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Whispers of Kyoto
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Joined 2025
I will guide you to a quiet place with a beautiful garden.
In autumn it can be a little crowded, but during other seasons it is relatively peaceful.
For this tour, I would especially like to focus on lunch.
Please let me know your preferences and budget.
If you can make your reservation early, it will be easier to secure a table.
Of course, even with a last-minute booking, I will do my best to find a good restaurant.
Let’s enjoy the quiet atmosphere with both our hearts and bodies!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel or a nearby convenience store
Nanzenji-temple
Nanzen-ji Temple was founded in 1291 by Emperor Kameyama. It is the head temple of Rinzai Zen. The great Sanmon Gate, 22 meters high, is impressive and linked with the legend of Ishikawa Goemon. The red brick aqueduct and Zen gardens show a harmony of history, nature, and quiet beauty.
Lunch
Let’s have lunch. I will take you to a nice place I recommend.
Ginkakuji-temple
Ginkaku-ji Temple was built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. It belongs to the Rinzai Zen sect. The Silver Pavilion and its gardens show the spirit of wabi-sabi — simple, quiet beauty. The white sand garden “Ginshadan” and cone-shaped “Kogetsudai” are unique highlights of Zen culture.
Shimogamo shrine
Shimogamo Shrine (officially called Kamo-mioya Shrine) is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The deities enshrined here are Kamo Taketsunumi-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, who are believed to bring blessings for love, safe childbirth, and protection from misfortune.
You can also experience a unique water fortune-telling here.
Within the grounds lies Tadasu no Mori, a vast primeval forest that preserves the ancient natural landscape.
Now, let me tell you a little about Kyoto’s history here.
Ryuanji-temple
Ryōan-ji Temple was built in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto. It belongs to the Rinzai Zen sect. The rock garden is world-famous: fifteen stones are set in white gravel, but only fourteen can be seen at one time. This design makes visitors think deeply about life and perspective.
Ending Point
Your hotel
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
-Guiding fee
-Restaurant reservation service
-Private car transportation, Nissan Cube (5-seater)
-Fuel, toll
-Parking fees
(Nanzen-ji Temple: 1,000 yen)
(Shimogamo Shrine: 1,000 yen)
(Ginkaku-ji Temple: 1,000 yen)
-Admission / Entrance fees
(Nanzen-ji Temple: Sanmon Gate 600 yen pp)
(Garden 600 yen, Special viewing 600 yen pp)
(Ginkaku-ji Temple: 500 yen pp)
(Ryoan-ji Temple: 600 yen pp)
-Travel insurance
-All meal costs
(Guide’s meal can be excluded. In that case, the guide will make the restaurant reservation and wait outside until you finish.
What matters most is your experience!)
Tour Important Information
*We will climb a small hill, so please wear comfortable walking shoes.
*Please bring some coins for offerings.
*We will take time to enjoy the atmosphere, so there is no need to rush.
*There will be moments of silence to appreciate the space.
*If we prioritize lunch time, we may skip Shimogamo Shrine. Thank you for your understanding.
This place is best visited on a quiet day, so the tour is not available on weekends. If you prefer a Saturday or Sunday, please consult with me.
Important message from the supplier
-Last-minute bookings (1 day before) are sometimes possible — feel free to ask!
-If you want me to make reservations for shops or restaurants, please contact me at least 1 week in advance.
-I can help you rent a bicycle.
-Please note: I love wine! But if I drink during the tour… I might forget where we’re going. So I’ll stay sober—but if you like, I can show you some great wine spots in Kyoto!
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 2025
About Tour Guide Michiko N.
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page among so many wonderful guides!
My name is Michiko. I was born and raised in Kyoto, and I still live here.
In my twenties, I lived for a short time in the UK, and recently I spent a year in Thailand.
I love traveling to different countries, and I enjoy talking with people from all over the world.
When we are in a country that is not our own, I believe it is important to show respect.
