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Kyoto, Hill & Canal Hike commands Great Views

Kamogawa delta with stepping stones

Kyoto University

Entrance of Silver Pavilion

Silver Pavilion

White sand beside Pavilion

Kanji DAI on Mt. Daimonji

Uphill mountain path

Uphill mountainpath

Part of Kanji Dai

Fire beds on Mt. Daimonji

Philosopher's Path along the Canal

Nanzenji Temple

Upper platforms of MainGate

Aqueduct of canal in Nanzenji Temple grounds

Image of Stand by Me on Inclined Railway

Kyoto, Hill & Canal Hike commands Great Views

Nature & Outdoor

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(12 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)

Up to 6 people

Kyoto was the capital for 1,000 years, thanks to its geographical advantage: a city surrounded by mountains and flowing with rivers and canals. Emperors, aristocrats, monks, scholars, and citizens cultivated a unique culture and landscape that consists of temples and shrines throughout the seasons. On this tour, we'll climb Mt. Daimonji and walk along the Biwako Canal, reflecting on human dramas performed by our ancestors and experiencing the scenery from a different perspective.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:30 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel in Kyoto City center.

Kamogawa Delta, Waterside Repose at Students Town

#Kamogawa Delta (Local Name)/Two rivers meet to create a unique landscape with stepping stones across the river and delta-shaped land.

#Students town/There are secondhand bookstores, cafes, restaurants around Kyoto University, where we can see a clear distant view of Mt. Daimonji.

Silver Pavilion, Moonlight changed Name of Temple

#Jisyoji Temple (2 ha)/Built in the 14th century at the foot of Mt. Daimonji, this wooden building in Zen and Samurai styles is a representative example of Higashiyama culture, which valued the aesthetic of quiet simplicity. It later came to be known as the Silver Pavilion.

Mt. Daimonji, Place of Farewell Bonfires

#Farewell Bonfires/In August, a bonfire in the shape of Kanji “dai” (great) is lit on the mountains to guide the spirits of ancestors back to the other world.

#We hike from the trailhead next to Silver Pavilion to Kanjidai (a bonfire pit at an elevation of 340m).

*The round-trip hike takes approximately 100 minutes. Hiking is not permitted on bonfire days (mid-August).

Philosopher's Path that Deepened Zen Teachings

# Lake Biwa Canal/It was constructed at the end of the 19th century. Landscape architects introduced the water to create vivid Japanese gardens, and a Kyoto University philosopher regularly walked along the canal while deepening his thoughts from Zen teachings.

# Philosopher’s Path/We walk the 2-kilometer promenade along the canal.

Brick Aqueduct is Part of the Scenery in Nanzenji Temple.

#Nanzen-ji Temple (15ha)/A prestigious Zen temple founded in the 13th century, has an arched red brick aqueduct (93m long,4m wide,14m high) that flows fresh water.

#San-mon(Main Gate)/The Gate offers a superb view from its upper platforms.

Ending Point

At your hotel in Kyoto City center

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

What‘s included

>guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto City center

What‘s not included

>transportation fee (guest and guide/adult)/ some 1500JPY, taxi(undecided)

>Admission fee (guest/per adult)/ Silver Pavilion(1000JPY),Nanzenji Temple(600+500JPY),

Tour Important Information

>The tour uses subway, bus, taxi(for small groups),and walking as needed for easy access. Please wear comfortable walking shoes for transfers and going up mountains.

>Please be aware that during the cherry blossom viewing season, transportation and tourist facilities will be crowded, so some of the facilities on the itinerary may not be accessible.

>The above additional fees are often paid in cash on-site, so please have some Japanese yen(JPY).

>The tour does not include insurance. I hope you purchase your own travel insurance.

Important message from the supplier

>If you would like to take a listed or customized tour, please send me a message in advance. I will check the availability of the spots listed on the itinerary (opening days, hours, reservation status, etc.).

>The tour uses trains, subways, trams, buses, walking, and taxis (for small groups) for easy access. Please wear comfortable walking shoes for transfers.

>Please note that we may change or add spots depending on the availability of public transportation and tourist attractions.

>The tour does not include insurance. I hope you purchase your own travel insurance.

