This tour is recommended for the first visitors to Kyoto. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for 1000 years and has many old temples and shrines to visit. In this tour, you can visit two of the most famous and popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto and see the wonderful tradition, especially about Buddhist culture.
At your hotel (lobby) (in Kyoto)
You can see 1001 statues of Buddha in a hall. It's a 'Forest of Buddha'. You will be amazed at the scenery. It is said that you will find the Buddha which resembles you among these statues.
Please be noted that you have to take off your shoes to enter the building.
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 using any nails in the 8th century. (UNESCO World Cultural Herigate site)
You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kyoto city, shopping and eating on its approach way. (There are many souvenir shops around this temple and you can enjoy shopping. Kiyomizu Pottery is produced in this area and you will find good presents for your family and friends.) How about trying some pieces of 'Yatsuhashi' (specialty sweets of Kyoto area)? You can try some different kinds of 'Yatsuhashi'.
You can also visit waterfall which is famous because the water gives you, 'longevity, love, or study (wisdom)'
This temple is so beautiful with cherry blossoms in spring and colored maple leaves in fall. Please enjoy!!
This shrine is famous as the Shinto shrine for love and many young people like to visit this shrine.
(Jisyu Jinjya Shrine will start its renovation in August 2022 and be closed for public for 3 years.)
You can hold on to the string of Buddhist rosary beads in the dark hall and feel like to go back to your mother's womb.
(If you don't like, you can omit here.)
Exit of Kiyomizudera Temple (Nio Mon, a Deva gate) , however, I will give you some advice, where to have lunch around the temple, how to go back to your hotel, and so on.
You can visit two of the most famous and popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto and see the wonderful tradition, especially about Buddhism culture.
In Sanjyusangendo Temple, no one is allowed to take pictures in the hall, so please go there and imprint the breathtaking view in your memory.
Kiyomizudera Temple is registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and from its veranda, you can see the panoramic view of Kyoto city.
In the precinct of Kiyomizudera Temple, there is a famous shrine for love, Jisyu Jinjya Shrine, and many people come and pray for their love. (Jisyu Jinjya Shrine will start its renovation in August 2022 and will be closed for public for 3 years.)
Around Kiyomizudera Temple, there many souvenir shops and you can enjoy shopping there.
Guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto area
Transportation fee (you and your guide)
Entrance fee : Kiyomizudera Temple, 400 Japanese Yen/person
Sanjusangendo Temple, 600 Japanese Yen/person
(Zuigudo, 100 Japanese Yen/person)
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.
Kiyomizudera Temple is now being renovated and the main hall is covered.
In Sanjyusangendo Temple, you cannot take pictures. Also, you have to take off your shoes.
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