I always try to respect your culture, and I hope to share the spirit of Japanese hospitality with you too.
Kyoto is a beautiful and special place.
It has a long history, many unique small shops, and charming hidden paths.
In summer, it gets very hot, so I can guide you by car for comfort.
But if you like walking, I’m happy to do that too.
I can also take you to some delicious local food spots!
Besides guiding, I work in the theater and performance art.
I love telling stories and sharing emotions.
I’m looking forward to showing you not only the famous places,
but also the heart of Kyoto—its quiet beauty, kind people, and unforgettable stories.
…Besides guiding, I work in the theater and performance art.
I love telling stories and sharing emotions.
Right now, I’m working on a new artistic project:
I create theater-style performances inside shop windows.
My dream is to show my work outside Japan someday.
I’m still learning and growing as an artist,
so if you’re interested, I’d love to talk with you about Japanese performing arts, like Kabuki!
I really look forward to the day I can guide you around Kyoto.
Let’s discover beautiful moments together!
with BIG LOVE!
Reviews
Lea B.
“A lovely day in Kyoto with Michiko”
We made the booking very last minute, and yet, Michiko was a star in preparing a programme. She was extremely attentive to our requests and she arranged a very nice tour for us. She knows well the art scene, theatre and can arrange very interesting visits. Michiko is very open to discussion, she likes her city and is genuinely happy to show it to tourists like us. She explained many things to us about the places we visited and about the daily life in Japan. She even helped us in visiting a supermarket and bring back some actual food souvenirs … She drove us through the city and is a very prudent driver. We recommand visiting Kyoto with her
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Michiko N.
Thank you so much for choosing me this time. Kyoto’s summer is very hard,,, I really appreciate that you tried to discover Kyoto even in this heat. As someone who lives here, it makes me very happy. I hope I was able to meet your wishes. More than anything, I am grateful for all the stories you and your family shared with me. You even kindly supported me when I was not perfect. It was truly an honor to spend this time together with you. Thank you very much, and I really hope we can meet again someday!
Ayli G.
“Exciting and educational”
Thank you, Michiko-san, for this tour! We truly made the best out of our time by visiting so many places, thanks to you, and it was both exciting and educational. In one day, we were able to visit: - Yasaka Shrine - Shimogamo Shrine - The Golden Temple - Tenryu-ji Temple (and bamboo forest) We also really appreciated how you adapted the tour so that we could learn not only about Kyoto’s history, but also how to pray at both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. I especially enjoyed talking with you in the car; I could see how much you wanted us to discover Kyoto. Thank you as well for making us discover such savoury food in a local restaurant, a true secret gem, and bringing us to buy some yukatas (summer kimonos). It was a wonderful experience and we had a lot of fun!
Michiko N.
Thank you so much, Ayli-san. I was really healed by the warm energy of your family. I was especially happy to introduce you to the soy sauce company (haha). And thank you for enjoying the yukatas! The patterns recommended by the shop are based on old Japanese ideas, so please wear them many times. I was also surprised by your great talent for drawing! Japan is such a fun place, and I believe your life will shine even brighter here. Because your family knows how to enjoy life so well, I’m sure you will have wonderful days ahead! with BIG LOVE! MICHIKO
Lili L.
“A Memorable Day Exploring Kyoto’s Hidden Gems with Michiko-san”
It was truly a pleasure meeting Michiko-san. Thank you so much for showing us the hidden, off-the-beaten-path gems of Kyoto that we would never have discovered on my own. I really enjoyed spending the day with you, your knowledge, kindness, and thoughtfulness made the experience so special. A memorable day we will always cherish!
Michiko N.
Thank you so much for enjoying my tour! I was helped a lot by your great energy to enjoy the day. It was fun for me to think about where to go together, because I could trust you! I feel so lucky to spend time with such wonderful people like you! with BIG LOVE!
$337/ per group
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