Kyoto Highlights

Kyoto Highlights Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

A short ride from Maizuru is the magic of Kyoto

One will never have enough time in Kyoto. Take in this experience as an appetizer if you can return. If not, you will enjoy your day and leave with an understanding of the differences between this city and any other in the world.

Maizuru's main appeal is that it is a short ride to Kyoto. The highlight of this area is its abundance of nature and the 1.5 hour ride is lovely. The highlight of your morning will be a visit to Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion. A small, three-story villa covered in gold lacquer outside and gold leaf within. the pavilion was built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the mid-1300s, who was a true aesthete, with a special appreciation for beauty and art. After abdicating his reigning powers to his 9-year old son, he focused on building something worthy of the heavenly paradise of the Buddhas. While Kinkakuji is a Zen temple, it is also ambiguously a symbol of wealth and power.

You will learn the fascinating story while touring the villa. Often the outside of these estates are more fascinating than the inside, which enjoy a sterility created thoughout with luxurious materials. The Golden Pavilion is also the home of perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese garden, which you will also visit.

Your next cultural experience will be at a traditional Japanese restaurant. There are often multiple little dishes holding sumptuous bits of Japanese delights. This leisurely lunch will ready you for the famous Nijo Castle.

This famous World Heritage Site is a highlight of everyone's visit to Kyoto. Built in 1603 to house Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's visits to Tokyo, it is a gilded palace with a moat. Its showy display of wealth was intended to humble the court and empower the military. The floors are 'nightingale' floors intended to alert against the ninjas. The extent of this imposing 'estate' tells much of the times without words, but your guide will narrate with the history of this era.

When its time, you will be transported back to your beginning point.

- Lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant is included in the tour.
- Entrance fees are included for the attractions included.
- Wheelchair accessible - if assistance is required, passenger must provide their assist. IMPORTANT. ShoreTrips must be notified at the time you make your booking of your wheelchair need. We can only handle collapsible wheelchairs and the passenger must be able to get in and out of a vehicle.
- Some parts of road on this tour are gravel and steep inclines.
- On Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December, or Wednesday if Tuesday is a national holiday, Nijo Castle is closed. An appropriate substitution will be made.- IMPORTANT. This tour has a cancellation/refund policy that is non-conforming with ShoreTrips standard policy. Full refunds will be made for cancellations due to your ship not making its scheduled port stop if you have notified the vendor or ShoreTrips of this situation at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled stop. 50% refunds will be made cancellations due to your ship not making its scheduled port stop if you have notified the vendor or ShoreTrips of this situation at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled stop. No refunds will be made for cancellations made in the last 48 hours prior to the scheduled stop. Excursion Protection insurance is available and highly recommended and will be offered to you during the checkout procedure.
Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 07:30 AM, duration: 9 hours