Autumn in Kyoto (from Osaka)

THIS TOUR STARTS FROM A LOCATION OF YOUR CHOICE IN OSAKA.

You can pick your hotel, a train station or any other location as long as it is located within OSAKA CITY.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE?

+ Vehicle designated in selected package (either a Toyota Alphard, HiAce Grand Cabin or HiAce Luxury Cabin)

+ English speaking driver (the driver is not a guide & may only have basic English skills)

+ Tolls, Highway Fees, Parking Fees, Fuel (and other associated vehicle costs for this itinerary)

+Our staff will assist you from our office

WHAT IS NOT  INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE?

+Region Expert

+Meals

+Entrance/Rental fees

SEAT PLAN

Toyota Alphard	HiAce Grand Cabin	HiAce Luxury Cabin

HOW CAN I ADD A TOUR GUIDE?

Pick a date & package; press the PROCEED BOOKING button. The next screen will offer you the option to add on a REGION EXPERT (a local guide with expert knowledge of the area, its history and culture) for an additional fee. Other add-ons may also be available.

ITINERARY

This private package tour will start at a location of your choice within OSAKA and then proceed to your chosen destination options.

Please type in three options from the following after pressing the PROCEED BOOKING button.

Option 01: Tofukuji

Option 02: Sanzenin

Option 03: Eikando

Option 04: Daigoji

Option 05: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

Option 06: Gion

Option 07: Nanzenji (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Option 08: Kitano Tenmangu (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Option 09: Chionin (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Option 10: Shorenin (Illumination start from evening/November)

Option 11: Kodaiji (Illumination start from evening/November)

Option 12: Daikakuji (Illumination start from evening/November)

Option 13: Kiyomizudera (Illumination start from evening/November)

DETAILED ITINERARY

We start off in Osaka. After picking you up in one of our luxurious private vehicles, we will drive you through the three destinations of your choice.

Option 01: Tofukuji

Tofukuji is a large Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto that is particularly famous for its spectacular autumn colors. The temple was founded in 1236 at the behest of the powerful Fujiwara clan. Its name is a combination of the names of two great temples in Nara that were also associated with the Fujiwara, Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple. Tofukuji has historically been one of the principal Zen temples in Kyoto, and is a head temple of one of the schools of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY400 per person (Tsutenkyo Bridge and Kaisando Hall) / JPY400 (Hojo and gardens)

Option 02: Sanzenin

Sanzenin Temple is the main attraction of the rural town of Ohara, which is located about an hour north of central Kyoto. The approach from Ohara bus stop to Sanzenin is lined with shops and restaurants catering to temple visitors, and there are a number of smaller temples in the vicinity. Sanzenin Temple itself has large temple grounds and a variety of buildings, gardens and walking paths.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY700 per person

Option 03: Eikando

Eikando, formally known as Zenrinji Temple, belongs to the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism. Located just north of the large temple complex of Nanzenji, Eikando is very famous for its autumn colors and the evening illuminations that take place in fall. The temple has a long history, and there are a variety of buildings and a pond garden that visitors can explore.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY600 (autumn daytime: JPY1000, autumn nighttime: JPY600)

Option 04: Daigoji

Daigoji is an important temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism and a designated world heritage site. The large temple complex stands southeast of central Kyoto and includes an entire mountainside. The main temple grounds are located at the base of the mountain and are connected via a hiking trail to several more temple buildings around the summit.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY1500 per person

Option 05: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

Ninen-zaka Slope and Sannen-zaka Slope are iconic streets of Kyoto City, which represent Japan’s good old days. Once you get there, you can’t help taking pictures of this nostalgic and dreamy scenery. These two slopes are approach to the famous Kiyomizudera Temple and also one of the main attraction of the city for the beautiful scenery.

Option 06: Gion

Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.

Option 07: Nanzenji (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Nanzenji Temple, whose spacious grounds are located at the base of Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama mountains, is one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan. It is the head temple of one of the schools within the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism and includes multiple subtemples, that make the already large complex of temple buildings even larger.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY1500 per person

Option 08: Kitano Tenmangu (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is one of the most important of several hundred shrines across Japan that are dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician who was unfairly exiled by his political rivals. A number of disasters were attributed to Michizane’s vengeful spirit after his death in exile, and these shrines were built to appease him.

Option 09: Chionin (Illumination start from evening /Around November)

Chionin is the head temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism, which has millions of followers and is one the the most popular Buddhist sects in Japan. The temple has spacious grounds and large buildings. Visitors will surely notice the temple when they come across its massive Sanmon Gate.

Construction Notice: Chionin’s main hall, the Miedo Hall, will remain closed to the public for renovations until spring 2020, but is not covered up by scaffolding anymore. The Honen Shoin Mido Hall is used for the main ceremonies, instead.

Option 10: Shorenin (Illumination start from evening/November)

Shorenin is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism located at the foot of Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountains. It is one of the city’s monzeki temples, which are temples whose head priests were traditionally members of the imperial family. A winding route takes visitors through Shorenin’s various temple buildings and gardens.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY500 per person (JPY800 for seasonal evening illuminations)

Option 11: Kodaiji (Illumination start from evening/November)

Kodaiji is an outstanding temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District. It was established in 1606 in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan’s greatest historical figures, by Hideyoshi’s wife Nene who is also enshrined at the temple.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY600 (Kodaiji and Sho Museum), JPY900 (Kodaiji, Sho Museum and Entokuin)

Option 12: Daikakuji (Illumination start from evening/November)

Daikakuji is a large temple in the northern part of Kyoto’s Sagano district. It was originally built in the early 800sas the detached palace of Emperor Saga, who thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this calm area on the outskirts of Kyoto. Thirty years after the emperor’s death, the palace was converted into a temple and has since been one of the highest ranked temples of Shingon Buddhism.

Option 13: Kiyomizudera (Illumination start from evening/November)

Kiyomizudera is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall’s pure waters. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Entrance fee (separate from tour price, to be purchased on the spot)
Adults: JPY400 per person

The tour will end with us dropping you off at a location of your choice in Osaka.