This tour begins with Zen and ends with Zen. The spirits of Zen will heal your mind.
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 two of the areas 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.
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
Gion Area
@Kennin-ji
This temple was built in 1202 by the priest who brought Zen to Japan and has been the center of Zen in Japan.
Macha was also brought to Japan by the same priest who built this temple. That is why there are many tea trees here.
Furthermore, this temple is also known for its Zen gardens and Dragon paintings.
@Kodai-ji
This Zen temple was established by the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi after his death to pray for his spirit. Asides from the Zen garden, there is a Pureland Garden and small Bamboo Forest.
Ending Point
TBD
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
Insurance
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch (you and guide),,
Ask for details
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.
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, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was 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.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Luis R.
“Two tours with Hiroyuki”
My family did two tours with Hiroyuki one in Osaka and another in Kyoto. Both tours were excellent. Tours were customized to our needs, well timed, informative and Mr Hiroyuki was always attentive to our desires thru the tours. Would highly reccomend his services to anyone traveling in those cities. I usually dont write reviews but felt he did such a good job that I decided to share with others.
Luis R.
“Amazing Tour ”
We had an amazing tour with Hiroyuki. It was informative, well planned and flexible to meet our needs. We were a family of 4 adults and my daughter said that Hiroyuki "was a great teacher". His recommendation on the vegetarian lunch was excellent (and this coming from someone that loves bacon and meat. Try it, you wont be disappointed). Thank you Mr Hiroyuki for a wonderful tour.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was really nice spending time with you and your family. You showed a lot of interest in Japanese culture. It is always pleasant to explain things to those who interested in cultural things. Say hello and convey my gratitude to your family. I will miss you all. Thank you very much. Hiro
Jami D.
“A Guide Whose Wealth of Knowledge Imparted a Deeper Understanding of Japan”
Hiro expertly guided us between Kyoto and Osaka. Visits to each site were started with Hiro giving us a short lesson on the history and culture of the location. He has great knowledge of each location, and was able to answer all of our questions. And he knows the special locations at each site to take the best pictures. Hiro showed great consideration for our enjoyment and well-being, making sure we had plenty of time to rest and refresh ourselves during the 90+ degree temperatures. If you’re into history and knowing the greater details of the places you’re visiting, Hiro would make an excellent guide for you.
Hiroyuki T.
Jami san, Thank you very much for your kind message. It was hot and it was very humid, but we had a wonderful time both in Osaka and Kyoto. Thank Buddha and deities, you showed a great interest in Japanese history. It is always pleasant to spend time with such wonderful people. Thank you very much once again. Please convey my sincere appreciation to your family. Hiro
$311/ per group