Two Day Kyoto Package From Osaka Via Private Vehicle, Daily Return

Two Day Kyoto Package From Osaka, Daily Return Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Enjoy all aspects of the real Tokyo.

Kyoto was my magical city in Japan. It is the Japan we conjure in our minds. Kyoto lends itself to walking and moving between neighborhoods and districts.

Day 1.

Your guide will meet you at the pier to take you on a tour of Kyoto with a private vehicle transfer.

Today, you will visit some of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites with a knowledgeable local guide. You will start your day with a visit to 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. Nijo Castle is an ornamental castle that was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence and is surrounded by stunning gardens. The main building was completed in 1603 and is famous for its architecture, decorated sliding doors, and "chirping" nightingale floors.

The final stop today is Kiyomizu (Pure Water) Temple. From the 13m high veranda jutting out from the Main Hall, you can enjoy amazing views of the whole of Kyoto whilst pondering the fact that both the Main Hall and Veranda were built without the use of nails or any kind of joiners.

At the end of the tour, transfer back to the port.

Day 2.

Your guide will meet you at the pier to take you to new districts of Kyoto by private vehicle transfer.

Arashiyama is a pleasant district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting. Okochi Mountain Villa is the former villa of the popular samurai film star Okochi Denjiro (1896-1962) and consists of several beautiful gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses, and a zen meditation hall. Here you will enjoy some matcha green tea with a snack. Next, take a walk through Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, which are particularly attractive when there is a light wind and the tall bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth. The bamboo has been used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, and mats at local workshops for centuries. Nonomiya shrine is a Shinto shrine where, in ancient times, unmarried imperial princesses stayed for a year or more to purify themselves. Ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples, Tenryuji is the largest and most impressive temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 at the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1338-1573), the temple is one of Kyoto's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to its temple buildings, there are attractive gardens with walking paths.

Lunch will be in a traditional building inside the temple grounds overlooking the beautifully landscaped garden. Enjoy a delicious vegetarian shojin-ryori (traditional Buddhist cuisine) lunch built around yuba, tofu, and seasonal vegetables.

- Lunch is included in tour cost on both days. Beverages are additional.
- Please dress comfortably according to the season.
- The drive from Osaka to Kyoto is approximately one hour each way, though may take longer with traffic.

- 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.
- 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:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 16 hours Total length for 2 days
• 09:00 AM, duration: 16 hours Total length for 2 days