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
Golden Temple
Nijo Castle
The Museum of Kyoto
Rokkakudo
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market or convenient station nearby
1.Golden Temple
-Mixture of nobles and samurai culture-
The tour starts at Japans golden temple which is a historically significant place to visit!
Why? Because it represents the mixture of noble culture and samurai culture.
One samurai, Ashikaga-Takauji, started a new military government in Muromachi, Kyoto.
It was the first time that samurai officially became in charge of politics in Kyoto where the emperor lived.
This led to a mixture of nobles and samurai culture.
A while later, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu built the Golden temple in the Northern area in Kyoto.
If you look at the golden temple carefully you can see each floor of the temple has different features that represent either court nobles, samurai warriors or zen buddhism.
I will explain more about it in my tour.
2.Nijo Castle
-Peak of samurai class prosperity-
After decades of civil war, one samurai, Tokugawa Ieyasu became the head of all samurais and put a new millitery government in Edo, currently known as Tokyo.
This government lasted 200 years, until they returned its control of politics to the emperor in 1867.
This period is characterised as the peak of samurai class prosperity.
Nijo castle is a significant place that represents the beginning and ending of this Edo period.
Unfortunately it is forbidden to take any photographs, but you will be seeing the actual room where the Bakufu returned its right to the emperor.
3.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!
4.The Museum of Kyoto
-Industrialization and modernization-
The building of the museume of Kyoto was once a branch of Nihon Bank kyoto which was built in 1906 by a leading architect, Kingo Tatsuno.
After the last Samurai returned control of the nation to the emperor, Japan started to trade with western countries and tried to catch-up with western industrialization.
The new government hired many kinds of specialist from western countries in all fields such as politics,law, education, art, agriculture, manufacture, medication, and architecture.
Therefore the architecture from this period have strong western influence.
Kingo Tatsuno himself was also one of the disciples of an English architect hired from the Japanese government.
5.Rokkakudo Temple
- Legendary place from 6th century -
We are going to set the clock back 1000years, and see the significant buddhist temple from the end of 6th century.
At that time the political center was in the area of Nara prefecture and the southern part of the Osaka prefecture.
Prince Shotoku-Taishi who had strong political power under the emperor at that time was trying to build buddhist temples to make the religion popular.
There is a legent that one time prince Shotoku-taishi was traveling around Kyoto which was the uninhabited basin surrounded by mountains in order to look for the lumbers to build temples and he was told by buddha to remain in this place to help people.
He remained and built a Hexagonal hall which was the original Rokkaku temple.
I will tell you more about the story in my tour!
6.Nishiki Market
- The Kitchen of Kyoto since Ancient Time-
Nishiki market is a place where you can find all kinds of food from wide variety.
It is a narrow street with a lots of shops along both side.
The area of present Nishiki market had been the center of the fish market industry since Kyoto became Japan’s capital.
My favorite part of Nishiki market is that you can actually shop and taste the food in many shops.
Rice claackers, fishcakes, donut, mochi and so on...
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 (details below***)
-Hotel pick-up and drop-off
*transportation fee
Public transportation ( train, subway and bus)
-Golden Temple to Nijo castle ¥230/per
-Nijo castle to The Museum of Kyoto ¥210/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 Golden temple
Adult: ¥500/per
Middle school students and elmentary school students: ¥300/per
Under elementary school age: Free
***Entrance fee for Nijo castle
Adult: ¥1300/per
High school and middle school students: ¥400/per
Elementary school students: ¥300/per
Under elementary school age: Free
Note:You do NOT pay for guide’s entrance fee.
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.