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Less visited temples with beautiful gardens and more in Kyoto-feel Wabi and Sabi
Joined 2019
If you have visited the most visited temples and shrine in Kyoto and wants to visit quieter and less visited ones, consider this tour as an option. Choose an area or two that interest you and let me know.
I will customize a tour for you. Please be noted that we will not have enough time to visit all of the temples listed here in a day.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
TBD (at your hotel)
Ichijo-ji Area
Ichijo-ji is a calm area at the foot of a mountain where war lords and aristocrats set up villas after the 16th century, and it is a place where you can spend a quiet time away from the hustle and bustle. Recently, it is also famous for ramen as well.
＠Shisen-do
This is a Zen temple built in the 17th century by a high-ranking samurai. This temple is very well known for its white sand garden with a stream and flowers of the season. JPY700
＠Enko-ji
This temple was build by the 1st Tokugawa Shogun as a Zen school.
This temple is very well known for its dry landscape garden and moss garden. JPY500
＠Manshu-in
This MONZEKI temple dates back to the 8th century. MONZEKI is prestigious temple where the Imperial family member served as a head priest. JPY600
Higashiyama Area
＠Konchi-in
This Zen temple was established in the 11th century and had been supported by Tokugawa shoguns after the 17th century. JPY500
＠Tenju-an
This temple is famous for its dry landscape garden with diamond-shaped stones bordered by moss across a white sand garden. JPY500
＠The Nanzen-ji Garden
This is Japan’s first Zen temple established by the Imperial order and was considered to be a temple “on top of the five Zen temples in Kyoto. JPY600
Daitoku-ji Area
Daitoku-ji is a Zen temple located in northern part of Kyoto city. It was established in 1325 and its Gotama Buddha is its main buddha. Stand on the premise are the temple complex centered by the Buddha’s Hall and twenty sub- temples. It is deeply connected to the tea ceremony and had a great influence on Japanese culture. As this temple is not open for public, we will visit four of the sub-temples which are open for public.
＠Daisen-ji
This Zen temple established in 1509 and is the head of the sub-temples of Daitoku-ji. The main hall is the oldest Hojo building in Japan and is designated as a national treasure. The dry landscape garden here is designated as a special place of scenic beauty . JPY500
＠Ryugen-in
This temple was established by war lords in 1502. Main gates are original from its foundation and are the oldest buildings in Daitokuji.
This temple is also very well-known for its stone garden. JPY350
＠Zuihou-in
This Zen temple was established by a Christian war lord in 1535. This temple has a garden that resembles a cross made of seven stones. JPY400
Myoshin-ji Area
Myoshin-ji which was built by an emperor in 1340 is the biggest Zen temple in Japan. This is the head temple of the 3,350 Myoshi-ji Zen temples throughout of Japan. Many Buddhism building like the gate, the hall and the pagoda are lined up in the large temple complex.
＠Taizo-in
This Zen temple established in 1404 is very well-known for its gardens. In the dry landscape garden, big rocks are boldly assembled to express waterfalls, Buddhism sacred mountains and islands, and a bridge. JPY600
@Daishin-in
This 1479 built Zen temple is famous for its "Aun Garden". It is a relaxing garden with white sand, moss, and rocks centered on the rocks which represent the Three Buddhas. JPY300
@Keishun-in
This temple has four Zen gardens which were built in the 17th century and each garden has different meaning. JPY400
Ending Point
TBD
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
guide fee
Insurance
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch (you and guide),,
Ask for details
Tour Important Information
As this is aTRAIN and WALKING tour, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance.
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch for guests and guide are NOT included. Ask for details.
Direct payment will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
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 2019
About Tour Guide Hiroyuki T.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
Reviews
“Osaka with historic background”
Our group of four enjoyed the walking tour led by Hiro, who was an excellent resource for the places we visited in Osaka, namely the Osaka Castle and the Shitenno-Ji Temple. We especially appreciated his pausing at each site to give us historic information and background. Hiro was very knowledgeable and efficient, especially in his pre-excursion communication to us, giving us assurance that we would enjoy the day. Perhaps the best comment I could make occurred after he answered one of our emails by stating.: “Just come, I will take care of everything”
Hiroyuki T.
(132 reviews)Thank you very much for kind words. It was very nice spending time with you in Osaka. It was not a long tour but it was very comfortable to have a conversation with you. You showed a lot of interest to Japanese history and culture, I am very happy to know that you liked my "history lessons". Please take good care of yourself and stay health. Best wishes, Hiro
“Second great day with Hiro”
Hiro guided us for two days in a row and just like the first day his itinerary and insight was excellent and informative. Thanks Hiro
Hiroyuki T.
(132 reviews)It was a beautiful day Just like the first day. We had a wonderful time just like the first day. I enjoyed the tour myself. There are a lot more to see and to experience in this area. Come back to Japan again to visit another beautiful place. Hiro
Bill R.
Cultural Properties in Ancient Capital of Kyoto- from Osaka
“Great day provided by Hiro”
We had the pleasure of being guided around Kyoto by Hiro. It was a most informative and enjoyable day. Hiro had setup a full day of things to see and provided great background information and insight to the various sights. Great day. Bill
Hiroyuki T.
(132 reviews)Bill san, Thank you very much for your kind message. I am glad to know that you liked my tour very much. I had a wonderful day myself with you. How is your brother-in-law? Is he okay? Say hello to him. Please come back to Japan again with him. Hiro
