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 an ancient capital city with over 1,000 years of urban development and a 100-year film history. I grew up in OSAKA and studied in KYOTO. Then I worked in TOKYO and Osaka as an urban planning expert for national and local governments for 20 years. Quitting my career, I became a freelancer as a National Licensed Consulting Engineer (Urban & Regional Planning). I inspected urban development sites and film locations. I compared the cities featured in films with the actual ones and posted their photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries). Having visited many cities, I have come to think about the uniqueness of an ancient capital city, where classical wooden buildings blend in harmony with their surroundings.
Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara formed a metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace from the 7th century to the 19th century. Even as political power shifted to other cities with the rise of the SAMURAI power, three cities remained economic and cultural centers. The citizens maintain connections with nearby temples and shrines, continue to hold local events, nurture cultural assets in harmony with the land, and enjoy traditional lifestyles with minor modifications.
Three cities have accumulated historical temples and shrines, landscaped gardens, bustling entertainment districts, and the birthplace of the film industry over time. I have national licenses as a Guide Interpreter and General Travel Service Manager. Three cities are all within an hour train ride, making travel from one to another easy. I will combine my knowledge and your perspective to create a customized plan.
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
$229/ per group