Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for 1000 years and has many wonderful places to visit. Please choose a few places among the following sightseeing spots, as you like. If you have any other preferable spots, please let me know. I'll guide you as many places as possible. Please note that some places are located in a little far away from the center of the city and it may need some time to go and come back.
At your hotel (lobby) (in Kyoto)
The Ninomaru Palace in this castle has 33 rooms and 800 tatami mats. You can also see wonderful wall paintings, and its garden.
In spring, you can enjoy walking around in the garden with stunning cherry blossoms.
You may have seen the picture of this pavilion in the book about Japan or Kyoto before. The real gold leaves are used for this pavilion.
This temple is so popular for its rock garden. There are 15 rocks in the garden, however, the last 15th rock is said to be seen only when you attain spiritual enlightenment.
This temple is famous for its large veranda built on 13 meter cliff without any nails. You can also enjoy shopping and eating on its approach way. In the precinct, there is Jisyujinjya Shrine which is famous as the love shrine. Also, you can visit waterfall which is famous because the water gives you, 'longevity, love, or study (wisdom)'
You will find many colorful hanging monkey effigies. You can write your wish and donate. Many young women and girls like to take pictures in kimono here.
Many people come here to wish for cutting bad relationship and making good one.
However, please be noted that couples are said to be NG to come here.
In this temple, you can see 1001 statues of Buddha in a hall. It's a 'forest of Buddha'. You will be amazed at the scenery.
Please be noted that you cannot take any pictures in this hall.
This place is the No. 1 popular place for the visitors from abroad. Please enjoy walking under the vermillion torii gates tunnel.
It's difficult to take good pictures because there are always so many people visiting here, however, I can take good pictures of you here! Leave it to me!
This temple is famous for its colored maple leaves in autumn, however, it has some beautiful zen gardens. It may be interesting for you to see the toilet of long time ago.
In Arashiyama, there are many places to visit. You can spend a full day only in Arashiyama area, too. You can enjoy shopping and eating in this area.
In autumn, Jyojyakkoji Temple and Nisoninn are so beautiful with their colored maple leaves.
Ginkakuji Temple is famous as 'Silver Pavilion' even though no silver is used for this temple. You can enjoy its Zen rock garden.
Path of Philosophy is so popular during the season of cherry blossoms. So many cherry blossom trees are lined along a small river and you can enjoy walking.
This market has been the 'kitchen' for the local people, however, now, it's so popular among people from abroad. You can enjoy walking and eating local food.
If you walk around in this area in the evening, and you are lucky, you can encounter 'Maiko or Geiko' who go to work.
This temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and has the famous painting and beautiful garden.
You can see this temple on our 10-yen coin. You can also find many shops where you can buy good quality of green tea or maccha around this temple because this area produce green tea. How about trying ice cream of maccha?
Kodaiji Temple was built about 400 years ago. A famous woman, Nene (wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi) lived here to mourn Hideyoshi's soul. Entokuin is a tacchu, sub temple of Kodaiji Temple. In these temples, you can see beautiful gardens. Kodaiji Temple is especially famous for its big cherry blossom tree in spring and colored maple leaves in autumn.
neat the station of the last destination (I will tell you how to go back to your hotel)
If you want, you can try
Kimono experience(2500~5000 Japanese yen/person depends on kimono you rent)
Tea ceremony experience(about 2000~3000 Japanese yen/person)
visiting Japanese sake breweris in Fushimi District (you can visit a museum and try some Japanese sake)
If you want to have a time with Maiko (make green tea, talk with her, take pictures with her and so on, for an hour), you may be able to join the activity held with Maiko. (activity fee is about 4000 Japanese yen/person)
I will make a one day plan including this activity.
If you are the group of more than 5 people and want to join this activity, please ask me. If your group has less than 5 people and want to join the activity, I will ask and they will tell other available days when the activity will be held. I hope that you can join the day.
Please note that
I'm sorry that I can't promise you that I will be able to get reservation for you all the time because whether the activity will be held or not, depends on the schedule of Maiko.
guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto
Transportation fee (you and guide), lunch (you and guide), entrance fee (you and guide)
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.
As for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, I will manage to have the tour if you book me earlier.
Please note that Kyoto is crowded with people all the time, and maybe a few places are available to visit in 8 hours.
We will use public transportation.
You will need at least half an hour or an hour to see around one place, and it takes half an hour or an hour to move from one place to other places, so please choose, at most, five places. Depends on places, you need to walk a lot from the nearest bus stop or the station.
This tour is available only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this year.
As for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, please send me a mail and ask.
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
Tomoe was excellent! She was extremely knowledgeable and very patient with us. She even walked us to our platform when we had to take a train to our next destination. Highly recommend!
Dear Jackie, Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. I hope that you enjoyed visiting places such as Kiyomizudera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Bamboo Forest on such a muggy day. I also hope that you will come back to Kyoto during other seasons except summer and I can see you again. TOMOE
We were looking for a guide for our first day in Kyoto and we found Tomoe's tour of the once-a-month hand-made market. We had no idea about the market, and it was a perfect match for us as we love hand-made things, and they make perfect souvenirs. Tomoe did an amazing job showing us around the market and the beautiful Ginkakuji temple. She helped my elderly mother who had mobility issues and was able to help her get a taxi when she needed to head back to the hotel. We would highly recommend her to anyone and if you're in Kyoto on the 15th of a month please have her show you the hand-made lovers market!
Dear Walter and family, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the hand-made market. (I was happy to help your mother to choose and buy her favorite things at the market!) Yes, you are lucky to have been in Kyoto on 15th of a month when the hand-made market held. I hope that all of your family made a good memory and brought your favorite things to your home. Thank you very much for booking my tour. TOMOE
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Tomoe! We couldn't have visited all those places she took us to alone. Our tour included riding on trains, a bus, and a taxi. It was nice to see how locals travel, and a more rewarding experience than getting off and on a tour bus. Tomoe was knowledgeable about all the sites and was easy to talk to. It was like being on a tour with a family member. Tomoe was approachable and genuinely cared about us having a good time. I highly recommend booking a tour with Tomoe! We look forward to seeing her again on our next trip to Japan!
Dear Lisa, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting places in Kyoto with me, and saying 'It was like being on a tour with a family member.' I had such a wonderful time with you, really nice family. I do hope that I can see you again! Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. TOMOE