This tour is based on 'A Wonderful Half Day in Kyoto (East Kyoto). You can visit Kiyomizudera Temple, Sanjyusangendo Temple, Kenninji Temple. You can also enjoy tea ceremony experience.
At your hotel (lobby)(in Kyoto)
In this temple, you can see 1001 Buddhist statues in a hall. You will be amazed at the scenery, 'Forest of Buddha'.
It is said that you can find the Buddhist statue which resembles you among these statues.
Please be noted that you cannot take any pictures in this hall. Please imprint the breathtaking view in your memory!
This temple was built on the 13-meter cliff without any nails in the 8th century. (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site)
You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kyoto city, shopping and eating on its approach way. You can find shops where you can buy Kiyomizu pottery which is produced in this area. I hope you will enjoy trying some different kinds of Yatsuhashi (specialty sweets of Kyoto area).
Kiyomizudera temple is so beautiful with cherry blossoms in spring and colored maple leaves in fall.
This temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto built in the 13th century and holds the replica of one of the most famous paintings, 'FUJIN RAIJIN' (Wind God and Thunder God Screens)
It's located in the area of 'Gion', however, not so many people visit this temple and you can enjoy the quiet rock gardens. This temple is also famous for the huge picture of dragons which is drawn on the ceiling of a temple.
Please enjoy Japanese culture, tea ceremony experience.
This tour ends at the place near Shijyo, however, I will show you how to go back to your hotel.
Kyoto had been the old capital of Japan and had many old temples and shrines to visit. In this tour, you can visit two of the most famous temples to visit in Kyoto, Kiyomizudera Temple and Sanjyusangendo Temple.
The another temple, Kenninji Temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. It was built in the 13th century, and holds the replica of one of the most famous paintings, 'FUJIN RAIJIN' (Wind God and Thunder God Screens). This temple also has beautiful zen gardens and the picture of dragons on the ceiling.
Please enjoy tea ceremony experience, too.
Guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto area
Transportation fee (you and guide)
Entrance fee: Sanjyusangendo Temple, 600 Japanese yen/person (you and guide)
Kiyomizudera Temple,400 Japanese yen/person
(Zuigudo, 100 Japanese yen/person)
Kenninji Temple, 500 Japanese yen/person
Lunch (you and guide)
Tea ceremony experience
If you book me early, I can exchange mails with you many times to know what you want to do in details, collect information and prepare a lot for your plan. Please don't hesitate to ask me anything in advance.
I can guide you in the morning almost every day.(from 8:30 or 9:00 AM till 13:00 or 13:30PM)
This year, in case of the full day tour, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, are available.
This tour is available only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this year.
*Inside of Sanjyusangendo Temple, you cannot take any pictures.
*Please book tea ceremony by yourself at 15:00 or 15:30.
*We will use public transportation.
My family had the pleasure of spending two days with Tomoe where we toured sites in Kyoto and then took a day trip to Nara together. She has a very positive energy, which made my husband, college-age children and I thoroughly enjoy spending these days with her. Tomoe is knowledgeable, warm, kind, thoughtful, and, simply, an outstanding tour guide. When learning that my husband is a vegetarian, she suggested a wonderful Zen vegan restaurant for lunch at Shigetsu at Tenryuji Temple that we all loved. It was a great experience. She took great photos of our family and suggested slightly off- the-beaten path spots in popular sites. When we had a little extra time at the end of our first day, she quickly adapted and added a visit to the Imperial Palace garden. She was responsive and really listened to our preferences, which made these tours and spending two full days together special. Our day in Kyoto included Nijyoyo Castle, Golden Pavilion, lunch at Shigetsu at Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Forest, and Imperial Palace National garden. Our second day included visiting Nara where we saw the Tōdai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Shinto shrine Kasuga Taisha. We enjoyed a ramen lunch in the park. Then we returned to Kyoto to see the Fushimi Inari Shrine. We highly recommend Tomoe as a tour guide! She is wonderful!
Dear Julie and family, Thank you very much for such a wonderful review. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed my tours and liked the pictures I took. Yes, we were lucky to have a little more time left to visit Imperial Palace at the end of tour, on the first day, too. We visited both of Nijyojo Castle and Imperial Palace in Kyoto! 2 days with you, such a nice family, gave me a precious memory. Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. I hope that I can see you again. TOMOE
Our group of 6 had a wonderful time with TOMOE. We started from our meeting place at Osaka Port and used taxis and Shinkansen train to get to Kyoto. From there we visited Nijo-Jo Castle, Kiyomizodera Temple and Fishimi Inari Shrine. Tomoe is so knowledgable and her attention to details impressed us immensely. She was so kind to stay with us until we got on the train back to Osaka and wrote a note for the taxi driver to get us back to the cruise ship. With Tomoe as our guide, she made it an exceptional experience.
Dear Marie, Thank you so much for your warmhearted review! Yes! It was still a hot day, but I enjoyed the day with you, such nice people. I wish we had more time to spend with. Kyoto has more places to visit, so, I hope that you will come back to Kyoto and I can see you again. Thank you for booking me as your guide. TOMOE
Our guide, Tomoe, is a wonderful person as well as a highly qualified and experienced guide. Tomoe was on time, prepared and thoughtful about even the smallest details. She knew how to take shortcuts to save our tired feet and minimize waiting times in lines. Her English is excellent, and she has wonderful insights into the perceptions, preferences and expectations of westerners having lived in the USA as an exchange student. I highly recommend booking Tomoe for Kyoto and nearby areas. She became our friend.
Dear Perry, Thank you very much for such a wonderful review! I was so happy to be able to see you, finally, after a year passed since you canceled your tour last October, due to the affair which was out of control. Thank you so much for remembering me and sending me mails of inquiry. We spent 2 days in Kyoto and 1 day in Nara, walking, eating, talking and laughing a lot. Thank you so much for sharing such precious time with me! I'm already miss you so much. Eres mi mejor amigo. Mantenerse en contacto! Is this correct??? TOMOE
We booked 2 separate tours with Tomoe. One half day and a very special one day tour. We were very lucky to have Tomoe as our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable of all sites we visited and gave us a lot of interesting and helpful information. She even helped us buy tickets and showed us where and how to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo. She was very patient with us when we were taking time to take photos but kept us on schedule and organized in a timely manner. She is an impeccable tour guide. Tomoe made our tour of Kyoto an unforgettable experience. We had lots of fun and laughter with her. I would highly recommend Tomoe as your tour guide!!
Dear Jenny, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. Yes! I had super wonderful 2 days with you, such a nice couple! We talked a lot and laughed a lot during 2 days. I was happy to see you were taking many pictures, too. I will wait for your next visiting Kyoto (especially to see the autumn foliage). Thank you very much for booking me as your guide and such a precious meeting! TOMOE