Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
Joined 2017
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakutou (East district) and Central district. Visiting Rakutou, Gion, Yasaka-jinja shrine, Kodai-ji temple, Kiyomizu-dera temple are the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto. Particularly well known for the deity of love and marriage in Rakutou area.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Kansai District (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Kyoto or Nara)
To meet you at your hotel lobby, with Gowithguide welcome sign board your name on. Followed after brief tour orientation, we start the tour of the day
We take you to Osaka METRO station or JR, private railway station to lead Keihan Yodoyabashi station whichever closer to your hotel. If you stay in Kyoto or Nara, we can save 30 min travel by train to Keihan Shijo station. 50 min train ride from Keihan Yodoyabashi station to Keihan Gion Shijo station. 20 min walk to Yasaka-jinja Shrine from Keihan Gion Shijo station.
Yasaka-jinja Shrine
20 min walk from Yasaka-jinja Shrine to Kodai-ji Temple, through beautiful Ishibe-Koji Alley (Stone wall alley) , authentic chic side path in Kyoto in absolute tranquility
Kodai-ji Temple
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Nishiki Market
End of this day tour at your hotel in Osaka. Will arrive at your hotel earlier if you stay in Kyoto or Nara.
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kansai District (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Kyoto or Nara)
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
Included:
*Guide fee, hotel pick-up fee in Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto)
*Travel expense as required for the guide to travel with customers by means of public transportation such as train, subway, bus.
Travel expenses for the guide included herein are limited within Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto)
*Admission fees, tickets as might be incurred for the guide 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 at private or public entertainment facilities for
the guide
Tour Important Information
Busy and full of crowds all year round in Nishiki market where you can find various kinds of fresh and traditional Japanese dishes for every day meals. In Gion, the center of Geisha community, you may or may not catch sight of Maiko (junior) or Geiko (Senior) hurrying to teahouses. Yasaka-jinja shrine hosts one of the three most important festivals of the year in Kyoto, Gion Festival in July. Ishibe-Koji alley (Stone wall alley) leads you to Kodai-ji temple from Yasaka-jinja shrine and next stone steps prolonged to Kiyomizu-dera temple through exotic and stunning beautiful Sannei-zaka slope.
- IMPORTANT -
Not suitable for tours with infants, children, wheelchairs and strollers.
Be quiet and respectful in Temple and Shrine complex
Remove hats and sunglasses in front of main sanctuary in Temples, Shrines
Not to touch old buildings, old remains and objects
Not to take pictures where prohibited in Temple and Shrine complex
Take your shoes off before stepping on tatami
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 2017
About Tour Guide Masahisa M.
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 9,173 guests all over the world across Japan as of Mar 31, 2025 since Feb 2015.
Reviews
Services U.
“Kind, reliable, and well-organized guide who made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable”
Masahisa's frequent and thoughtful communication before the tour showed his great personality and made us feel at ease joining the tour. Even in crowded areas, he kindly helped with taking photos, and everything was handled on time and smoothly. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience!
Masahisa M.
Services U I would be grateful if my involvement could be of any help to your company this time. Motivated solely by the desire to see 'Tara's Hill,' the land mentioned by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, I visited there and found myself able to imagine the desolate seaside depicted in The Quiet Man. Thanks Masahisa
Mark W.
“Knowledgeable Kyoto Guide”
Mike (Masahisa) did a great job guiding our group of 4 adults around Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season. He worked tirelessly ahead of our visit to help customize the tour to meet our needs. In addition, he provided numerous travel tips to help us easily manage the logistics. Kyoto sites are very busy with a heavy tourist load. Mike navigated us around the city to ensure we saw the highlights without getting bogged down. He was very knowledgeable of Japanese History so he was able to bring each temple and shrine to life. And he was fun, so we thoroughly enjoyed our two day with him. Highly recommend
Masahisa M.
Mark I appreciate your visit from afar and would like to express my thanks once again. I was amazed by profound knowledge of all of you and appreciation for Japanese sake. Amid the increasingly crowded conditions in Kyoto during the peak tourist season, to be honest, I was relieved to have been able to include a moment of serenity and elegance that Kyoto still retains in your itinerary. However, despite making various arrangements as per your prior request, because of the Spring Dance performances that began on April 1st this year at the Kaburenjo Theaters located in the four historic hanamachi districts—Gion Kobu, Miyagawa-cho, Ponto-cho, and Kamishichiken—I regret that I was unable to secure the necessary arrangements for your party. This remains my sole regret. Thanks Masahisa
Brandi D.
“Kyoto and Nara Tour”
Masahisa (or Mike for short) was an absolute joy to spend our day with yesterday. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and kind, he was also very flexible! We had originally booked him to take us from our Kyoto hotel to Nara for the day, but we had a change of plans on our end and ended up staying in Kyoto until almost 2 pm. He pivoted and showed us around our area on foot, and then we took a taxi to an incredible museum with 1000 statues, then a food court and a Japanese department store. Finally we headed to Nara where he took us through the temple, got us crackers to feed the deer and took us to a cool visitors center to check out an earthquake simulator and to get out of the rain. We truly treasured our time with Masahisa—he shared so much with us about the Japanese culture and traditions. He was a wealth of knowledge and we are so grateful to have spent the day with him. I almost forgot to mention that he accompanied us from Nara (where he lives) to Osaka to make sure we made it to our hotel! He also put together a packet for us for our stay in Osaka. Above and beyond!! Thank you Masahisa aka Mike
Masahisa M.
Brandi Thank you so much for traveling all the way from afar the city I cherished deeply during my active years. Although the forecast predicts serene spring days starting mid-week, the weather in Kyoto during this transitional season from winter to spring can be quite unpredictable. This time, your tour happened to coincide with a cold and rainy day, and I was concerned about whether everyone managed to stay in good health. I sincerely thank for your long journey to visit us. I hope you continue to have a wonderful trip and that you return home safely with delightful memories of your family travels. Safe and enjoyable journeys to you all. Thanks Masahisa
$314/ per group
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