In Kyoto, the arrival of autumn is felt as the leaves of the trees covering the mountains gradually change color from yellow to orange to red. On this tour, we visit a shrine with a vivid red torii gate at the foot of the mountain, a temple with red autumn leaves covering the valley, and a simple garden of stones and moss that remains unchanged, and enjoy the sight of autumn in Kyoto, where nature, Deities, Buddhas, and worshipers coexist.
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.
Mt. Inari and Fushimi Inari (87ha/233 acres)
>Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine/Originally, the deity of bountiful harvests was enshrined on Mt. Inari (233m high) 1300 years ago
#Pilgrimage/hiking route/4km long path around the shrines scattered throughout Mt. Inari, with 10,000 red torii* gates along the way to guide you
*In Shinto, red is a color that wards off evil spirits, but in Fushimi Inari, it represents the power of the Inari deity (meaning rice-bearing) to bring abundant harvests
Autumn leaves and gardens at Tofukuji Temple (24ha/60 acres)
>Tofukuji Temple/a prestigious Zen temple founded in the 13th century, has a river that flows through the vast grounds at the foot of Mt. Tsukinowa, and there are several buildings, including the main hall, the residence, and the training center.
#Autumn leaves in temple grounds/We can view the autumn leaves that fill the river valley in autumn from Tsutenkyo Bridge and Gaunkyo Bridge.
#Hasso Garden (expresson of the 8 aspects of the Buddha's life)/Gardens with different designs on all four sides of the Hojo (the residence), including checkerboard patterns and the Big Dipper by Mirei Shigemori*
* Mirei Shigemori/a seminal 20th-century architect of Japanese gardens, who added modern elements to a traditional dry landscape garden, designed two gardens in sub-temples below
Sub-temples of Tofukuji Temple
>Tofukuji Temple have 25 sub-temples around the main hall in its grounds
#Hashin-tei Garden at Komyo-in Temple/White sand represents the waves in the ocean. It is said that if the viewer casts aside worldly desires, the viewer's Buddha-heart will be reflected in the waves.
#Gaun-no-niwa Garden at Reiun-in Temple/Red color sand represents floating clouds dyed red by the sunset, and white sand represents waterfalls in the valley, leading the viewer to a state of mindlessness
Ending Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
>guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto City center
>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/train (some 1500JPY)
>admission fee (you/per adult)/Fushimi Inari Shrine(free), Hojo(garden) in Tofukuji Temple (500JPY), Komyoin Temple(500JPY), Reiun-in Temple(500JPY)
>short break/lunch/dinner
>Please wear comfortable shoes
>Please be aware that during the autumn leaves viewing season, transportation and tourist facilities will be crowded, so some of the facilities on the itinerary may not be accessible.
>There are stairs and slopes in the grounds of temples and shrines
>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spot, so please bring some JPY
>This tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance
>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)
>If you want a listed/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.
>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.
Thank you for visiting my page.
I guide you to an ancient capital city with over 1,000 years of urban development and a 100-year film history. I grew up in OSAKA and studied in KYOTO. Then I worked in TOKYO and Osaka as an urban planning expert for national and local governments for 20 years. Quitting my career, I became a freelancer as a National Licensed Consulting Engineer (Urban & Regional Planning). I inspected urban development sites and film locations. I compared the cities featured in films with the actual ones and posted their photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries). Having visited many cities, I have come to think about the uniqueness of an ancient capital city, where classical wooden buildings blend in harmony with their surroundings.
Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara formed a metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace from the 7th century to the 19th century. Even as political power shifted to other cities with the rise of the SAMURAI power, three cities remained economic and cultural centers. The citizens maintain connections with nearby temples and shrines, continue to hold local events, nurture cultural assets in harmony with the land, and enjoy traditional lifestyles with minor modifications.
Three cities have accumulated historical temples and shrines, landscaped gardens, bustling entertainment districts, and the birthplace of the film industry over time. I have national licenses as a Guide Interpreter and General Travel Service Manager. Three cities are all within an hour train ride, making travel from one to another easy. I will combine my knowledge and your perspective to create a customized plan.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Y.
“A very nice day in Osaka”
Yoshi was knowledgeable and happy to show the city to us at a leisurely pace. A very nice man who did a great job of speaking at a loud enough level so we could all hear him which was appreciated. He was very hospitable and we appreciated that.
Yosshi S.
Dear Chuck Thank you for sending me such a warm review. Osaka is a commercial city, so Osaka citizens are interactive and talkative. We looked at citizens' lives while strolling to the bustling shopping streets and the OKONOMIYAKI place. At the Rose Garden, we could see the harmony with roses, the rivers, and the skyscrapers. Thank you for including me as one of your close friends during the tour and for the topics we shared. I hope Osaka will be one of your friends' fond memories. Regards Yosshi
John M.
“Kyoto visit to Imperial Palace gardens and tour of Palace State Guest House, with a special tour of the guest house. Also, Philosopher’s Walk, national Treasure Silver Palace, and Kyoto Aqueduct. ”
We had a very high quality time with Yosshi S for our visit in Kyoto. He was well prepared from both experience and study, and gave us rich background into each site to result in a strong connection with Kyoto’s history, its rich spiritual traditions and its very special people living and working in Kyoto. We are grateful for this day and would recommend Yosshi S. with our highest regard.
Yosshi S.
Dear John, thank you for your review. We had the experience of seeing how to treat guests at the state guesthouse and having a lunch of Kyoto pickled sushi at a shopping street where ordinary people shop. The Philosopher's Path is a course where I often walked with friends during my student years. Walking with John on the tour, I got back the feeling of being a student. Unfortunately, I could not become a philosopher, but I learned the philosophy of "going my way" and became a guide. Thank you very much. Yosshi
John M.
“Mixed scenery with towns, temples, and National Museum of Nara”
Yosshi S provided us with a joyful life adventure for our day with him in Nara. He was helpful in finding our ways to Nara’s treasures, gardens, temple grounds, and shrines as well as an English audio-guided tour of the National Museum of Nara, containing unique treasures on special exhibition for the period of our visit. We would recommend others for Yosshi’s informative, well-researched, and personalized tours, aimed to give us a full appreciation of a place, its people, and what is special about both.
Yosshi S.
Dear John, Thank you for your valuable review. The day of our planned tour was the opening day of the National Treasures Exhibition at the Nara National Museum, so I decided to take you to the museum and let you fully appreciate the national treasure Buddha statues. The city of Nara has a long history of more than 1,300 years since Heijo-kyo. The citizens of Nara enjoy this long history through the deer relaxing in Nara Park, crawling through the pillar hole of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Karakuri Toy Museum. Those are appealing and attract both domestic and international tourists. I am happy to have conveyed this to you through this tour. Thank you. Yosshi
$258/ per group