Kyoto Walking Tour: Buddhism, Art and Gardens


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From $108.71

Price varies by group size

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Pricing Info: Per Person

Duration: 3 hours

Departs: Kyoto, Kyoto

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

Visit three significant Kyoto temples: Honganji, Sanju Sangendo, and Chishaku-in to see impeccable views of the city, beautiful historic gardens, iconic statues, and traditionally painted national treasures with a nationally-certified tour guide-interpreter.

Highlights of the tour include:
◆ View Kyoto from above at Kyoto Station’s rooftop garden
◆ Walk the grounds of Higashi Honganji, a head temple of the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism
◆ Walk along Takase River with its historic townhouses to see the daily lives of the Kyoto locals
◆ Visit Higashi Honganji Temple’s Goeido, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world
◆ Be among 1,001 Buddhist statues at Sanjusangen-do Temple
◆ See Chishaku-in Temple’s gorgeous painted screens, designated as National Treasures of Japan


What's Included

Entrance to Chishakuin Temple

Entrance to Sanjusangendo Temple

Nationally accredited tour guide-interpreter

What's Not Included

Any food or beverages

Transportation to the meeting place


Traveler Information

  • ADULT: Age: 0 - 100

Additional Info

  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

What To Expect

Kyoto Station Building
You will first meet your guide at JR Kyoto Station, a futuristic marvel made of steel and plate glass. From there, you will head to the 15th floor, where you can enjoy excellent views of the city from a peaceful rooftop garden.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
After the station, you will then head down one of Kyoto’s quieter alleys to Higashi Honganji Temple, one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism, the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan. At Higashi Honganji, you will visit, among other buildings, the impressive Goeido hall, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Consisting of towering high ceilings and gold fittings, it is a sight to be seen.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sanjusangendo Temple
Next, you will arrive at Sanjusangen-do Temple (officially called “Rengo-in Temple”). Here, you can see a large gold statue of the “thousand-armed” Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of Mercy, flanked by 1,000 human-sized replicas — a breathtaking scene, unlike anywhere else in the world.

60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chishaku-in
At Chishaku-in Temple, the last destination on this tour, you can see artworks painted by Hasegawa Tohaku and his pupils. Tohaku was one of the greatest Japanese painters of the 16th century, and the beautiful gold-leaf screens displayed here showcase the very best of his skills (three of them are even designated National Treasures). The temple is also known for its lush strolling garden, where visitors can appreciate a beautiful green landscape atop a man-made hill. The garden is centered around a pond and some highlights include its striking azalea area, which is vibrantly colorful in mid-spring.

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free






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