Osaka dates back to the 6th century, when the first official temple was built on the hilltop. In the Middle Ages, the emperor’s family and aristocrats believed that the Pure Land of Buddha was beyond the sunset and meditated in hermitages on the hill while watching the sun sink into the sea. Locals walked up(temples) and down (residences) regularly, enjoying life in this world and praying for a place in the Pure Land in the next life.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City
Osaka Castle Park (105ha/260 acres)
>Osaka Castle Tower/originally built in 1585 by a feudal lord, TOYOTOMI, who tried to make it the center of a unified Japan
>The Garden of the former Kisyu Palace/the beautiful Castle Tower can be seen from here
>Hokoku Jinja Shrine/dedicated to TOYOTOMI, the shrine was built by order of the emperor to honor a great feudal lord who contributed to the unification of the country
Yuhigaoka area (literally means sunset-hill with some 100 temples)
>Shitennoji Temple/the first official temple built in the 6th century by the order of Prince Syotoku, considered to be the “East Gate of Pure Land”
#Garden of Buddhist Pure Land/a garden that embodies an imaginary of Pure Land/Heaven with 2 streams and 2 ponds introducing natural spring water
>Isshinji Temple/the first place to practice Sunset Meditation* by the ex-emperor in the 12th century
*Gazing at the setting sun during meditation while concentrating one’s thoughts on an imagined Pure Land
Tennoji Park and Shinsekai area
>Tennoji Park (26ha/64 acres)/founded in 1909, comprising the zoo, the museum of fine art, Keitaku-en(Japanese garden), and the remains of the Osaka Summer/Winter War in the 17th century
>Shinsekai (9.2ha/23 acres/meaning New World)/was constructed by copying the design of Paris and New York in 1912, lots of local food places such as Takoyaki, Yakitori, Ramen, Sushi, etc.
>Tsutenkaku Tower (literally means Leads to Heaven)/the symbol tower with 108 m in Osaka,
Note: requires reservations for the observation deck
Ending Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
>guide fee, hotel pick up in Osaka City
>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/subway and train (some 1500JPY)/
>admission fee (you/per adult)/Osaka Castle Tower(1200JPY), Shitennoji Temple (600JPY), Keitaku-en Garden(300JPY)
>short break/lunch/dinner
>Please wear comfortable shoes.
>There are stairs to climb and descend at the Tower.
>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spot, so please bring some JPY.
>This tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance.
>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)
>If you want a listed/customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.
>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport.
>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.
Thank you for visiting my page.
I guide you to the ancient capital cities of 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming history.
I grew up in OSAKA, studied in KYOTO, and worked in TOKYO and Osaka for 20 years as an urban planning expert for national and local governments. I surveyed community development sites throughout Japan, welcomed scholars and business managers from inside and outside Japan, and guided them in the cities.
Quitting my career, I became a freelancer as a Professional Engineer (Urban & Regional Planning) who loves movies. I have visited unique cities overseas, inspected urban development sites and filming locations, and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries). The more I see cities overseas, the more clearly, I understand the characteristics of Japan's ancient capital cities.
The Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara areas were Metropolitan areas centered on the Imperial Palace, and their locations have changed 15 times since the 7th century. The three cities have many historical spots and hidden attractions depending on times and places: temples, shrines, landscape gardens, traditional townhouses, bustling entertainment districts, and the filming locations of period dramas where stories were born (SAMURAI Dramas). In addition, the three cities are all within an hour's train ride, making it easy to travel around.
To convey to as many people as possible the charms of these ancient capital cities that I have discovered through years of practice and theory, I obtained national qualifications as a Guide-Interpreter and General Travel Service Manager. I have begun my guided activities based in the ancient capital cities.
From my extensive list of tourist destinations, I will create a tour to suit your tastes and guide you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Y.
“A very nice day in Osaka”
Yoshi was knowledgeable and happy to show the city to us at a leisurely pace. A very nice man who did a great job of speaking at a loud enough level so we could all hear him which was appreciated. He was very hospitable and we appreciated that.
Yosshi S.
Dear Chuck Thank you for sending me such a warm review. Osaka is a commercial city, so Osaka citizens are interactive and talkative. We looked at citizens' lives while strolling to the bustling shopping streets and the OKONOMIYAKI place. At the Rose Garden, we could see the harmony with roses, the rivers, and the skyscrapers. Thank you for including me as one of your close friends during the tour and for the topics we shared. I hope Osaka will be one of your friends' fond memories. Regards Yosshi
John M.
“Kyoto visit to Imperial Palace gardens and tour of Palace State Guest House, with a special tour of the guest house. Also, Philosopher’s Walk, national Treasure Silver Palace, and Kyoto Aqueduct. ”
We had a very high quality time with Yosshi S for our visit in Kyoto. He was well prepared from both experience and study, and gave us rich background into each site to result in a strong connection with Kyoto’s history, its rich spiritual traditions and its very special people living and working in Kyoto. We are grateful for this day and would recommend Yosshi S. with our highest regard.
Yosshi S.
Dear John, thank you for your review. We had the experience of seeing how to treat guests at the state guesthouse and having a lunch of Kyoto pickled sushi at a shopping street where ordinary people shop. The Philosopher's Path is a course where I often walked with friends during my student years. Walking with John on the tour, I got back the feeling of being a student. Unfortunately, I could not become a philosopher, but I learned the philosophy of "going my way" and became a guide. Thank you very much. Yosshi
John M.
“Mixed scenery with towns, temples, and National Museum of Nara”
Yosshi S provided us with a joyful life adventure for our day with him in Nara. He was helpful in finding our ways to Nara’s treasures, gardens, temple grounds, and shrines as well as an English audio-guided tour of the National Museum of Nara, containing unique treasures on special exhibition for the period of our visit. We would recommend others for Yosshi’s informative, well-researched, and personalized tours, aimed to give us a full appreciation of a place, its people, and what is special about both.
Yosshi S.
Dear John, Thank you for your valuable review. The day of our planned tour was the opening day of the National Treasures Exhibition at the Nara National Museum, so I decided to take you to the museum and let you fully appreciate the national treasure Buddha statues. The city of Nara has a long history of more than 1,300 years since Heijo-kyo. The citizens of Nara enjoy this long history through the deer relaxing in Nara Park, crawling through the pillar hole of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Karakuri Toy Museum. Those are appealing and attract both domestic and international tourists. I am happy to have conveyed this to you through this tour. Thank you. Yosshi
$222/ per group