Shinto Shrine, Buddhism Temple, Zen Garden, Old Town and Palace-Kyoto
Joined 2019
Kyoto is blessed with a long history and rich culture. There are a lot of places to visit there, there are a lot of things to see there to understand its profundity.
This tour covers five different categories, Shinto Shrine, Buddhism Temple, Zen Garden, Old Town and Palace to understand the cultural value of Kyoto
It can be said that these different cultural aspects are mixed up to create the unique atmosphere of Kyoto.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Kyoto or JR Kyoto station
- TBD
Fushimi Inari Shrine or Yasaka Shrine
Fushimi Inari is a Shinto Shrine which enshrines the deities of business, rice, education and others. This shrine is very well kwon for its Torii and statues of fox. Torii is a gate of a shrine to the sacred site. There are 10,000 of them in this shrine, we will walk under at least 1,000 of them. Sometimes animals are considered to be sacred in Japan. Foxes are considered to be messengers from the deities. Free
Yasaka Shrine is one of the Imperial Shrines which enshrines the ancestor of the emperor.
There are many small shrines here besides the main shrine and it is a kind of shrine complex. There is a shrine to enshrines a deity of beauty which is very popular for ladies.
Free
Sanjusangendo Temple
This Buddhism temple was built in the 12th century. The main Buddha here is Buddha of Mercy. This Buddha has 1000 manifestations in the front and it is said that you can find a Buddha which looks like a person whom you want to see. They are guarded by 30 Guardian Buddhas and those are all Hindu Gods. JPY500
Lunch at the city center Sanjo
Nijo Castle or Kyoto Imperial Palace
Nijo Castle was built by the Tokugawa Shogun in the 17th century as his Kyoto base. The First Shogun was appointed to be the Shogun in the 17th century and the last Shogun gave up his power to the emperor in the 19th century here. This is where the Tokugawa Shoguns began and ended. After the main castle was burned out, it was used a Tokugawa’s Kyoto office (there is no main castle tower here).
Zen Gardens at Kenninji or Kodaiji
Kenninji is a Zen temple build in the 13th century by high priest Eisai. Zen is a philosophy and a Buddhism sect born in the 6th century. Eisai is a priest who brought Zen to Japan.
This temple is very well known for its paintings of the God of Thunder and the God of Wind, dragons painted and Zen gardens. JPY800
Kodaiji is a Zen temple built by the widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 17th century. She built this temple to pray for him and his son Hideyori. There is a beautiful Zen Garden, Tea Ceremony houses and a small bamboo grove here. JPY600
Old Town of Gion
This is a home to Maiko and Geiko. Maiko and Geiko are female entertainers unique to Kyoto. There are still 150 of them, they belong to agents called Okiya and they work at a tea house called Ochaya. There are many Okiya and Ochaya here that make the atmosphere of an old town.
Ending Point
TBD (at Gion, Gion is in the 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
Guiding fee
Transportation cost for the guests,
Transportation cost for the guide after we meet in Kyoto,
Enterance tickets for the guests and the guide ( I have a free access to all the places except Kenninji)
Lunch for the guests and the guide
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, 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!
Reviews
Michael C.
“Great Experience!”
My family had great time in Osaka with Hiro! He made us understand history and tradition of Japan. He was especially patient and wonderful with my seven year-old, who can talk your ears off. I highly recommend Hiro as a guide to your Osaka vacation!
Hiroyuki T.
Michael san, Thank you very much for your kind message. It was really nice to spend time with you and your family. You have wonderful children, I envy you! When I was seven years old, I was too shy to talk to an adult and I only knew that Tokyo is the capital of Japan. Are you back home now? Say hello to your family. Hiro
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
$304/ per group
More tours by Hiroyuki T.
Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
There are a lot of places to visit, a lot of things to do in Osaka. From historical sites to food venders hopping. CHOOSE 3-4 places you want to visit from the list below and let me know. I will customize a tour for you.
Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
There are a lot of Buddhism temples and Shinto Shrines in Kyoto. This tour focuses on three UNESCO World Heritage temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for a lot of red Torii gates and Bamboo Forest in Arashiyma to feel the profundity of Kyoto. If you are interested in the places which are not listed here, like Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Gion, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangen-do, Kiyomizu-dera and others, just let me know, I will customize a tour for you.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
In Nara, eight Buddhism temples and Shintoism Shrines are included in the World Heritage as “Historic Monuments in Ancient Capital of Nara” as those represent close cultural exchanges between Japan and China, and even Hellenism culture in the 8th century. On this tour we will visit three of them in a day from Osaka.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
Mt. Koya is a very important part of the World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Mt. Koya is in Wakayama Prefecture and I used to work for Wakayama Prefectural Government as a general manager of Cultural Heritage Division and I was also in charge of the World Heritage Project. I know this sacred mountain very well.
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Kyoto
半天周游京都宇治地区（平等院凤凰堂、黄檗山万福寺）
从您们的宾馆，坐京阪电车。 1首先访问平等院凤凰堂（在宇治车站下车） 走着斜看宇治川过约7，8分钟，到平等院凤凰堂。（世界文化遗产） 2然后再坐京阪电车到黄檗山万福寺（在黄檗车站下车） 走着去约5分钟到黄檗山万福寺，是日本最早的禅宗寺院（中国由来的 ）
半天周游京都宇治地区（平等院凤凰堂、黄檗山万福寺）
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference. I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with wabi sabi such as those in Sagano and one of the oldest Japanese sweets shops in Murasakino.
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
Thousand Torii Gates & Sake: Fushimi Half-Day Tour
This half-day tour begins at Fushimi Inari Shrine, a sacred site with more than 1,300 years of history, famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates. Next, we will take a train to another district and visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Here you will learn how Japan’s iconic drink has been crafted for centuries and enjoy a tasting of several sake varieties. We will wrap up the tour with a leisurely stroll through the lively Otesuji Shopping Arcade.
Thousand Torii Gates & Sake: Fushimi Half-Day Tour
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
There are a lot of Buddhism temples and Shinto Shrines in Kyoto. This tour focuses on three UNESCO World Heritage temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for a lot of red Torii gates and Bamboo Forest in Arashiyma to feel the profundity of Kyoto. If you are interested in the places which are not listed here, like Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Gion, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangen-do, Kiyomizu-dera and others, just let me know, I will customize a tour for you.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest