Meeting Point

at your hotel in Tokyo

At your hotel

I will pick you up at your hotel near the reception.

9:00-11:30 From Tokyo to Kyoto station by the bullet train

We will take the bullet train from Tokyo about 9:00AM to Kyoto. I will book our train with the seats on the Mt. Fuji view side so please pay me about 30,000 JPY per adult, including our return trip (you and the guide) in cash. If you want to buy our tickets at the ticket office with your credit card, we won't get good seats together as the bullet trains are busy with business trips in the morning. Moreover, I can get the tickets for the green seats (1st class) with 20-25% discount for you if you book me more than three days in advance.

11:30-17:00 In Kyoto, you can choose one of the following three routes (1. Miyabi, 2. Golden, and 3. History).

1. Miyabi: 11:30-12:30 Fushimi Shrine

Fushimi Shrine; The most popular place in Kyoto according to Trip Adviser. This shrine was established in 8th century by Hata family. It is good for the harvest and business. Many companies made donations and get Torii gates in return. There are more than 10,000 Torii gates now. We will visit its main shrine and walk through the 1000 red Torii Gates area. (Admission free)

1. Miyabi: 12:30-13:00 Lunch

Lunch: We will have a quick lunch near Fushimi Shrine. Inari Sushi is the speciality of the area which is a piece of vinegared rice wrapped with a fried tofu cooked with sweet soy but they have simple Japanese food such as noodles, as well.

1. Miyabi: 13:30-14:00 Sanjusangen-Do Temple

1. Miyabi: 14:30-15:30 Kiyomizu-dera Temple

1. Miyabi: 15:30-16:30 Nostalgic Kyoto walking

Nostalgic Kyoto walking: We will walk about 5,000 steps down the nostalgic streets of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera Temple to Gion via Yasaka Pagoda. There are many souvenir shops and traditional houses along the streets.

1. Miyabi: 16:30-17:00 Gion area

Gion area; Traditional Kyoto street, good for shopping. There are many Miko houses in this area but it will be difficult to see them. Note: Taking photos are not permitted in the area but I can take you the other area where you can photo.

1. Miyabi (optional) : 16:00-17:00 Tea ceremony and dance by Maiko

2. Golden: 11:30-12:30 Fushimi Shrine

Fushimi Shrine; The most popular place in Kyoto according to Trip Adviser. This shrine was established in 8th century by Hata family. It is good for the harvest and business. Many companies made donations and get the Torii gates in return. There are more than 10,000 Torii gates now. We will visit its main shrine and walk through the 1000 red Torii Gates area. (Admission free)

2. Golden: 13:30-14:30 Lunch

Lunch: We will have a Japanese lunch with Kyoto cuisines.

2. Golden:14:30-14:45 Arashiyam area

Arashiyama area; It is a scenic area with the Katsura River and Arashiyama mountains. We will walk the popular traditional Togetsukyo bridge to enjoy the view.

2. Golden: 14:45-15:00 Tenryu-ji Temple

Tenryu-ji Temple; This temple is the World Heritage and has been to be the rank No. 1, Zen temple in Kyoto. It was first established in the 14th century by Takauji Ashikaga who started the Samurai period of Muromachi. We will walk through the temple including the popular Japanese garden Sogenchi pond. (Admission: 500 JPY per adult)

2. Golden: 15:00-15:30 Bamboo forest in Sagano

Bamboo forest in Sagano; We will walk through the trail in the bamboo forest to enjoy its unique view.

2. Golden 15:30-16:00 Taxi

Taxi: We will have a taxi for 30 min. to move to Kinkaku-ji Temple to save time. The fare will be about 3,000 JPY per a taxi.

2. Golden: 16:00-17:00 Kinkaku-ji Temple

Kinkaku-ji Temple; The World Heritage, first built in the 14th century by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga who was the leader of the Samurai who governed Japan. It is popular for its golden three story pagoda and Japanese garden with a mirror pond. We will visit the Temple in late afternoon when it looks the most beautiful with a reflection of the golden pagoda on the pond by a lowering sun. (Admission: 400 JPY per adult)

3. History: Taxi to Sanjysangen-do Temple

We will take a taxi to save time. It will cost about 1,000JPY

3. History: 12:00-12:30 Sanjusangen-do Temple

3. History: 13:00-14:00 Lunch

Lunch: We will have lunch at my favorite restaurant in the gourmet area of Kyoto called Ponto-Cho,

3. History: 14:30-15:30 Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle; This castle is the World Heritage which consists of traditional buildings with many Japanese paintings as well as beautiful Japanese gardens.This castle was built in early Edo period as the residence of Shogun in Kyoto. It was renovated to invite the Emperor in 1626 and famous for the announcement of termination of the Tokugawa shogunate at the end of Edo period. (Admission: 1300 JPY per adult)

3. History: Taxi to To-ji Temple

3. History: 16:00-17:00 To-ji Temple

To-ji Temple; This temple is the World Heritage which was established about 1,200 years ago. This temple practices the esoteric Buddhism (Shingon sect), which was brought by monk Kukai (Kobodaishi) from China. We will see the 3D Mandara, which is the organization chart of Buddhism with numerous statues of Buddha. (Admission: 500/400/300 JPY per adult)

At Kyoto station

We will leave Kyoto station by the Shinkansen.

At your hotel

End of the tour

Ending Point

at your hotel in Tokyo