Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting from North America. They had come to Kyoto soon after arriving in Tokyo, so they knew very little about Japan. I talked with them about Japanese culture, including history, Buddhism, Shinto, the emperor, the shogun, and samurai.

At Tenryu-ji Temple, I also explained Zen Buddhism and the temple gardens. At Nijo Castle, I described the Meiji Restoration and talked about how important Nijo Castle had been.

What especially caught their interest was Yasui Konpira-gu Shrine. They mentioned that while there are many shrines that bring good fortune, they wondered if there was a shrine for cutting off bad relationships. So we went to Yasui Konpira-gu Shrine, where they prayed to sever bad ties. I believe they enjoyed it very much.

A notable stop on the tour was Tenryu-ji Temple in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. Tenryu-ji is one of Kyoto's most important Zen temples and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is especially famous for its Sogenchi Garden, a classic Japanese landscape garden that incorporates the surrounding mountains as borrowed scenery and has survived in its original form for centuries.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by akira

My name is Akira.
I am a national licensed tour guide in English.
I have been a tour guide in 9 years.
I am specialized in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji castle and Hiroshima.
When you have a plan to visit those area, please contact me.
Kyoto and Nara are old town from 8th century, so you will learn Japanese culture and tradition there .
Nara is our first capital from710 for about 70 years and Kyoto was the capital from 794 for abut more than 1200years.
So there are a lot ofold buildings are remained and specially in Kyoto there are 17 Unesco heritage site.
You will enjoy Japan with me and be satisfied with my guiding .
I am looking forward to seeing you in Japan.