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Wabi & Sabi -temples with gardens in Kyoto Higashiyama and more
Joined 2019
This tour focuses on the Zen temples with Wabi-Sabi gardens in Higashiyama such as Tenju-an, Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji the Silver Pavilion.
We will walk on Higashiyama where we can sense the Higashiyama Culture which is a fusion of the samurai, imperial court and Zen.
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
Nanzen-ji Tenju-an
This is a temple built by order of an emperor in the first half of the 14th century and is a subsidiary temple of Nanzen-ji. This temple has two gardens, a dry landscape garden made of moss and cobblestones and a pure land garden with a pond (ticket JPY500).
Nanzen-ji Hojo and its Hojo Garden
This temple was originally an emperor's palace and converted to a Zen temple at the end of the 13th century. It is positioned as the highest rank of Zen temples in Japan and has a strong influence of samurai culture in its simplicity. A dry landscape garden in this temple is has very strong influence from Zen. This temple also has a subsidiary temple Nanzen-in with a beautiful pond strolling garden and Water Bridge that bring water to Kyoto from Lake Biwa. (ticket JPY600)
Eikando (Zenrin-ji)
In Buddhism it is taught that our souls are guided by Amida Buddha to the Pure Land. The garden of this temple was built to image the Pure Land where a Buddha lives in. (ticket JPY600)
Lunch
Philosopher’s Walk
This is a beautiful path leading from Nanzen-ji to Ginkaku-ji, so named because a famous philosopher took a walk on this path every day. (free)
Ginkaku-ji
This Zen temple was established by the 8th Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1490.
It is so called Silver Pavilion in contrast to the Golden Pavilion Kinkaku-ji Temple.
Two storied Ginkaku-ji is a simple, modest but beautiful building, and it is said that is the embodiment of a sense Wabi-Sabi, which sees beauty in simple and modest things. (ticket JPY500)
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kyoto or downtown Kyoto
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
Insurance
Transportation fee
Entrance fee
Lunch for guests and guide
Tour Important Information
As we will walk a lot, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance. Make sure to be covered by your own insurance.
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch are NOT included in the guide fee.
Direct payment for tickets , lunch and others will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
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, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am 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.
Reviews
Gabrielle M.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
“Fabulous day”
Hiro was a wonderful guide for our full day in Kyoto. He is very professional, knowledgeable and we all enjoyed his company. We would throughly recommend him. Thanks Hiro.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for reviewing the tour. It was a perfect day to see the autumn forage in Kyoto. You were blessed by the God, Buddhas and the Shinto deities. I was also blessed to have visited such beautiful places with such nice people like you. Thank you very much once again. Have a safe trip back home.
“Osaka Tour in 1 day!!Brilliant!!”
Hiroyuki is a very good Tour guide and very easy going. He explained everything prior to the trip as well as the day of as well. Very knowledgeable in the history of Japan and went the extra distance to explain the meaning of the Japanese customs. Has a lovely personality and would.definitely recommend him to anyone.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for reviewing the tour. Are you back in Australia now? It was a nice day trip; I enjoyed it myself very much. Hope that every single experience in Japan was good for you including my service in Osaka.
Leanne C.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
“Cultural heritage tour of Kyoto region ”
Thank you to Hiro for a wonderful day visiting many of the culturally significant sites in the Kyoto surrounds. Hiro is a great guide his explanation of the significance of each site was so important to understanding. Hiro was very accommodating and gave us many options to explore. I would definitely recommend Hiro as a guide and certainly this tour if you want to see the most significant sites!!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was a beautiful day, it was the best day to visit temples in Kyoto. I was also lucky that I was able to see such beautiful autumn leaves. I will remember the autumn leaves I saw on this day for a long time until I die.
$288/ per group
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