I recommend Horyu-ji Temple located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture. It is the oldest wooden structure in the world. The temple was designated as the first World Cultural Heritage site in Japan. It was from here that Buddhism blossomed and spread throughout the land.
And the five-story pagoda of Horyu-ji Temple is known for being the oldest earthquake-proof structure. Today, this structure's technique is employed by TOKYO SKY TREE, imagine that!
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
at your hotel in Osaka
Horyu-ji Temple
one of the oldest temples in Japan
Chugu-ji Temple
Prince Shotoku, the strong believer in Buddhism, built the temple.
Horin-ji Temple
The temple was built in 622.
Hokki-ji Temple
The temple was built in 638.
Chogosonshi-ji Temple
A giant papier-mache tiger will be waiting for you in front of the red gate
Ending Point
at your hotel in Osaka
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
transportation fee (you and your guide), lunch, entrance fee
I guide you Sapporo, Furano, Otaru, Hakodate in Hokkaido / Aomori in Hokuriku / Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji in Kansai / Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Kagoshima in Kyushu / Kochi, Matsuyama, Ehime in Shikoku / Matsumoto in Nagano/ Tottori, Shimane, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato, Fukui in Japan Sea side / Please get in touch with me!!
Thank you.
Hello, I'm HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as the famous shogun who built the Osaka Castle in 1585.
I was born in Kobe and worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce the Kansai region to you ,including Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama.
Kobe is one of the two largest ports in Japan, along with Yokohama. After the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, foreigners built their residences on the hillside of the Kitano-cho area, overlooking the ocean. Many of the foreign residences are now open to the public as museums, including the Weathercock House, with it's symbol weathercock on the triangle-shaped roof.
In Meriken Park, the red Port Tower (the city's landmark), creates a beautiful contrast against the white Kobe Marine Museum. The museum's design was inspired by the waves and sailing ships.
When you have a chance to visit Osaka, please join my tour. I'm sure you'll enjoy the interesting and historical, scenic spots. For example, Shin-Sekai is a downtown area with a strange mix of nostalgic atmosphere and contemporary energy. You can try local foods (kushikatsu, sushi, tempura) at a reasonable price. Billiken (a famous statue of the spirit of luck) will be waiting for you!!. Dotombori is a popular street with a lot of flashy signboards. Osaka is widely known as a "Kuidaore-no-machi", or literally "drinking and eating luxuriously to death." Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi HIDEYOSHI in 1585. Oh, it's my residence, isn't it !
These days "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" area in USJ, or Universal Studios Japan, is also attracting more and more people.
I'll be looking forward to seeing you !!
Joyceline K.
“Our tour of Kochi with Hideo Y ”
Hideo Y met us at the boat terminal at agreed time, we had an amazing day. Temples, Castles beautiful lunch, local scenery. Hideo Y is very knowledgeable we enjoyed asking questions and in return Hideo Y is easy to understand. I definitely would tour with Hideo Y again.
Hideo Y.
I'm very gald to receive your excellent review, You are very energetic to climb up the stone steps and reach the top of the Castle. Japanese castle is completely different from European castle. We could see the beautiful 5-storied pagoda at Chikurinji Temple. I wish you two all the best in the future.
Lampros S.
“Osaka days”
Excellent guide - friendly , knoweledgeable, and made Osaka unforgetable. Highly recommended !
Hideo Y.
I was very happy that we coulf find headband and Kimono. Shop staff was was also very helpful. I hope we enjoy Nara trip!
Scott D.
“Unexpected Highlight of Our Recent Japan Cruise”
Our recent Japan cruise had a lot of big notable port stops like Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. It is an unexpected pleasure to say that Kochi (which is a smaller, more peaceful port stop) was one of our favorite stops, in no small part due to our terrific tour guide Hideo. Even though we had already stopped at previous ports at so many shrines and temples, it was Hideo who taught us the most about Buddhism and how Japanese people today often combine elements of the Shinto and Buddhist religions. On our trip with Hideo, we visited Kochi Castle, Katsurahama Beach and Chikurinji Temple. This last stop was one of my top 2 stops in all of Japan - it was the most serene and beautiful temples I’ve ever seen and there were only a handful of other tourists, making our time more meditative and memorable. Hideo also actioned one of my last minute requests to have a sake tasting by arranging a visit to the Takagi Sake Brewery. What a great day!
Hideo Y.
I'm very glad to receive your excellent review. Kochi Castle is completely different from foreign castles. At Chikurinji Temple we could see one of the most beautiful 5-story pagodas in Japan. Lastly we visited Sake brewery to enjoy 5 kinds of sake tasting and getting sake bottles. I'm sure you enjoy Japanese sake. I wish you and your family all the best.
$231/ per group