This tour is designed for those who like trekking along the Kiyotaki River in autumn foliage and like visiting lesser-known temples of scenic and historic interest with moss-covered gardens located in a serene environment.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Kyoto Station
Jingo-ji Temple
Trekking along the Kiyotaki River
Gioh-ji and Johjako-ji Temples
The Bamboo Forest and Nonomiya Shrine
Ending Point
JR Kyoto Station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
transportation fee ( you and guide ) and entrance fee for the three temples (¥1,400 )
This is a limited time tour from November 14th till December 3rd in 2019. It is desirable to wear warm clothes and trekking shoes. Sneakers are possible. Please get a bottle of water or tea and an obento ( a boxed lunch ) at a convenience store near your hotel or Kyoto Station. You will take a bus twice from Kyoto Station to Takao. The route along the Kiyotaki River is a part of Kyoto Trail Hiking Course. Most of the route along the Kiyotaki River is a safe path and warning will be given at slippery places. Responsibility cannot be taken for any injury during the tour. It is recommended that you have overseas travel insurance. In case of rain, trekking along the Kiyotaki River is canceled and two other temples are added in Arashiyama Area instead.
This is a limited time tour from November 17th till November 28th, 2025.
It is desirable to carry overseas travel insurance because the guide is not liable for any damage or loss incurred during the tour. It is also requested to bring enough Japanese yen with you because some restaurants and taxis do not accept credit cards.
Hi. My name is Yoshihisa. Call me "Yoshie", please. It means good or O.K. in Japanese. I live in Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, located just in between Kyoto and Nara. I was born and raised in Iga, Mie Prefecture. Iga is a birthplace of ninja and a renowned haiku poet, Matsuo Basho. I might be a descendant of ninja. I aim at becoming a linguistic ninja, following a part of Basho's lifestyle with the incorporation of seasonal changes into my tours. In addition to visiting famous temples and shrines, I invite you to lesser-known places of historic interest.
Once in a month I go hiking or mountain climbing with some friends mainly in mountains surrounding Kyoto and Nara basins. Recently I have got intrigued by the charms of Buddhist statues, which are manifestations of people's wishes and prayers. I also like izakaya (Japanese-style taverns) hopping, tasting delicious dishes and locally brewed sake at reasonable prices. Especially I like communicating with people from home and abroad, talking face to face. Some of the above-mentioned elements are included in my walking tours. I hope you will discover new aspects of cultural and natural beauty in Kansai area through one of my tours which you could never gain otherwise.
One of my favorite phrases that come from Zen Buddhism is Ichigo Ichie or this meeting-but only once in a lifetime. My interpretation goes this way: This place and this moment never cross again. Each and every good encounter, however, lingers on like the sound of a temple bell. Won't you explore a deeper world of Japanese culture in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka with me?
Kevin L.
“Yoshie is an Excellent and Friendly Guide”
We enjoyed spending the day with Yoshie. He is an amazing guide that speaks excellent English. You can tell he loves showing people around his beautiful country. We saw all of the major sites of Kyoto, using taxis, trains, and 25,000 steps! If you want to see Kyoto guided by a local, you can't do better than Yoshie!
Yoshihisa T.
Hi Kevin. I really appreciate your superb comment on my tour in Kyoto. I also enjoyed myself guiding and talking with you two. I hope our paths will cross someday soon. I wish you and your family the very best of luck. Yoshie
Marie helene N.
“Great tour”
Yoshie is very reliable and organized.
Yoshihisa T.
Hi Marie. Thank you for your kind comment on my tour in Kobe, Arima and Rokko. I had a very pleasant time guiding and talking with you and your family. I was glad that the cherry trees in Arima Onsen were still in full blossom. I hope you will continue the rest of your trip and return home safely. With best wishes. Yoshie
Terry F.
“Best guide EVER!”
Yoshi is truly an exceptional guide and we really enjoyed our time with him. He is energetic and full of knowledge. Our tour was very thoughtfully planned. Yoshi knew all of the best picture spots and took many fun and creative pictures of us. Spending the day with him was definitely a highlight of our Japan journey. We have been left with memories of a lifetime.
Yoshihisa T.
Hi Terry. Thank you so much for your superb review for my tour in Kyoto. I also had a wonderful time being together with you two. I hope you will return home safely with lots of good memories of Japan. Ichigo Ichie. Yoshie
$227/ per group