In Kyoto, there are a lot of cultural properties. Of them, seventeen temples and shrines are included in World Heritage. On this tour, we will visit some of them from Osaka to feel the profundity and splendor of Kyoto.
If you are interested in the places not listed here, for example, if you would like to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Silver Pavilion, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Sanjusangen-do and others, just let me know. I will customize a tour for you.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
TBD (at your hotel)
Arashiyama, Togetsu Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Temryuji
Arashiyama is very well known for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. Located in the west of Kyoto City, it has been a typical tourist destination in Kyoto for more than 1200 years. The Togetsu Bridge and the Bamboo Forest are the symbols of Arashiyama.
Ryoanji and the Zen Rock Garden
Ryoanji is a Zen temple built in 1450. It is well known all over the world for its Zen Rock Garden. Ryoanji is a Zen temple built in 1450. It is well known all over the world for its Zen Rock Garden. Zen garden is a place to practice Zen. Empty your mind here to get some inspirations.
Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion
Kinkakuji Temple, which was built in 1397, is also called the Golden Pavilion because it used to be a noble villa. Japan at the time when Kinkakuji Temple was built was rich both in national power and culture due to the trade with Ming. The symbol of it is the gorgeous structure of Kinkakuji, which is filled with gold foil.
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is a guardian shrine for rice cultivation and business, worshipped by a lot of people. We will make a pilgrimage under the famous One Thousand Torii gates here to wish prosperity.
Lunch
If you prefer Zen vegetarian tofu lunch, let me know in adavance.
Ending Point
TBD (at your hotel)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
Insurance
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch (you and guide),
Transportation fare
Ask for details
As this is a TRAIN and WALKING tour, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance.
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch for guests and guide are NOT included. Ask for details.
Direct payment for tickets, lunch and others will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
I used to work for a prefectural government as a director of Cultural Heritage Management Department. I have a lot of knowledge on cultural properties and the World Heritage sites in Japan. I will give an intellectual guidance to you based on my knowledge and experience.
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.
Stephanie W.
“Tour of Nara”
Hiro was a wonderful guide, very friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable. Thank you for our day in Nara !
Tien N.
“An excellent excursion with Hiroyuki san”
Many thanks to Hiroyuki San for a very informative excursion with a delicious Zen vegetarian meals for lunch. My family was raving about the tour and I was so glad of my decision to book this Kyoto tour with Hiroyuki San .
Melinda A.
“Hiroyuki is the Zen master of tours”
We had so much fun with Hiroyuki. He was flexible and made sure we didn't see anything we already saw. But more importantly, he made the temples and shrines so much more than what we would have experienced if we toured them by ourselves. He taught us the complex history, politics, and social practices involved with everything we saw. I'm very curious and had many specific questions. He knows so much that he was able to answer and explain everything in detail and in such a way that we were able to understand the development of Japan and how it relates to the temples and shrines we saw. Thanks Hiroyuki! You made our visit so meaningful, educational, and fun!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. I am glad to know that you liked the Zen tour. Our sense of beauty in Japan is based on Zen, now you all understand it. If you have a chance to come back to Japan, I will show you more.
$315/ per group