experience overseas to entertain large or small tour groups. Enjoys the interaction with tour groups, very strong group presentation and communication skills, finds each guest question as an opportunity to learn anything new. Constantly learning information about each tour spot to enhance tours. Guided 8,665 guests all over the world across Japan as of Sept 30, 2024 since Feb 2015.
Saulius P.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
“I had a wonderful visit and learned a great deal about areas of interest”
Mr. Masahisa M. proved to be a highly intelligent and knowledgeable professional. Especially noteable is his command of both the Japanese and English languages alongside his willingness to share his wisdom. He is also very accomodating and happy to alter plans in order to enhance the tourist's experience. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting the area. Saulius Ploplys
Masahisa M.
(45 reviews)Saulius Hi, regarding your request, I plan to start by sending the provided. materials to local sword appraisal experts to see if I can obtain any clues. I anticipate that this process will take sometime, but I will keep you updated on the progress. Thanks Masahisa
Annemarie W.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
“A wonderful day in Kyoto guided by Masahisa (Mike) Makino”
Mike met us at our hotel and whisked us off for a fantastic tour, focusing on all of the places we most wanted to see in Kyoto. He shared rich and invaluable historical, cultural and social insights that greatly added to our enjoyment of this trip. His thoughtfulness, generosity and sense of humour greatly enhanced the day for us. We couldn't have asked for more and highly recommend him!
Masahisa M.
(45 reviews)Annemarie I, too, had a wonderful day. I was drawn to Tara Hill by Vivian Leigh's lines, and I remembered being astonished by the "Beware of Fairies" traffic sign when driving through the forests of Ireland, also the mishaps I made at the Guinness Storehouse, and the movie "The Quiet Man." Please not to forget the rain check I promised you the next time you visit Japan. Thank you again for traveling to us from such a long way. Thanks Masahisa
Stephen B.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
“Top Notch! The "Must Have" guide!”
As a travel agent, I have a reputation for recommending only the best experiences to my clients. When planning their time in Kyoto, I knew I needed a guide who could provide not only expert knowledge but also personalized service. I found all of this and more in Masahisa. From our initial contact, Masahisa was a wealth of information. He went above and beyond to ensure my clients had an unforgettable experience. He advised them on lesser-known attractions, such as historical sites that require a lottery system for entry, and suggested hidden gems that other guides might overlook. Masahisa's meticulous planning was evident in his itineraries. He planned each day down to the minute, ensuring that my clients made the most of their time in Kyoto. He also assisted them with logistical details, such as collecting their rail passes and booking their Nozomi train seats. One of the most impressive aspects of Masahisa's service was his dedication to my clients' overall experience. He even escorted them to the meeting point for an evening activity with another company, ensuring a seamless transition. While I was only able to secure Masahisa's services for three days, I have no doubt that he would be an excellent guide for any length of stay in Kyoto or throughout Japan. His expertise, personalized service, and attention to detail make him a truly exceptional guide.
Masahisa M.
(45 reviews)Stephen Thank you. I am pleased to have been able to assist your company in some way. While living in Toronto, I frequently visited places like Casa Roma and watched Blue Jays games. When accompanying your guests here, memories of my visits to your country's beautiful cities, such as Montreal and Halifax, came to mind. I also enjoyed spending time with your guests this time. Their travels continue to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Dubai on and on, and while supporting their journey must be challenging for you, I pray for their safe and enjoyable return home. Japan still has many wonderful tourist destinations. If there is anything else I can assist with, please feel free to let me know. Thanks Masahisa
$259/ per group
Reserve