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Off the Beaten Track in Kyoto Ohara
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Joined 2023
Kyoto has hidden gems. Let's explore some of Kyoto's lesser-known places if you are not in Kyoto for the first time.
You may find yourself experiencing deep feelings in those places. I will choose such places.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
Take a subway and a bus to Ohara
It's a bit far from the city center. But if you take a bus, you will come to another world.
Hosen-in Temple
You will see a seven-hundred-year-old pine tree with a beautiful shape. The name of the garden, Bankan-en, means "hard to leave."
Sanzen-in Temple
This is the main temple of this area.
You will enjoy the stunning garden sitting in front of it. You can have a tea.
A slight shift in your mindset can open up thousands of possibilities. Sanzen means "three thousand." You will experience such profound emotions here.
lunch
Casual restaurant.
They serve warm traditional dishes that you will feel at home.
Walk in the village to Jakko-in Temple
We walk to Jakkoin Temple in the old village of Ohara.
Please enjoy the views of the idyllic village for a while.
Tea break
There are some lovely cafes here.
Ending Point
Your hotel or where you never get lost
Ending Point
At your hotel
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, hotel pick-up
- transportation fee (you and the guide) for a train (about 400 yen/per person)
- lunch
- admission fees (about 2000 yen/per person, no guide needed)
Tour Important Information
We will walk on the paved road. But we go up and down stairs a little. So, please put on easy walking shoes. Please walk with your speed. There are so many photo spots.
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 2023
About Tour Guide Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport.
I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan.
If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Reviews
Wyatt L.
“Private tour of Kyoto”
Shuji hosted me on a spectacular one day custom tour of Kyoto. I only had one day coming in from Tokyo and he built a schedule that maximized my time in a relatively relaxed manner. Shuji proposed a great itinerary and was flexible to make changes that suited me. He was a wealth of knowledge about the temples, the neighborhoods, and the history. Most importantly, he took me for a wonderful lunch where I had the best pork chop I have ever eaten!
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Shuji O.
Thank you so much for your excellent review! I'm pleased to hear you liked it. Yes, we met on the Shinkansen platform and said goodbye at the Shinkansen station. It was a kind of whirlwind tour, but enjoyable nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed Kyoto, despite having only one free day in Tokyo. I hope you have fond memories of it! Thank you very much again!
Martha N.
“A wonderful day”
shuji was a very knowledgeable and pleasant guide. He gave excellent background and history on all the sites. He took us to the big popular spots and a couple unusual and lovely places. Very clear and good English. We enjoyed our day with him.
Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words! We had a little rain, but we still enjoyed visiting all the places we went. You both were so smart, and we could appreciate a little of Japan's history, art, and culture. We could have spent more time talking about our travel or dogs. Thanks for the Merlin! Have fun on the tour tomorrow!
Georgia H.
“Tour of Kioto ”
Shuji was great! He met us at our cruise port and guided us from Kobe by Bullet train to Kioto. Once there we visited gardens, busy historical street and saw a Geisha show. Great historian and pleasant tour guide. Highly recommended. We were a group of 8 and kept us in line! Thank you Shutsi.
Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words, even though you're so busy. Yes, we loved Kyoto. Even though there were a lot of you, you all worked well together. We enjoyed it until the very end. Enjoy the rest of your trip to Japan!
$324/ per group
More tours by Shuji O.
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Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
Arashiyama is the hottest tourist destination. It is incredibly beautiful in spring and fall because of its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn brown or red! In the outstanding Tenryuji, you will see a beautiful garden with beautiful mountains in the background. There are many other beautiful places with touching stories in this area. On the way back to downtown, we can visit two world heritage sites, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji. What a wonderful route!
Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
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The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years! There are so many historic sites and beautiful places that you will be at a loss for what to choose. Please tell me about your favorite. Considering the access, the season, and the time, I will make a suitable plan. I recommend some hidden gems if you like going off the beaten track. And also the charming famous popular tourist spots worth visiting when it is so busy. I will tell you stories to help you appreciate the place.
The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.
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Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
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Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Since there are so many beautiful places densely in eastern Kyoto, we can take a walking tour there. Please add or skip some. This is an example of a walking tour in eastern Kyoto, emphasizing history and culture. We will use the train only once or twice.
Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Other Popular Off the Beaten Path Tours in Kyoto
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Record the Sounds of Shisendō & Enkōji Temples • Sound Walk
Kyoto rewards those who listen. We wander slowly with professional microphones, recording the tranquil peace of gardens, birds, bamboo and Enkōji’s distinctive water feature. I’ll guide you through easy recording techniques, then edit your takes into a polished 'audio postcard' to keep and share. Curious about pace, group size or timing? Message me and we’ll shape it together.
Record the Sounds of Shisendō & Enkōji Temples • Sound Walk
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Half-day Kyoto History and Culture Tour
First and foremost, I do not want to provide a typical tour to the standard fair of tourist attractions. As with the majority of visitors to Kyoto, you do not really need a guide to visit such places. Instead, what makes my tour special is that I can show you the unique places of Kyoto with the addition of a historical and cultural background. Lunch at local restaurants, visit temples of the beaten path, go to local shopping arcades for unique products. Enjoy Kyoto without the crowds.
Half-day Kyoto History and Culture Tour
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Kyoto, Arashiyama Expedition Walking Tour
The Kyoto, Arashiyama Expedition is a serene journey through Japan's natural beauty, perfect for all ages. Begin in Takao Forest, exploring hidden waterfalls, ancient temples, and secret shrines. Visit the peaceful Otaji Nembutsuji Temple and wander through the stunning bamboo forest. In summer, enjoy a refreshing dip in the Kyotaki River. This off-the-beaten-path tour offers a peaceful escape to Kyoto’s hidden wonders.
Kyoto, Arashiyama Expedition Walking Tour
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![[Ichijou street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto](https://images.gowithguide.com/filters:format(avif)/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/4801/84818.jpg)
[Ichijou street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto
There are many old streets in old capital Kyoto area. I design a walking tour set of 31 streets.You can see the true Kyoto in this tour which is not in tourism like 30 years ago.In some streets, You could see traditional dying shops for Yuzen which is a traditional dyeing Kimono method of Kyoto.You can visit some of the shops and I will interpret between the shop owner and you.
[Ichijou street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto
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