• Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Kiyomizu-dera, meaning “Pure Water Temple,” is a renowned Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Higashiyama district of eastern Kyoto. It is famous for its expansive wooden stage and sweeping views of the city. The main hall’s stage, which extends 13 meters above the hillside, was constructed without using a single nail, offering stunning panoramic views of Kyoto and its natural surroundings. Beneath the main hall, visitors can drink from three streams of pure water, each believed to bestow a different blessing: longevity, success, or a happy love life. Jishu Shrine, located within the temple grounds, is dedicated to the deity of matchmaking. Visitors can attempt the “love stone” challenge, where walking between two stones with eyes closed is said to bring luck in love. The approach to the temple is a delightful experience, with the narrow, historic streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka lined with traditional shops offering souvenirs.
• Kinkakuji Temple - Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a famous Zen Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto, celebrated for its magnificent main hall, the top two floors of which are covered in gold leaf. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a must-visit landmark. The Golden Pavilion’s main hall is the highlight, with its gold-leaf exterior beautifully reflecting in the large Kyoko-chi, or “Mirror Pond.” The three-story pavilion showcases a harmonious blend of architectural styles: the first floor in Shinden style (Heian palatial style), the second floor in Bukke style (samurai house style), and the third floor in Chinese Zen style. A golden phoenix statue graces the roof. Visitors can enjoy a stroll through a beautifully landscaped Japanese garden, offering various picturesque views of the pavilion from different angles. The path leads past the Sekkatei Teahouse (not open to the public) and exits through souvenir shops.
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Situated on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama is a picturesque district recognized as a national historic site, known for its bamboo groves, traditional temples, and river views. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Chikurin no Komichi) is a path lined with towering bamboo stalks, symbolizing Kyoto. It is a public road, open 24 hours a day, and free to enter. Arriving before 8:00 AM is recommended to avoid crowds. The Togetsukyo Bridge, a 155-meter “Moon Crossing Bridge” over the Katsura River, offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and is especially popular during cherry blossom season and autumn. Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple, is renowned for its garden.
• Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Fushimi Inari Taisha is the principal Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice, agriculture, and business prosperity. It is famous for its thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates that wind up Mount Inari in southern Kyoto. The most iconic feature is the path of approximately 1000 torii gates, creating a tunnel-like walkway up the mountain. Each gate is a donation from an individual or business, with the donor’s name and date inscribed on the back. The trails extend about 4 kilometers up Mount Inari, taking around 2 hours to complete. The main shrine is at the base, with smaller shrines and tea houses along the path, offering a unique blend of nature and spirituality. Fox statues, believed to be Inari’s messengers, are abundant throughout the shrine, often depicted holding a key to a granary in their mouths. Visiting early in the morning or at night is recommended to avoid large crowds.
• Nishiki Market Shopping District - Nishiki Market, often referred to as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” is a lively, narrow shopping street in downtown Kyoto with over 100 stalls specializing in local food and crafts. It provides a unique insight into traditional Kyoto food culture and is open seven days a week, typically from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (though hours vary by store). Popular items include Dashimaki Tamago, a sweet rolled omelet with dashi broth; Yuba, fresh and dried tofu skin; Tsukemono, a variety of pickled vegetables; and Soymilk Doughnuts, a sweet treat from the shop Konna Monja. The market offers more than just food, with items like high-quality Japanese knives from Aritsugu, a 400+ year old store, and beautiful locally-made kyo-yaki pottery from shops like Kidoairaku. Other goods include sake, specialty teas, paper goods, and handcrafted fans.
• Byodoin Temple - Byōdō-in Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Uji, Kyoto, is celebrated as a masterpiece of Heian-period architecture. Its most famous structure, the Phoenix Hall, is an iconic Japanese landmark depicted on the back of the 10 yen coin. The Phoenix Hall (Hō-ō-dō), built in 1053, features a unique design with two wings and a tail corridor resembling a bird with outstretched wings. It sits in the center of a pond, representing the Buddhist Pure Land Paradise. The Hoshokan Museum, a modern, mostly underground museum, houses original National Treasures, including 26 “Praying Bodhisattva on Clouds” statues, the original bronze phoenixes from the roof, and the temple bell. Inside the Phoenix Hall is a 2.8-meter-tall gold-leaf Amida Buddha statue, crafted by master sculptor Jōchō. The phoenixes from the hall’s roof also appear on the 10,000 yen note.
