First we will go to Daitokuji which is a collection of small zen temples. We will visit three temples there. Each one has its own uniqueness with differently designed stone gardens. We go early in the morning, so you can feel the serenity and authenticity without too much crowd. After that we go to a store which was established in the year 1000. There you will have aburimochi which is known as the origin of all the Japanese sweets. After the break, we will visit Imamiya Shrine.
Kitaoji Station
We will meet at the subway station outside exit #2.
We will take a walk to Daitokuji.
We will go inside Daitokuji and visit three small temples as well as the budda hall and the gate (San Mon).
We will walk over to the aburimochi shop and have the oldest sweets in Japan and tea.
We will visit Imamiya Shrine right next to the aburimochi store.
We will finish the tour at the gate.
Imamiya Shrine
- Experience several different types of zen/stone gardens.
- Taste the famous sweets called aburimochi known as the oldest sweets in Japan.
One of the two stores was established in the year 1000.
- Visit Imamiya Shrine and learn how to properly visit a shrine.
Plus as a local Japanese guide, I can help to clarify things you are
curious about Japan during the tour!!!
- English translation / guide fee
- Transportation fee
- Entrance tickets for the three temples
- Aburimochi cost (will depend on how much you would like to have)
For some tours I can not guide everyday due to store closings. Please check my availability on each tour page. Thank you!
It is better to wear comfortable shoes since we need to walk the entire way.
Nori was a great guide. Attentive to our needs and overall had a well structured, memorable and overall fantastic day in Kyoto. Nori is the best, book a tour with him!!
Thanks a lot for your kind comments! I had a fun time also with you guys. I can not believe we went to Shinjyu-An too which was totally not included in the plan! That was a bit unique, wasn't it? ( : Also, because you asked so many great questions, I myself was able to learn new things too! Thanks again and hope to see you sometime again in the future!
Nori is such a knowledgeable guide about all things Japan- history, culture and society, etc. He knows how to read his audience and offers the right amount of information. He speaks English fluently and having lived all over the world, he has much global insight. Additionally, he is detail oriented and a very responsive communicator, plus he crafts good itineraries while providing plenty of opportunities for input.
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I try not to overwhelm people with information and rather try to act as a local/knowledgeable friend. I am really glad that you liked the evening tour. Let's enjoy the full day tour coming up also!!
We are a mid 30s and 40s couple from the USA and UK, and we spent 2 full days with Nori experiencing Kyoto. It could not have been a better decision. We saw and learned so much that we otherwise would have missed, and his guiding is seamless. Definitely highly recommended!
Thank you so much for kind comments. I also had a lot of fun exploring Kyoto with you guys! As for taiyaki today’s was good but the one I mentioned is even better. Please try it! Hope you can come again sometime. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
We had an incredible experience with Nori as our tour guide in Kyoto, Japan! Having worked in the US for many years with a major Japanese corporation, Nori speaks excellent English and was incredibly kind and engaging, especially with our two kids. His passion for traveling and surfing, which has taken him to many places, shines through in his tours. Nori was one of the best tour guides we have encountered in our travels across different countries. He communicated with us well before the tour started, discussing the itinerary and offering helpful suggestions for transportation options. Impressively, he provided multiple itinerary options to accommodate both sunny and rainy days, ensuring we had a fantastic experience no matter the weather. We highly recommend Nori to anyone visiting the Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka areas. His professionalism, friendly demeanor, and thorough planning made our trip unforgettable!
Thanks so much for leaving such a kind and detailed message. I really appreciate it! I am really glad that you all were able to enjoy the tour. Hope you can come again and explore more amazing places in Japan together someday!