Nijo castle is not just an old castle but it is a great showcase of Japanese art, history and architecture. I will explain deep inside of this Nijo castle taking double time including some secret stories, latest academic findings and so on which are not described in any guide book or online information. After that, we will visit Kyoto Imperial Palace where had been emperor's resident for hundreds years. Finally the tour finishes visiting Nishiki food market which has been said as "Kitchen.
Check out what we are going to do.
Feel free to personalize this offer.
At the lobby of your hotel in central Kyoto
Visit Nijo castle to enjoy Japanese art, history and architecture
Japanese specialty if you like
Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace to see the imperial life hundreds of years ago
Visit Nishiki market to enjoy Japanese food culture
Walk through the traditional entertainment area where you might see Geiko(Geisha) or Maiko
Nishiki market
This tour will take you to the inside of the Japanese art scene, history of architecture and then take you to the center of food culture. You must be satisfied with this sophisticated and unique tour to feel other side of Kyoto than visiting temples & shrines. Recommended to the art, history and food lovers or Kyoto repeaters!
Guide fee, Hotel pick-up in central Kyoto area
Transportation fee (apx. 800JPY for Subway), Lunch and Foods in Nishiki market (apx. 2,000JPY), Entrance fee(1,300JPY for Nijo castle),
The tour will not be operated on every Tuesday in January, July, August, December and between Dec.26 to Jan.3 because Ninomaru Palace of Nijo castle will be closed.
Kyoto Imperial palace will be closed every Monday or the next day (when a Monday is holiday) and between Dec.28 and Jan.3. Also it might be closed on some specified days for some events. In this case, other visiting spot will be replaced by Heian Shrine, etc.
The total walking distance of this tour is about 5 Km. (2 Km in Nijo castle, 2 Km in Kyoto Imperial Palace, 1 Km in Nishiki market)
Rick was an amazing guide to Kyoto for my son and I for 2 days. He was very efficient and thoughtful in planning our itinerary and what we would do. He took us to many sites and had we not went with him we would never have seen half of what we did. His knowledge of the shrines and markets was so thorough. It was such a pleasure to have a guide not only to understand the history of the sites we were touring but also to give us insight into the culture and history of the city. Rick KNOWS Kyoto. He was very friendly and personable. His food choices were excellent. He was very easy to spend time with. Of our entire month travels in Asia, Kyoto and our time with Rick specifically was such a significant highlight. Without hesitation, I can recommend Rick as a guide for you. We could not have been happier or more satisfied.
Dear Amley, Thank you very much for so nice review! I am very glad that you were happy and satisfied the tour. Yes, we enjoyed some gardens, market streets, temples, a castle and so on. Since you love garden, architecture and art, Kyoto was the ideal city for you to enjoy, I believe. Your son was so nice boy and I enjoyed very much talking with him and knowing his interests. Please come back to Kyoto in near future and I hope I can guide you again! Best regards, Rick
RIck was wonderful, patient, kind, soft-spoken, yet definitive in his plans for our days spent together. I must say that he handled a mom and her men child(s) extremely well, especially my special angel man child who kept up with us but made it a little tricky at times. Rick did not judge, he jumped in and assisted when needed, he took his time with us and made sure we were all happy, enjoying the areas, and best of all educating us! We learned a great deal about Kyoto and other Japanese areas and their traditions. Rick, we would find you again for the parts of Kyoto we did not see, but for 2.5 days...you did pretty darn well san. Thank you for the pictures of the tea ceremony, treasures thy are.
Dear Angela, Thank you very much for the nice review! I am so glad that you enjoyed Kyoto for 2.5 days with me and want to come back. I also had a nice time with your and your nice sons going to tea ceremony, cooking class and some sites and so on. I hope I can guide you again when you come back and I am sure to take you to the sites you did not see! Best regards, Rick
We really enjoyed our time with Rick. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. We not only appreciated learning about the sites but we also loved just learning about his life in Japan. We spent a full 8 hours with Rick and even our 14 and 12 year olds were engaged the whole time. He planned a great day and made sure me maximized by planning efficiently. I would definitely recommend Rick!
Dear Meredith, Thank you very much for the nice review! I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and had a nice time. All of your families are so nice and I enjoyed talking various things with all the members. Also I am glad you had a lot of interests in Japan and its cultures, so it was my pleasure explaining about it. Please enjoy some more days in Japan and have a safe trip back home. I hope you will come back to Kyoto some day in future. Best regards, Rick
We enjoyed our day sightseeing around Kyoto with Rick
Dear Kate and families, Thank you very much for your nice review! I am glad that you enjoyed the tour. Your families are so nice and I enjoyed talking with all of you especially in the monkey mountain park. Please enjoy more in Japan and I hope you will come back Kyoto someday in future. Best regards, Rick