Summer-only Higashiyama early morning tour
This is the perfect a half day tour that you can enjoy comfortably during this scorching Kyoto summer. This tour begins at Fushimi Inari Shrine, visits Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, concludes with a stroll through Gion Shirakawa after visiting Yasaka Shrine. Though short, it thoroughly covers the historic and popular spots of Higashiyama.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Inari station
- In front of JR Inari station, there is a big Torii gate. We meet at the Torii gate.
Fushimiinari shrine
Over 5000 vibrant orange torii gates that wind through the hills behind Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine makes it one of the most popular shrines in Japan.
From here, we take a taxi to Kiyomizu temple. ( Kiyomizu temple is located on the hill, there is no public transportation to go there. )
Kiyomizu temple
Situated atop a small mountain on the east side of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera temple offers a commanding view of the city. Perhaps it is the most beloved temple among Japanese people.
Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka
From Kiyomizudera passing down to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka cobblestone-paved slope where you can feel the atmosphere and historical houses from 300 years ago. You can enjoy shopping here too.
Yasaka shrine
Yasaka Shrine, located at the end of Shijo Street in Kyoto, is the head shrine of the Gion faith, which has approximately 2,300 shrines throughout Japan. The shrine is also known for the "Gion Festival" held every July.
Gion
Gion is a traditional entertainment district lying north and south of Shijo Street.
We can walk through Hanamikoji, this iconic street is renowned for its traditional machiya houses, upscale restaurants, teahouses, then continue to the canal Gion shirakawa, known for its picturesque streets.
Ending Point
Gion
Want to personalize this tour?
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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
* Admission fees ¥500 per person
* Taxi fee about ¥2000 - ¥3000per group (Fushimiinari to Kiyomizu)
* Admission fees for guide.
Tour Important Information
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* This tour is not recommended for those with back/knee problems.
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
About Tour Guide Fumi U.
I have spent nearly 30 years working in a Government organization, contributing to development projects in Latin America and African countries. During this time, I cultivated strong cross-cultural understanding and effective communication skills.
For the past 10 years, I have lived in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guanajuato, Mexico, where I managed a guesthouse, operated a jewelry workshop, and provided guided tours. Through these experiences, I have developed a deep sense of hospitality and attentiveness, ensuring that visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Leveraging these skills, I am dedicated to sharing the beauty of Japan with international guests and creating unforgettable travel experiences.
Reviews
Juan m A.
“Excellent ”
Fumi is a very nice and happy person, she is very profesional and knowledgeable she provides very interesting information and curios data about all the places we visited we are very grateful with her and higly recomend her as a guide. Thank you again Fumi!!
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Fumi U.
Muchas gracias por escribir una reseña tan maravillosa. Me alegra mucho que hayan disfrutado del tour. Ustedes tienen un profundo conocimiento de la historia japonesa, y fue un placer guiarlos. Por favor, contáctenme nuevamente la próxima vez que visiten Kioto. ¡Disfruten su viaje a Japón!
Amelia B.
“Kyoto highlights”
Fumi was a great guiide. She met us on time, spoke fantastic English, she was informative, helpful, funny. She took us to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, the Geisha area of Gion (where we actually saw three geishas) and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Fabulous day, thank you Fumi U.
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Fumi U.
Thank you so much for writing a wonderful review. I'm very happy that you enjoyed the tour. We were lucky enough to encounter a geisha that day. It was an honor to have been able to guide you both, even if only for a short time. I look forward to your next visit.
Techdaddio T.
“A happy, happy, day in Kyoto with a great guide”
Eight hours is a long day of touring the sights of Kyoto but it was a breeze with Fumi as our guide. The temples and shrines we visited were all amazing but different from each other. Fumi was great at teaching a bit about Japanese history and culture at each sight to help provide context to what we were seeing. (The teaching graphics she carried were so good we found ourselves taking pictures of them in addition to the sights we were seeing.) Above all, Fumi was so capable, happy and energetic it made what could have been a tiring day an absolute joy. Thank you Fumi for the very memorable day in Kyoto !
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Fumi U.
Thank you so much for writing a wonderful review. I'm very happy that you enjoyed the tour. I was impressed by your excellent physical stamina. I also thoroughly enjoyed guiding you around, as you both possess a deep understanding of world history. I would be delighted if you would contact me again when you visit Kyoto. I hope you return home safely with lots of happy memories.
$114/ per group
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The Old Heart of Kyoto: Gion & Higashiyama
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