• Todai-ji Temple - Todai-ji, or the Great Eastern Temple, is a significant Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is renowned for its colossal bronze Great Buddha statue and the massive wooden hall that houses it. The Great Buddha (Daibutsu), seated in the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), is approximately 15 meters (49 feet) tall and weighs over 250 tons, making it one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. The Great Buddha Hall itself is an engineering marvel, recognized as the world’s largest wooden structure, despite the current reconstruction (from 1709) being only two-thirds the size of the original 8th-century structure. The Nandaimon Gate, or “Great South Gate,” is an impressive wooden structure guarded by two large wooden guardian statues (Niō), a National Treasure.
• Nara Park - Nara Park is a vast public park in Nara City at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, home to numerous historic temples, shrines, museums, and approximately 1,300 wild sika deer. The park is a symbol of Nara, blending natural beauty with significant cultural heritage. It offers scenic walking paths, beautiful lawns, cherry blossoms in spring, vibrant autumn foliage, and the ancient Kasugayama Primeval Forest, a protected nature reserve. The park features a stunning 50-meter-tall five-story pagoda, the second tallest in Japan. Kasuga Taisha Shrine is famous for its thousands of hanging bronze and stone lanterns that illuminate the pathways. The Nara National Museum is known for its extensive collection of Japanese Buddhist art.
• Hokan-ji Temple - Hōkan-ji Temple, widely known as Yasaka Pagoda (Yasaka-no-tō), is one of Kyoto’s most recognizable and cinematic landmarks. Located in the historic Higashiyama District, the 46-meter-tall five-story wooden tower rises beautifully over narrow, preserved stone streets. According to legend, the temple was founded in 589 by Prince Shōtoku, making it one of the oldest temple locations in Kyoto, predating the city becoming the capital. After multiple fires, the current structure was rebuilt in 1440 by the sixth Muromachi Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshinori. The pagoda is the sole surviving architecture of the original, larger Hōkan-ji temple complex and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The streets surrounding the pagoda are public and open 24/7, making it a legendary spot for morning or sunset photography. However, accessing the interior requires specific timing.
• Togetsukyo Bridge - The Togetsukyo Bridge, or Moon Crossing Bridge, is the central, iconic landmark of Kyoto’s scenic Arashiyama District. It spans 155 meters across the Katsura River (also known as the Oi River) with a breathtaking backdrop of forested mountains. Originally built in 836 during the Heian period, its romantic name comes from Emperor Kameyama, who noted that a full moon rising over the water looked as if it were walking across the bridge. The current structure dates back to 1934; while it features modern reinforced concrete pillars for structural stability, its beautiful parapets are made entirely of authentic cypress wood to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Lush, vibrant green hills flank the cool rushing waters. Tourists can view traditional cormorant fishing on the river after dusk.
• Uji - Uji, Japan’s matcha capital just south of Kyoto, is famous for Byodoin Omotesando, a 300-meter “Matcha Street” leading to the World Heritage Site Byodoin Temple. It is lined with centuries-old tea houses and cafes offering world-class stone-ground matcha and innovative treats. A trendy shop nearby serves photogenic matcha drinks in stylish, ink-bottle-shaped containers. The area offers over 30 varieties of roasted matcha drinks, desserts, and light meals.
• Kofuku-ji - Kohfuku-ji (興福寺) is a premier Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally established in 669 and moved to its current location in 710, it served as the official clan temple for the Fujiwara family, the most powerful aristocratic group of the Nara and Heian periods. The sprawling complex is located right next to Nara Park and is famous for its collection of National Treasures and historical architecture. The National Treasure Museum (Kokuhokan) houses one of the finest Buddhist art collections in the country, with the famous three-faced, six-armed Ashura statue, a dry-lacquer sculpture dating back to 734, as its masterpiece. The Central Golden Hall (Chukondo), the temple’s primary hall, was meticulously reconstructed over several decades after burning down 300 years ago and reopened in late 2018. The museum fee is ¥900, and the Central or Eastern Halls cost ¥500 each, with a combined 3-Site Ticket available for ¥1,600 (Adults) and ¥1,100 (Teens).

• Private transportation
• Hotspot on the Board
• Child Seat
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Alcoholic beverages
• Entrance fees
• Entrance fees
• Lunch
• Entrance fees

Embark on a journey into the core of Japan’s cultural legacy with an exploration of Kyoto and Nara, where age-old traditions blend with stunning natural landscapes. This adventure is perfect for those eager to see Japan’s most renowned landmarks while uncovering the fascinating stories they hold.

The Golden & Red Icons of Kyoto: Marvel at the glistening Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and stroll through the seemingly endless corridors of thousands of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Arashiyama’s Enchanting Nature: Meander through the globally renowned Bamboo Grove, where sunlight streams through towering green stalks, creating a tranquil, otherworldly ambiance.

Experience the Unique Allure of Nara Park: Encounter approximately 1,300 wild deer—revered as divine messengers—who roam freely and bow to visitors in exchange for a treat.

Witness the Great Buddha: Explore the grand Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that houses a 15-meter bronze Buddha statue within the world’s largest wooden structure.

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