>It is possible to pick you up at your hotel (Osaka, Nara, or Kyoto) and take you to the spots in the other city with no additional guide fee.

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 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(12 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page. I am passionate about guiding international travelers through Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto—cities that served as Japan’s capitals in succession from the 7th to the 20th centuries.

I grew up in Osaka and studied urban and transportation planning in Kyoto. After obtaining a Master of Engineering degree, I worked as a government official for 20 years, striving to balance urban development with the preservation of historical assets under the City Planning Act.

Since the 7th century, powerful local clans established a national framework by building new capitals—first in Naniwa (Osaka), followed by Heijo (Nara) and Heian (Kyoto)—and implementing legal codes and administrative systems led by the emperor. These capitals housed the Imperial Palace and government districts. Court nobles built their residences and clans’ temples or shrines adjacent to the imperial palace.

After the emperor and court nobles relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo about 150 years ago, the Buddhist monks, Shinto priests, and residents of these three cities have continued to work together to maintain historic structures and preserve the traditional religious rituals associated with them.

After retiring from public service, I began working as a freelance guide, sharing these historical assets with travelers from abroad.

Since these three cities are all within about one hour of each other by train, I can propose tours customized to your schedule and physical stamina. I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

Rose L.

5 / 5

Oct 24, 2026

Millennial City Kyoto, Power & Charm Transition

Oct 24, 2026

Kyoto

7 hours

“Great experience ”

Totally different experience - we weren’t picked up by car - instead Yosshi met us and we took local transportation, taxis and lots of walking! Got to experience the local side of touring and he made sure to tell us as much as possible of the areas around us!

Yosshi S.

Dear Rose san Thank you for leaving a review. I was relieved to read your kind words, especially given all the walking we did while using local transportation, which must have been physically demanding. It would bring me great joy to know that you enjoyed interacting with fellow passengers and taking in the scenery from the windows while traveling by train and tram. I was also very pleased to explain how Kyoto’s cultural heritage and traditional events are sustained through the long-standing efforts of the local community in Gion Kagai. ”Buen viaje”, and I hope to see you again. Warm regards. Yosshi

Michelle M.

5 / 5

Jun 14, 2026

Millennial City Kyoto, Power & Charm Transition

Jun 14, 2026

Kyoto

5 hours 30 mins

“Great Highlights of Central Kyoto”

We had an excellent tour with Yosshi. I recommend him. He had great communication to create a custom tour for us. He emailed about and researched our sights ahead of time. He arrived early at our hotel lobby. He spoke good English and was very kind. He was very informative about the many sights we visited and came prepared with printouts. He took photos of our family. He took us to the Nijo castle, Imperial Palace and Manga museum. He helped us with ordering lunch. He was very knowledgeable getting around the metro. It made our day a breeze. We really enjoyed our day and Yosshi made it very special. Thank you.

Yosshi S.

Dear Michelle-san Thank you for taking the time to send me such a heartwarming review. The Kemari Garden at the Imperial Palace is a game where players pass a ball to their opponent in an easy-to-kick manner. Today, we visited a place of great importance in Japanese history, set on a vast site full of early-summer greenery. The spirit of Kemari (a football game) lives on at this turning point as well. As a guide, I tried my best to provide clear explanations. The day I spent with you has become a memorable tour for me. OH-KI-NI! (Kyoto dialect for thank you). Yosshi

James S.

5 / 5

Dec 2, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in Temple Town on Hilltop

Dec 2, 2025

Osaka

7 hours

“Great Guide!”

Yosshi was a great guide. He had vast knowledge of the sights we visited. Very friendly and payed attention to our needs as we explored. I would book with him again. Thank you Yosshi.

Yosshi S.

Dear James San. Thank you for your review. I was happy to share my experience with you as you have an interest in Osaka's history. Hearing about your hometown has added to my bucket list. The day was sunny, the autumn leaves were beautiful, and there weren't many tourists, so I was able to show you ancient, medieval, and early modern sites. We were also able to go up the Osaka Castle Tower and the Tsutenkaku Tower for a bird's-eye view of Osaka's topography. Osaka's long history has been supported by its citizens. Next time, I'd like to guide you to markets and theaters where we can experience the vitality of its citizens. Thank you for yesterday. Yosshi