Kyoto Tours

Experience the magic of Kyoto on a full-day sightseeing tour of Japan's cultural jewel. You'll visit Kyoto's most popular attractions by coach and enjoy a buffet lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

Known as the cradle of Japan's cultural heritage, Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city, with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face, though it remains Japan's most traditional city.

Highlights on your comprehensive full-day tour of Kyoto include:

• Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogun
• Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), home to perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese garden
• Kyoto Imperial Palace, the residence of the Imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868
• Buffet lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center
• Heian Shrine, reflecting the elegance of daily life in the ancient Japanese court
• Sanjusangendo Hall, a long wooden hall housing 1,001 statues dating back to the 13th century
• Kiyomizu Temple, with sweeping views of Kyoto from its lofty terrace

Explore the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Nara on a full-day tour from Kyoto. See all the highlights of Kyoto including visits to Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace. Then travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nara and some of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. Hand-feed the deer and see the Kasuga Shrine with more than 3,000 lanterns.

Known as the cradle of Japan's cultural heritage, Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. On your morning tour of the city you'll see the main highlights of wonderful, culture-rich Kyoto, including Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogun. The castle was built in 1603 and is noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and gorgeous interiors.

You'll also visit Kyoto's most popular temple, Kinkakuji Temple, the home of perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese garden, as well as the celebrated Golden Pavilion. At the ancient Kyoto Imperial Palace you'll visit the former residence of the Imperial family, which clearly shows the Japanese taste for purity, simplicity and calmness. Here you'll also visit the Shishinden Imperial state chamber where enthronement ceremonies took place.

Nara was the country's first permanent capital city, and has an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples. You'll visit the Todaiji Temple housing a great image of Buddha, colorful Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns, and the Deer Park, where tame deer freely roam and can be hand-fed.

Enjoy the sights of Kyoto on this morning tour. Visit Nijo Castle, marvel at the gold covered Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion, walk through Kyoto Imperial Palace - The emperor's residence until 1868 and enjoy buffet lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, where you will also have the opportunity to make your own woodwork print.

Nijo Castle - The Kyoto Residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and gorgeous interiors.

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) - Kyoto's most popular temple is the home of perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese Garden, as well as the celebrated Golden Pavilion.

Kyoto Imperial Palace - The ancient Imperial Palace clearly shows the Japanese taste for purity, simplicity and calmness. The residence of the Imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868. View the Shishinden Imperial state chamber where enthronement ceremonies took place.

Kyoto Handicraft Center -  Enjoy a buffet lunch and shopping at Kyoto Handicraft Center. Enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. It's also a paradise for shopping. After lunch, enjoy making your own woodblock print or cloisonne (of your choice) with assistance of the English-speaking staff  at the Handicraft Center.

Your tour will conclude at the Kyoto Handicraft Center where a free shuttle service is provided to major Kyoto hotels.

Stroll through rural bamboo groves and visit mountain temples outside Kyoto on this morning walking tour of the Sagano and Arashiyama districts. You'll experience the tranquil beauty of Japan's rural temples and gardens, and experience Japanese life outside the big cities.

Your morning walk begins at Sagano, northwest of the Kyoto Basin, with a stroll through the verdant Sagano Bamboo Grove surrounded by mountains in the greater area of Arashiyama.

Then it's on to Jojakkoji Temple, spectacularly located halfway up a mountain. Jojakkoji was the final home of Empress Dowager Kenrei-mon-in, a principal character in the Tale of the Heike, one of the most important works of classical Japanese literature. It is said to have been built as a nunnery, and has a history reaching back to the 6th century. The temple's principal treasure is a statue of the Jizo and a pagoda surrounded by Japanese maples.

Next you'll visit Tenryuji Temple, one of the head temples of the Rinzai Zen School and established in 1339 by Takauji, the first shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate. The temple is famous for its landscaped garden, which unlike the temple buildings has survived in its original form.

Finally, you'll take a walk over Togetsukyo Bridge (Crossing Moon Bridge). The present bridge was rebuilt in 1934 using steel but faithfully copying the structure of the original bridge.

Soak up the sights of Kyoto on this guided city morning tour. You'll travel by coach and visit Nijo Castle, the gold covered Kinkakuji Temple and Golden Pavilion. There's also time to walk through Kyoto Imperial Palace - The emperor's residence until 1868. Your tour concludes at the shopping paradise of the Kyoto Handicraft Center where you'll see demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts.

Nijo Castle - The Kyoto Residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and gorgeous interiors.

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) - Kyoto's most popular temple is the home of perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese Garden, as well as the celebrated Golden Pavilion.

Kyoto Imperial Palace - The ancient Imperial Palace clearly shows the Japanese taste for purity, simplicity and calmness. The residence of the Imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868. View the Shishinden Imperial state chamber where enthronement ceremonies took place.

Kyoto Handicraft Center - Enjoy shopping at Kyoto Handicraft Center. See demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts.

Your tour will conclude at the Kyoto Handicraft Center where a free shuttle service is provided to major Kyoto hotels.

Immerse yourself in Kyoto on an afternoon guided tour tour through the vibrant green and red Heian Shrine. Admire Sanjusangendo Hall with its 1001 Kannon statues and the Kiyomizu Temple where you'll enjoy sweeping city views from the large terrace. All entry fees and return coach transfers are included.

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face.

Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was not chosen as a target of air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

Heian Shrine
The brightly colored shrine with its vermilion pillars and green roof, and its enchanting inner gardens and ponds, reflects the elegance of life in the ancient Japanese court.

Sanjusangendo Hall
A renowned long wooden hall housing all of 1,001 statues of Kannon, Bodhisattva, that date back to the 13th century.

Kiyomizu Temple
A quaint old lane lined with pottery shops lead up to this famous temple. Enjoy a sweeping view of the entire city of Kyoto from its lofty terrace.

Venture to Nara from Kyoto for the afternoon. Due to its past as the first permanent capital of Japan, Nara remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples. Accompanied by your local guide, you'll visit the Todaiji Temple to see Japan's largest Buddha, Deer Park - home to hundreds of freely roaming deer, and Kasuga Shrine - Nara's most celebrated shrine.

Japan's first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. As the influence and political ambitions of the city's powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784.

Nara is located in the Kinai plain, less than one hour from Kyoto. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.

Visit the Todaiji Temple, constructed in the 8th century, is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. In it's huge precincts are various national treasures of Japan. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is one of the world's largest wooden buildings. One of Japan's best-known temples, it enshrines a gigantic bronze statue of Buddha. A wonder of religious architecture.

See over 1,000 tame deer roam freely in the verdant 1,250 acres peaceful park. If you wish to feed the deer, they will gladly eat from your hand. Special deer food is available for sale in the park grounds.

Tour concludes with a visit to Kasuga Shrine, the most famous and beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara, it features some 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns.

Travel by return coach to Kyoto.

Travel by train from Kyoto to Inari, where you will find some of the best sake in the country. Start with a small walking tour of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, dedicated to the god of rice. The temple is famous for the thousands of brightly painted red torii (gates) that frame the pathways into the forest. The Fushimi Inari Shrine is also a place where locals come to seek blessings for prosperity. Those who have received good fortune return and place torii, which are inscribed with their thanks. The long tunnel of torii is one of the most iconic landmarks of Kyoto and a popular TV and film location.

Next, make your way by train to a sake brewery to learn the secrets of this popular Japanese drink. In traditional Japanese life, sake has an important place at festivals, ceremonies and rituals. Depending upon the combination of water, malt, yeast and steamed rice, sake has a very distinctive aroma and a fruity sweet taste. Just as it takes a special kind of grape to produce a good wine, making excellent sake requires the use of a special type of rice, usually with high starch content.

Tour the Gekkeikan Okura Memorial Hall and learn the history of sake. Wander the museum and see the tools used in sake production, before sampling three different kinds of sake from sweet to dry. Then walk a short distance to a small liquor store specializing in over 80 kinds of sake. Take a seat at the bar to enjoy a special sake tasting.

Finish your tour with a wander through the local shopping arcade before boarding the train to Kyoto, where you tour concludes.

You'll meet your local English-speaking guide at a central meeting spot at 2:30pm to embark on a small-group Kyoto walking tour that will delight your senses.

During a one-hour guided walk of the mile-long Nishiki covered food markets, there are many interesting food stores to explore as you help your guide buy the ingredients for your Japanese cooking class. This is a great opportunity to learn about local Japanese produce.

After visiting the markets, you'll travel through the back streets and lanes of Kyoto, to a sake brewery museum. Enjoy sake tasting as you learn how this popular Japanese alcoholic beverage is produced.

Continue to a traditional 'machiya' wooden townhouse for your Japanese cooking class. At approximately 5pm you can start cooking your own Japanese dinner, you'll learn how to make rolled sushi, miso soup and cooked salad with seasonal fruit for dessert.

After dinner the afternoon is free for you to explore Kyoto, or your local guide can assist you in returning to your hotel.

Start your small-group bike tour of Kyoto by cycling along the Kamo River, passing the many traditional restaurants that dot the waterfront. YouÆll get great views of the downtown area along this route.

Then, cycle to Heian-Jingu Shrine, a spiritual center of Japan. Note its impressive bright red torii (a sacred gate) and replica buildings of the old Kyoto Palace.

Make your way along the quaint canals to the Nanzenji Temple, a classic example of Zen Buddhism, and admire its stunning smaller temples. Take some time to sit and contemplate the natural beauty before heading down the Path of Philosophy.

Flanked by hundreds of cherry trees, the Path of Philosophy was named by Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers, who was said to practice meditation while walking this route on his daily commute to Kyoto University.

End your tour by riding past the Shimogamo Shrine with its unique forest setting in the heart of Kyoto. Then return to Kyoto Station.

While traditional customs and lifestyle remain strong among locals, Kyoto is also a vibrant and modern city, where the old and the new co-exist in perfect harmony. You can soak up this culture on this small-group tour of Kyoto.

On the outskirts of the city, nestled in a wooded mountain, is the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Wander through the numerous bright red torii (sacred gates), made famous in the film Memoirs of a Geisha, and admire the many smaller shrines and fox statues.

Next visit Tofukuji Temple, one of the five great Zen temples of Kyoto and a rare example of surviving Zen architecture from the 13th century. Amble through the many gardens, both modern and traditional, of this working monastery.

End your tour with a trip to the fascinating Gion District and home of the geisha. As you stroll past the traditional restaurants and tea houses that have remained unchanged over the years, glimpse the geishas with their beautiful and intricate kimonos, and learn the secrets of this ancient traditional art.