Temple, shrine & monastery tours
Ten thousand vermilion gates climb a hill, and the crowd thins about twenty minutes in. The 15 below compare night walks, guided climbs and the full summit loop, with honest times and how much of it is stairs.
See Nara deer, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari in one bus day from Osaka or Kyoto, with an optional Kobe beef lunch.
“Nice trip and we had a funny guide Harry. We had beautiful day. Thank you”
See Arashiyama, Nara Park, and Fushimi Inari in one day, with Kobe beef shabu-shabu lunch and transport from Osaka or Kyoto.
“Gary's kindness and attentiveness were highly appreciated. The itinerary was consistently adhered to, and the destinations were exceptional, with Gary's recommendations proving valuable.”
Escape Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari crowds on a 3-hour forest hike with bamboo groves, quiet shrines, torii gates, local insight, and photos.
“Very informative and I am pleased with our experience.”
Review of Kyoto’s small-group Kiyomizu-dera walk and tea ceremony, with temple views, local snacks, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Great cerimonial and great views and sightseeing experience … history and also scenery all together …”
Review of a Kyoto day trip from Osaka covering Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari with a small group and private vehicle.
“Taka and Tom were amazing. The experience and tour was fantastic. They were very friendly and very informative. I would highly recommend taking this tour especially with Taka and Tom.”
Ride Kyoto by e-bike through Gion, Fushimi Inari, and Tofukuji Temple with a local guide on this four-hour cultural tour.
“Very good Very informative Maki was full of knowledge. I truly had a great time, 4 hrs went by very quickly. Returning back to the shop was very pleasant since we followed the river. 5 stars”
Review of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari walking tour, with shrine insights, fox folklore, forest trails, views, price, timing, and practical tips.
“Hugely busy for the evening tour and quite a climb but the guided tour was excellent, providing useful context to the shrine”
Beat Kyoto crowds on an early Fushimi Inari tour with a local guide, mountain views, shrine stories, photo stops, and an Inari souvenir.
“We loved the walk up to the top of the mountain early in the morning avoiding the crowd and the heat. Our tour guide, Masa, was very nice and helpful giving us many knowledge about the shrine and Kyoto.”
Dress as a Kyoto maiko and samurai, enjoy professional styling, a three-hour photo session, printed photos, and all digital images.
“This photo shoot couldn’t have been better. We chose the couples package and it was awesome. The staff was kind, professional, and timely. The costumes were absolutely top notch. The makeup artist was very good. Best of all we only waited 20 minutes after our shoot & our phots were processed, printed, and emailed. I highly recommend this activity, book it.”
Review of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari walking tour, with certified guides, public transport, Sekiho-ji Temple, costs, timing, and practical tips.
“The guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and had clear communication. It was a very nice tour and we specially enjoyed walking in the local neighborhood and visiting the Zen garden.”
Review of Kyoto’s Italian guided walk from Kiyomizu-dera through Gion and Pontocho, with transport, tickets, local insight, and practical tips.
“Apprezzatissima visita di alcuni dei luoghi simbolo della città. Grazie alla preparazione, all’attenzione ai particolari, alla proprietà della lingua italiana di Omae. Una guida da non perdere per coloro a cui piace scoprire l’essenza di questo Paese! A presto”
Review of a $51 Osaka and Kyoto day tour to Arashiyama, Nara Park, and Fushimi Inari, with timing, value, transport, and practical tips.
“This tour was fantastic, I recommend everyone to join. You have plenty of time to explore. Our guide, Levi, gives you all the necessary information and helps with everything; he's very kind and polite, and very successful in his job. Thank you so much Levi, you made today unforgettable! 🤍”
Walk Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Gion, and Nishiki Market with a private English-speaking guide in 210 minutes.
“Phillip was a great guide. He explained the history of all of the places we visited in much detail and made the whole tour very interesting. He is very knowledgeable, and I couldn’t recommend him enough”
Dress in a Kyoto kimono, ride a rickshaw near Kiyomizu-dera, and explore Higashiyama’s historic lanes with a small group.
“The rickshaw ride was fun even in the rain. The kimono was kind of basic but it was fun to play dress up. I would recommend both!”
Review of Kyoto’s 90-minute Fushimi Inari tour, with red torii gates, the Omokaruishi ritual, guide quality, price, and practical tips.
“The guide was so lovely but the tour was very short and something we could’ve done in our own. My daughter needed a bathroom break but we still could’ve kept going after that. Disappointing.”
