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Private: Kyoto And Arashiyama RevealedExplore > Japan > Kyoto > Private: Kyoto And Arashiyama Revealed
OverviewUp in the hills, temples hide amongst the greenery and bamboo forests. We walked the path through the bamboo groves and I will forever remember that experience. Arashiyama, a district in the western outskirts of Kyoto, has been a popular destination since the Heian Period, from 794-1185). Nobles found it a natural setting and the former villa, Okochi Mountain Villa, was the home of the popular Samurai film star Okochi Denjiro. It consists of several beautiful gardens and building including living quarters, tea houses, and a zen meditation hall. The gardens are particulary lovely and the gateway to your next adventure, the bamboo groves. Relax here and enjoy some matcha green tea with a snack. A walk will follow, as you find yourself surrounded by Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves, which are particularly attractive when there is a light wind which results in the swaying of the tall bamboo stalks. But regardless, windy or still, this is an impressive experience and one that will stay with you forever. The atmosphere is other worldly, almost hypnotic as the stalks seem to continue forever in all directions. The bamboo here is used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, and mats at local workshops for centuries. Nonomiya Shrine in Kyoto is the shrine that Imperial unmarried princesses spent a year preparing to become High Priestess of the Grand Shrine of Ise. It could take a year or longer to purifying themselves for this position. In "The Tale of Genji", the Shining Prince meets the Rokujo Lady at Nonomiya. And following this, a visit to Tenryuji, ranked among Kyoto's 5 great Zen temples, it is the most impressive temple in Arashiyama. It was founded in 1339 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built on this site, they say, after a priest dreamt of a dragon rising from the nearby river. The dream was interpreted as a sign that the emperor's spirit was uneasy and the temple was constructed as an appeasement - hence the name which means Heavenly Dragon. Along with its UNESCO designation, the 14th century Zen garden remains the main attraction. - Tour is done using public transportation (costs included). - Entrance to Okochi Mountain Villa and Tenryu-ji Temple are included in the tour cost. - Please dress comfortably. - 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. - The cancellation policy on this tour is outside of the normal ShoreTrips Terms of Service. The tour is non refundable under any circumstance 18 days prior to the tour date. - 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:
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