Join me on my private 7hour tour and discover the historical layers of Kyoto! Why do I call it "Time Travel Tour"? Because the destinations associate with four different time period within Japan's history.
JR Kyoto Station
JR Kyoto Station
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Kenninji Temple
Kenninji Temple or convenient station
1.Kyoto station
--Modern period and Japan's Industrialisation--
The tour starts at Kyoto station which represents the modern period of Japans history. Kyoto station has been repeatedly rebuilt over the last 140 years during Japan's history of industrialisation. Compared to previously built Kyoto stations, the present station that you will be seeing has an absolute modern style. One of Japan's leading architect, Hiroshi Hara who designed this station has been at the center of a cultural argument; "Is this station suitable for Kyoto which is supposed to be part of Japan's traditional beauty?"
Let's take a walk through the huge station building and discuss what Hiroshi Hara wanted to express by building the entrance of Kyoto like this.
2. Fushimi Inari Shrine
--Ancient time and Shintoism--
We will take a 10 minute JR train to get to the next destination, Fushimi Inari Shrine, which represents ancient period of Japanese history.
You probably know that Buddhism is very popular in Japan. However, before Buddhism existed, there has been a concept in Japan that there are many deities in nature all around us such as mountains, rocks, rivers, and rice. This concept is called Shintoism which is a very important concept to understand Japanese culture in addition to Buddhism.
The deity of rice, whose name is "Inari," is one of the most popular deities among local Japanese people. In fact, there are more than 30,000 shrines that enshrine Inari all across Japan.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, our second destination, is the head of all those shrines. The significant feature of this shrine is thousands of Torii gates, which are red coloured gateways composed of two uprights and two crosspieces. Why are there so many Torii gates? I will tell you more about it on my tour!
3.Imperial Palace
--Noblemen's prosperity--
After Fushimi Inari shrine, we will take a 30 minute train and subway ride to our third destination, the Imperial Palace, which represents the emperor's and noblemen's prosperity. Since the 8th century, the emperor and noblemen had been a strong influence in the nation until the Samurai warrior overtook them.
Emperor and noblemen lived a lavish lifestyle, wearing gorgeous clothes, surrounded by sophisticated finishings, spending time playing music or reading poems...
The Imperial palace is one of the very rare places where you can see the housing style of this period. The architectural style called "Sinden-zukuri"
4.Lunch Time
After the Imperial Palace we will take a lunch break for about one hour.
Soba, Ramen, Kaiseki, cutlet, Japanese curry, Tofu and so on...
I have many restaurants to recommend and if you have any request I will arrange that for you!
5. Kenninji Temple
--Period of Samurai warriors and Zen buddhism--
After lunch, we will take a 20 minute bus ride and a 10 minute walk to get to the third destination, Kenninji temple. The temple represents the period of the Samurai warriors prosperity.
Samurai warriors who were originally servicemen for noblemen, gradually became powerful and took control of the country by forming its own military government called Bakufu in the 12th century. Along with the Samurai class, the new type of Buddhism called Zen became popular. Bakufu started to build huge Zen temples everywhere in order to show their power and influence. Kenninji Temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto city!
Zen temples tend to have significant features such as Sanmon gate, zen style rock gardens, and dragon paint on the ceiling. In Kenninji temple you will be able to see all of those and I will explain why those features are so important.
This is the end of my Time Travel Tour in Kyoto!
Of course, this tour can be organised to fit your needs.
Please share with me your requests and I will do my best to arrange that for you!
Guide fee,
Guide’s transportation fee,
-Your transportation fee (details below*)
-Your lunch (details below**)
-You and your guide’s entrance fee for Kenninji Temple (details below***)
-Hotel pick-up and drop-off
*transportation fee
Public transportation ( train, subway and bus)
-Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari Shrine ¥140/per
-Fushimi Inari Shrine to Imperial Palace ¥400/per
-Imperial Palace to Kenninji Temple ¥230/per
Note: If you need taxi for transportation, it is absolutely fine! Please contact me for the price.
**Lunch approximately ¥2,000-¥4,000/per
I have several great places to recommend you, but if you have any request I can arrange that for you too!
*** Entrance fee for Kenninji Temple
Adult ¥800/per
High school and middle school students ¥500/per
This tour includes a lot of walking. Please wear comfortable shoes.
Primary mode of transportation: public transportation such as trains, subways and buses. If you need a taxi for transportation, it is absolutely fine! Please contact me for the estimated price.
Lisa is extraordinary! We had several top-rated tour guides during our month long stay in Japan and she reigned supreme among all. She went above and beyond to ensure that all members of our family (ages 10 to 85+) had an excellent and memorable adventure. Her expertise, knowledge, planning, flexibility, adaptability, enthusiasm, kindness and photos were second to none. We went hours over and she stayed until she made sure that everyone's Osaka dreams came true, including riding a Ferris wheel at the aquarium. Thank you, Lisa! We look forward to seeing you on our next trip!
We had an amazing experience with Lisa as our tour guide in Osaka! Her excellent English skills, which she developed during her studies in the US, made the tour engaging and easy to follow. Lisa was incredibly friendly and interacted wonderfully with our two kids, making them feel included and excited about the journey. We learned so much about local culture and Japanese history, thanks to her insightful explanations. Lisa's professionalism shone through in her communication before the tour. She thoughtfully discussed the itinerary with us and provided a variety of suggestions for exploring the Osaka area on our own. She even prepared multiple itineraries for both sunny and rainy days, ensuring we had a great experience regardless of the weather. Lisa is undoubtedly one of the best tour guides we've encountered in our travels to different countries. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting the Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka areas!
I recently embarked on a walking tour of Kyoto, visiting some of the city's most iconic historical sites: Nijo Castle, Nishi Hogan-ji Temple, and the Golden Pavilion. The tour began at Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former residence of Tokugawa shoguns. Our guide's deep knowledge and engaging storytelling brought the castle's history to life, explaining the significance of its intricate woodwork and beautifully preserved interiors, including the famous nightingale floors. The surrounding gardens were equally impressive, offering a tranquil escape amidst meticulously landscaped greenery and serene ponds, all beautifully described by our guide. Next, we visited Nishi Hogan-ji Temple, one of the head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. The temple's grand architecture and serene atmosphere were awe-inspiring. Our guide's explanations of the ornate decorations and the temple's significant role in Japanese religious history added a profound layer of understanding to our visit. The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji). This Zen Buddhist temple, with its top two floors completely covered in gold leaf, is a sight to behold. Set against a backdrop of lush greenery and reflected in the calm waters of the surrounding pond, the pavilion exuded an ethereal beauty. Our guide provided insightful commentary on the temple's history and its symbolic importance, enhancing our appreciation of this stunning landmark. Overall, this walking tour of Kyoto was a deeply enriching experience, made exceptional by our outstanding tour guide. Each site offered a unique perspective on Japan's historical and cultural heritage, making it a must-do for anyone visiting the city. The combination of architectural splendor, historical depth, and natural beauty, all illuminated by our guide's expertise, made this tour truly unforgettable.
Lisa W was the best guide we have ever had. Over 5 days she showed us around Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, and Nara. Her knowledge of each place we visited was brilliant as was her English. Lisa has a very calm temperament and a good sense of humour which was perfect for a group of 8 Australians. She got to know us all very well and was always willing to help. Lisa W is the perfect guide - you could not find anyone better.