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Kyoto Murasakino ( Daitokuji ) to Kamigamo tour ( peaceful tour with no hassle with crowd )
This comfortable way is highly recommended for seniors who are looking for peace and tranquility. This is a guide course of visiting my own home town of Murasakino area. I know the most efficient way to move around. We are starting our tour from Daitokuji Temple to Imamiya shrine where you can enjoy at the oldest tea house in Kyoto. Later on, move on to Kamigamo by a bus which is never crowded from this point. I'll be showing you to a town-scape of historic Kyoto. Let's travel in a peace.
Meeting Point
Daitokujimae bus stop
- First we'll meet you at a bus stop " Daitokuji-mae ". Mae means " in front of ". It is very simple to find and you can get on to the tour right away. I'll meet you here at 8 : 00 a.m. In about a few minutes you are already inside Daitokuji. I'll check the schedule of the bus and be there at the closest time before 8 : 00 a.m. It is only a half mile away from my parents house. I'll come from there on foot. In this particular area, no other guide can do better than I because I grew up being in there everyday. I know of every single one of even a tiny path in this location.
Daitokuji Temple
The complex of Daitokuji Temple consists of nearly two dozen sub-temples and is one of the best places in Japan to see a wide variety of Zen gardens and to experience Zen culture and architecture. The complex itself is always open to public where I used to walk through almost everyday in my childhood. Daitokuji has historical background closely related to a great unifier of Japan " Oda Nobunaga " and ancient tea master " Ikkyu ". Each sub-temple in the complex require some entrance fee to see its garden. I will take you to two of sub-temples of my recommendation. I will also take you to one called Jyuko-in if you book a tour on its open day ( 28th of each month ). Let's stroll inside the complex before go inside a sub-temple.
Koto-in / Obai-in ( sub-temples of Daitokuji )
We will be spending about 1 hour making a tour inside two of its sub-temples.
Kouto-in is known for its impression of entrance surrounded by a bamboo forest. Koto-in was a temple of Hosokawa Clan. It was built in 17th century. Hosokawa was known as a clan of powerful worriors. Hosokawa Tadaoki who was a military leader of the clan devoted the end of his life to study Zen. And became a disciple of tea master Senno Rikyu.
Obai-in temple ( Open in November )
Obai-in was built by Nobunaga for his father Nobuhide. the highlight of this temple is its stone garden designed by the great tea master Rikyu. There is an important cultural asset " Seven Sages ( wise men ) in a Bamboo Grove " depicted on its sliding doors by an ancient artist Togan. It is in its reception hall to invite guests. It was painted in 16th century.
Imamiya Shrine Ichimonjiya Tea House
We'll get here on the back side path of Imamiya Shrine to visit this ancient tea house right when they open. Even if it is in season you can beat the crowd in this way. This tea house is owned by my family acquaintance and staffs know me very well from my chilhood. I also did translation job for this shop. You'll be treated well since they know me very well from the time of my grand father. There are two similar tea houses on the stone path and the one across the street seems more popular which I don't know why, but I would get scolded to visit another one. I am actually little curious, but we must stick to the one called Ichimonjiya. There is a very strong tension of rivalry between them in real life. This place has been shot for many period dramas and samurai movies. I can talk to the people inside to give us the best seats.
Imamiya Shrine inside
When you walk out of Daitokuji Temple from its west gate, it is only a few minutes walk to Imamiya Shrine. This time-honored place is called " Imamiya Shrine. It is founded in 1001 to protect people from epidemic spreading out among towns people. I will be explaining more about this place when we get there.
Murasakino Uenocho Bus stop
It is only a minute walk to this bus stop from Imamiya Shrine to take No. 46 which directly goes to Kamigamo Shrine. This is the most efficient way to save the time and no mess of tourists being on the same bus because all the tourists are already off going to the same direction before they come to the north. You can get a comfortable seat. Even to get to the same destination, it is very important where you take a bus from. It is to go from the locals way. Not tourists way which is a real mess! I never take them. This is the best way to get to a World Heritage site. It only takes about 10 minutes to get there.
Kamigamo Shrine
Upon your arrival, you are already right in front of Kamigamo Shrine. Kamigamo Shrine is the oldest Shinto shrine in this ancient city. Since prehistoric times it has preserved and transmit the legends relating to the birth of the shrine deity. It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in entire Japan and one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You'll be guided to the forest and hidden Inari shrine within its large precincts. From its uphill observation point, I will offer you an area guide before we go strolling on our way in Kamigamo.
Lunch Break
After visiting Kamigamo Shrine, we will take a lunch break nearby. Let's go for casual Teishoku restaurant which serves Japanese combination meals.
Kamigamo Shake-machi
I would like to introduce Shake-machi of Kamigamo of this area. Just follow the sacred stream running out from Kamigamo Shrine, you will come out on a main street of Kamigamo with historic landscape. There you will see some magnificent residences built one next to another along the stream. That's Shake-machi. Ancient houses belong to those sacred family served to the shrine in old time. You can visit to see inside by getting a permission. Since Tsuda Clan living in one of them is my acquaintance I will get this permission for this one.
Backstreet walk in Kamigamo
Making our access from the backstreet of Kamigamo, we'll visit Ota Shrine and some secret bamboo forest behind and garden of Azekura. No tourists can discover this course no matter how hard they try with ordinary information source. Ota Shrine is known as a place where a rare species of Iris grown in a marsh where natural water flows into. It has an impression of floating isle. It was depicted in an ancient poem. This atmospheric shrine is very peaceful inside. This is a place to make a deep wish. We will walk through the most beautiful pathways toward the best point of Kamo River in the north. After some walking, I will send you to the most convenient point to make your way back to your accommodation.
Subway station of Kitayama
From this place you can access to any part of the city. Upon your request, I can take you to nearby places for some unique experience. This will be a bonus feature of our tour.
Ending Point
Subway Kitayama Station
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Total guide with professional English.
Cost of food, drinks, transportation. ( bus 230 yen ) Entrance fee in a few places ( about 1,000 yen ).
Tour Important Information
Please bring some cash for your little souvenir shopping and transportation and lunch time and entrance fee for a few temples in Daitokuji Temple complex ( about 1,000 yen per person ). Everything else is very well calculated such as total walking distance and time for transportation since I am a real local in here. At the end of this course, it is alright for me to take you to Japanese sento ( public bathhouse called Kamogawa-yu ) in nearby location for your experience. Except for Tuesdays. I can prepare your towels. It only costs 490 yen. Again, I can give you full guide in English.
Wednesdays are off for this toyr
Important message from the guide
In case of a bad weather condition, I can arrange back-up tour for you. I will ensure that you will not regret about your booking. And, please contact in advance so I can check my availability with other things.
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
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