Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Sagano Tour — Guide Kazu

What Is a Private Kyoto Arashiyama and Sagano Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America, on their first trip to Japan and their first visit to Kyoto, celebrating a special milestone. It was an honor that they chose Japan for such a memorable trip. The previous day they had visited Fushimi Inari Taisha and Sanjusangendo, and today's destination was Arashiyama. The Saga and Toriimoto route, including Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, Hirano-ya, and Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, is one of my personal favorites. I shared stories about the traditions that make Japanese culture what it is — Obon, Jizo Bosatsu (the tale of stacking stones at Sai no Kawara), the floating of lanterns for the spirits, the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires of Kyoto, Atago Shrine, Onmyodo, and Japanese waka poetry. At Hirano-ya we enjoyed shinko mochi with a 400-year history along with matcha, and I gave a brief explanation of how to enjoy matcha in a tea ceremony setting. I quietly delighted in the thought that they were able to immerse themselves deeply in the world of old, traditional Japan. As everyone knows, the garden at Tenryu-ji has an indescribable, mysterious beauty with Arashiyama as its backdrop. In terms of location, it sits halfway up a mountain at the westernmost edge of Kyoto, and as the abbot of Tenryu-ji puts it, "The garden of Tenryu-ji is the very first place in Kyoto to be touched by the morning sun — and at that exact spot lies the Rigyoseki carp stone, likened to the Buddha." When I shared this story, they were deeply impressed by the wisdom of people long ago. It may depend on the person, but I have a feeling this kind of story is more appreciated than explanations about figures like Ashikaga Takauji or Muso Soseki. We returned to Saga-Arashiyama Station and parted ways there. However, afterward we traveled back together to Kyoto Station before saying goodbye. Tomorrow they are heading to Nara.

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Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama