Short Hike in a Peaceful Temple and Forest in Eastern Kyoto
Joined 2024
Experience the charm of tranquility in a mountain temple.
Seikanji is a temple in Mt. Kiyomizu (242m high), which enables us to look down a fan-shaped view of the Kyoto area from the temple grounds covered with green moss. The temple retains such anecdotes as the emperor’s tragic love and the Waka poem composed by the incarnation of Buddha. We hike along a path at the mountain's edge from the less crowded tiny Seikanji temple to the heavily crowded huge Kiyomizu-Dera temple.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center.
Kyoto -Jyoshidaigaku-Mae Bus stop (Princess Line Bus with red color or Keihan bus)
Seikanji Temple Area
>Seikanji Temple/founded in 802 and the two Kanji words, Sei-Kan, refers to Pure-Tranquility
#open fan-shaped view of the Kyoto area from Kaname-Ishi (Key Stone) on the grounds, which supposedly grant a heartfelt wish to anyone who asks
#tragic episode and Emperor Takakura and his girlfriend’ graves (according to Tale of the Heike in the 12th century), locations of TV soap opera (Tale of Winter in the 1970s)
Foot path known as Uta-no-Nakayama along the mountain’s edge
>Uta-no-Nakayama Foot path/about a 30-minute leisurely hike in a peaceful forest
#temple legend said when some monk was strolling along the path and called out beautiful woman, she replied with a meaningful Waka poem and vanished, then the path was called Uta-no-Nakayama (meaning Middle Mountain of Poetry)
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple Area (enter from the back gate）
>Kiyomizu-Dera Temple/founded in 778 and the two Kanji words, Kiyo-Mizu, refer to Pure-Water
#Koyasu Pagoda, Otowa Waterfall, Main Hall with floating stage (13m high supported with 139 pillars)
Fabulous steep approaches to the Nio-Mon (Main Gate)
>Wandering the approach/Kiyomizu-zaka, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka with many visitors and shops
>Hokanji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda) and Yasaka Koshindo Temple on Yasaka-dori
Ending Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto 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
>guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto City center
>transportation fee (you and guide)/Princess Line Bus or Keihan bus (some 2000JPY per person, T.B.D.)
>admission fee (you and guide)/Seikanji Temple (some donation), Kiyomizu-Dera Temple(400JPY), Hokanji Temple(300JPY)
>short break/lunch/dinner
Tour Important Information
>Please wear comfortable shoes for walking.
>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spots, so please bring some JPY.
>The tour is not covered by insurance.
Important message from the supplier
>I can work only during the day, from about 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
> If you want a customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.
>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport
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 2024
About Tour Guide Yosshi S.
Thank you for visiting my page.
I will guide you to the ancient capital cities with 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming and screening history.
I grew up in Osaka, studied in Kyoto, and worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for the national and local governments. During this time, I surveyed many community development sites throughout Japan. I welcomed business leaders to encourage investment in the cities.
After quitting my career, I became a film-loving professional engineer. I visited unique cities in foreign countries to see urban planning and locations that appeared in picturesque film scenes and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now). The more I saw foreign cities, the more I loved my hometown. I wanted to know about the travel industry and got a national license as a Guide-Interpreter and Travel Service Manager. I have started guiding based in the old capital cities.
The entire area of old Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara has been a Metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace, and the actual location of the Palace has changed 15 times since the 7th century. This area has many historical spots and hidden attractions in different times and places: the townscape, temples, shrines, landscaped gardens, and historical drama locations (SAMURAI drama).
I will create your favorite tour using my list, and guide you leisurely. I look forward to hearing from you.
Reviews
Thomas F.
“Highlights of Osaka”
We had a great experience touring Osaka with Yosshi. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and really brought the city's highlights to life. From Umeda Sky to vibrant neighborhoods of Osaka castle, he made sure we saw the best of Osaka in a fun and efficient way. He also the bought entrance tickets in advance for us, so that saced a lot of time! Highly recommend his tour if you want to get a solid overview of the city with a local expert!
Yosshi S.
