Overview
This tour with private car and guide allows you to experience Kyoto in full.
Kyoto has a mystic about it and your day will include an exploration of the former imperial capital. The transfer from Kobe will take just over an hour and the ride is beautiful. Your guide will be there to introduce you to the history of the area as you travel.
Upon your arrival to Kyoto, you will begin with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, which means pure water.
This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto. The entire building has a beautiful presence and you will also view the amazing scenery from the 13 meter high veranda that juts out from the Main Hall. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills (got its name from the waterfall.
Next, you will visit Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun. After his death it became a Buddhist Temple at his request, and is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples. Kinkakuji Temple is one of the most important sites to see in Kyoto and is breathtakingly beautiful. Like much of Japan’s famous sites, it was burned down and rebuilt several times, most recently in 1955.
These two first stops will transmit the quiet, kind culture of the city. And your lunch, which follows, will also be a cultural experience. One of many local and traditional restaurants in Kyoto will introduce you to the manners of a truly Japanese meal.
Rested and refreshed, you will move on to Nijo Castle, an ornamental Castle built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate to be his Kyoto residence. It is surrounded by stunning gardens. Two moats surround the castle grounds, which contain several other buildings and an expansive garden space. Your tour of the Ninomaru Palace with its beautiful wood carvings and wall paintings is famous for its architecture. The wood floors of the palace were designed to squeak as a warning if intruders were inside (known as “nightingale floors“).
One more stop on this day before leaving is the essential Nishiki Market. This narrow, 5 block long shopping street is lined with more than one hundred shops and restaurants. It caters to both businesses and retail customers and as you walk through the main aisle, you will see items that you have never before imagined. All things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware sit beside Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. You can also find some wonderful craftsmen here and easily pick up a memorable yet useful souvenir.
- A traditional Japanese lunch is part of your tour.
- Please dress according to the weather.
- This tour requires some walking.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
- We will do our best to confirm the tour at the standard pricing, however there may be a surcharge on holidays and from the end of December to the New Year.
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The cancellation policy on this tour is outside of the normal ShoreTrips Terms of Service. The tour is non refundable 18 days prior to the tour date. If your ship does not make port, this tour will be non-refundable. Please take out travel insurance to cover this rare occurrence. This tour will NOT be refundable in cases in which conditions make it impossible for the ship to dock and disembark passengers in a timely manner. In case of extreme delay of ship’s arrival or immigration, the tour may have to be shortened.- Due to the extreme costs of hospitalization and medical services in Japan, we strongly recommend purchasing independent travel insurance that will cover you for injuries or illness while in Japan.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 09:00 AM, duration: 8 hours
