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Kyoto Love Stories featured in Court Literature

Cafe in Art Museum

Cherry blossom at Arashiyama Park

Fukuda Art Museum

Bamboo grove leads to the Villa

Okhouchi Garden Villa

Field area in West-Saga

Entrance Gate of Gioji

Yoshino-Mado in Main Hall

Types of Moss

Map of Moss in Compound

Main Hall of Takiguchi-dera

Footpath in North-Saga

8-statue of Jizo at corner

Daikakuji Temple

Osawa pond in Daikakuji Temple

Couple by pond

Flower arrangement of Saga-Goryu

Match tea

Romantic Train

THe Katuragawa river

Kyoto Love Stories featured in Court Literature

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(10 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)

Up to 6 people

In the 8th century, Kyoto became Japan's capital. Located 10 km west of the Imperial Palace, the Saga-Arashiyama district, home to Mt. Ogura and the Katsura River, boasts beautiful scenery. Emperors and court nobles built villas here, enjoyed boating and cherry blossom viewing, and fell in love. Young people who realized their passion would be unrequited under the then social constraint became monks and lived a life of seclusion here. This tour explores love stories etched in Saga-Arashiyama.

Itinerary

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

11:00 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center.

A viewpoint for the Arashiyama scenery

#Arashiyama Park/a viewpoint for the scenery created by the Katsura River and Togetsu Bridge (155m long) with Mt. Ogura (296m height) and Mt. Arashiyama (382m height) in the background. A famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring.

#Fukuda Art Museum/a collection of Bijinga (Portrait of beautiful women) paintings, and a cafe overlooking the river.

Bamboo grove and Garden Villa

#Bamboo grove/the most popular 100m long foot paths through the bamboo grove

#Ohkouchi Garden Villa/at the west end of the bamboo grove, a famous film actor who starred in 1000 SAMURAI films in the 1900s built the villa for his aesthetic sense

Buddhist Temples named after the lovers

#Gio-ji Temple/Gio-ji, located halfway up Mt. Ogura, is a temple dedicated to a singing and dancing performer who lost the favor of the most powerful military leader and became a nun. 30 types of moss express the essence of Japanese beauty(KanJyakuKoTan in Japanese)

#Takiguchi-dera Temple/Takiguchi-dera is a temple where a high-ranking court noble realized that his love would not come true with a court lady and became a priest.

In both cases, the temples are named after the person involved.

Ikebana Origins in the detached palace

#Daikakuji Temple/Emperor Saga's detached palace was converted to a temple in the 9th century. The temple grounds are filled with gorgeous buildings with sliding door paintings and Japanese gardens. The temple and pond retain their original appearance, and crews from the nearby film studios often visit to film SAMURAI dramas.

#Osawa Pond/Emperor Saga picked chrysanthemums blooming on a small island in Osawa Pond, and arranged them in a vase. This arrangement embodies the harmonious beauty of "heaven, earth, and man," and became the foundational principle of the Saga School of Ikebana (flower arrangement).

Ending Point

At your hotel or any convenient place 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 (you and guide/per adult)/train (some 2000JPY), taxi(undecided)

>admission fee (you/per adult)/Fukuda Art Museum(1500JPY), Ohkouchi Garden Villa (1000JPY includes Macha service), Gioji Temple(300JPY),Takiguchidera Temple(300JPY),Daikakuji Temple(500+300JPY)

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>The total distance of this tour is about 5 km, so please wear comfortable walking shoes.

>Walking through the countryside is comfortable, but given our level of fatigue, we may also use trams, buses, and taxis (for small groups).

>Please note that we may skip, change, or add spots due to crowding in the cherry blossom season.

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

>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

(10 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I will guide you to the 3 ancient capitals of Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto, which housed the Imperial Palace for 1200 years, starting in the 7th century.

I grew up in Osaka, studied urban and transportation planning in Kyoto, and worked for national and local governments as an urban planning expert for 20 years. My goal was to create cities where citizens can live safely and comfortably, and which captivate tourists to stimulate the local economy. I developed urban policies and construction projects. During this time, I visited and researched unique cities in Japan and abroad (90 cities in 30 countries), exchanging ideas with local experts on preserving historic assets.

I use my extensive urban development experience and knowledge of cities in Japan and abroad to uncover the hidden charms of the 3 ancient capitals and share them with international tourists, working as a guide.

In the 3 ancient capitals, the Imperial Palace was relocated 15 times, and each time a new capital was built, with court nobles and monks accompanying His Majesty the Emperor. Knowing the history of these cities' development, we will come to appreciate that the townscape before us is the result of the strong will of many people.

The 3 cities are within an hour's train ride of each other, and the transportation network is well-developed. I will create a Customized Tour that will remain in your photos and memories forever, within the limits of your time and energy. I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

James S.

5 / 5

Dec 2, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in Temple Town on Hill

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

Drew B.

5 / 5

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in Temple Town on Hill

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka

6 hours

“Cultural tour of Kawachi/Osaka ”

Yosshi san created a unique tour to introduce us to the history of Kofun burial mounds and Haniwa clay pottery. We had an amazing day despite the weather visiting Shin-ike Haniwa Factory Park and the Imashirozuka Museum. Yosshi san has amazing knowledge & excellent English and was a pleasure to spend the day with. Also Yosshi san is a master of navigating Osaka transport, very impressed!! Thank you again Yosshi san for looking after us so well, Drew & Annie.

Yosshi S.

Dear Drew & Annie san Thank you so much for sending me your generous review. You read the explanations, took photos, and asked questions to the museum guide during the tour. I was impressed by your deep interest and knowledge, and it was a great honor to guide you. However, it's unfortunate that today's tour didn't go as planned due to the heavy rain all day. Here is the only imperial mausoleum in Japan that we can enter, so if we have another opportunity, I'd like to stroll around the 350-meter burial mound on a sunny day and discuss the Kofun age with you. Thank you so much for today. Regard Yosshi

James K.

5 / 5

Oct 21, 2025

Nara, Stroll in Nara Park led by Friendly Deer

Oct 21, 2025

Nara

6 hours

“Nara park and Todai-Temple Tour”

Wonderful tour with Yosshi. Really enjoyed both Nara Park and the Todai-ji Temple. Yosshi customized the tour for our needs, and made the travel to and from Kyoto seamless.

Yosshi S.

Hello James san Thank you for your heartwarming review. I was so happy to see you and your mother enjoying the deer in Nara Park. I was also touched by how much you always cherish your mother, and I learned a lot from you. I'm glad I was able to show you around Nara Park and the Great Buddha Hall. On the train ride there and back, you and your mother told me stories about your town and asked me many questions, which broadened my horizons. I hope you and your mother are in good health. I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you. Yosshi