Dear Thomas Your heartfelt review reminded me of the fun tour we had. When you messaged me, you tried to visit three observation decks, three shopping streets, and a temple in Osaka in one day, I was a little worried because of the time constraints and physical fatigue. However, you young and energetic tourists managed it with ease. I had a delightful tour, fueled by the fun conversations with you on the tour and the eel bowl we had for lunch. Thank you very much. I hope to see you again. Regards Yosshi
Lisa M.
“So helpful, flexible and knowledgeable”
Yosshi was great and rolled well with our ad hoc requests. We landed in Osaka on our first day in Japan, so we decided to stop in the city for a few hours before heading to Kyoto. He gave us so much help navigating the Japanese transport system for the first time and met us at the station directly so everything was a breeze. He had a lovely tour planned for us, but husband was tired from the jet lag so we reduced the cultural hops and headed to Dontonburi for ramen. It was great! A final stop in Shitennoli Temple was special and worth the effort, very peaceful and beautiful. I enjoyed climbing to the top of the 5-level pagoda (earth, wind, fire, water, void) and seeing the hundreds of golden towers encased in glass on each level. Thank you, Yosshi!
Yosshi S.
Dear Lisa, Thank you for your heartwarming review. I hope you were able to experience the various charms of Osaka, such as Shitennoji Temple, which tells the story of Osaka's long history, Osaka Castle with its beautiful cherry blossoms, and the shopping streets where you can experience the tastes of the citizens, such as ramen and takoyaki. I felt I was touring movie studios such as Hollywood, Cinecitta, and Babelsberg with our fun conversation. I look forward to the opportunity to guide you on another leisurely trip. Regards Yosshi
Sofia B.
“Extremely kind guide with lots of knowledge!”
We had the absolute best experience with Yosshi-san! He’s incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, polite and went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing day. He answered every question we had, kept everything organised, and even created a customised itinerary just for us. We visited beautiful historical sites, discovered hidden gems we’d never have found on our own, and even popped into a charming toy shop with traditional Edo-style toys. My family and I had such a wonderful time - we can’t recommend Yosshi-san highly enough!
Yosshi S.
Dear Sofia, I am glad to see your heartwarming review. During the tour, I felt I was part of your family with the deer in Nara Park. However, there are too many deer to be part of your family. We chatted about the types of cherry blossoms, different languages, daily life, and more. When I visited your country 10 years ago, I had a fulfilling trip with the help of the local people. I hope that yesterday's tour could help you and your family experience the charm of Nara, which has a long history. Best regards. Yosshi
$217/ per group
More tours by Yosshi S.
Spiritual Tour in Temple Town, Osaka
Visit an image of paradise in this world and the afterlife. Osaka began around the 7th century when the Imperial Palace and the Temple were built on the hill. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats believed that the paradise (Pure Land of Buddha) of the afterlife was beyond the setting sun, and built hermitages for Sunset Meditation. Time passed, and merchants enjoyed the performing arts in a paradise-like entertainment zone below the hill. Movie Palace was also built, and the slopes became locations.
Mixed Scenery with Towns and Temples, Nara
Enjoy the beauty of the temples in rural scenery and old townscapes. Ikaruga is Japan's oldest temple town, dating back to the 7th century. Even today, the pagodas from that time rise and create a beautiful rural landscape surrounded by mountains. Naramachi is within the grounds of a temple built near the Imperial Palace in the 8th century. Commercial and industrial houses lined its grounds from the Middle Ages, and the temples blended into the traditional townscape.
Experience the Birth and Growth of Osaka
Visit the temple and castle on the hill. Osaka began around the 7th century when the Shitennoji Temple was built on the hill. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats believed that the paradise (Pure Land of Buddha) of the afterlife was beyond the setting sun, and Shitennoji Temple was regarded as the east gate of the paradise. Osaka Castle and large-scale Castletown were built 1000 years later. Osaka Castle and Castle Park with cherry blossoms have been popular with locals and tourists.
Stroll through Nara Park stopping here and there
Experience the unique charm of the old capital. Nara was the capital in the 8th century and was marked by splendid cultural assets. In the 19th century, its heart area and surrounding hills were developed into Nara Park. It has been a fabulous place among locals, tourists, and deer with religious rituals, a giant Buddha statue representing the emperor’s and people's wishes, chill out with divine messengers of deity, and a conventional townhouse renovated into a museum, gallery, and café.
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