THE PATH LESS TRAVELED
An Eclectic Mix Of Sites On Kyoto’s East Side That Will Leave You In Awe
This customizable tour will be planned according to the season, as a wide range of sites will be considered based your interests, including: quiet Zen gardens, Heian period stroll-garden, antique browsing, a traditional lunch, a folk art museum, a shrine commemorating a famous warlord, traditional sweets and the longest wooden building in Japan filled with 1,001 Golden Buddhas.
This experience will introduce you to a world far away from the busy tourist sites, where we will spend peaceful moments immersed in the true nature of Kyoto.
Itinerary:
Konchiin, Tenjuan, Nanzenji grounds, Heian Jingu, Shinmonzen Dori, Lunch, Kawai Kanjiro Memorial House, Toyokuni Jinja, Chishakuin, Sanjusangendo
Length: 8 hours
Meeting Point: Keage Station
A moment in time on the grounds of Nanzen-ji
Sites Descriptions:
Konchi-in
This temple is a tour with-in a tour as it has all elements one could hope to see: high-level architecture, gardens, statuary, paintings and a shrine dedicated to one of the most powerful warlords in the history of Japan.
Tenju-an
The “Hermitage of the Heavenly Teacher” contains two profound gardens, one of which when entered gives the sensation of suddenly entering into a forest and having stumbled upon a fairy tale world.
HEIAN JINGU
This is a very commonly visited site for those who come to Kyoto- but most visitors only enter the shrine area. We will have a stroll through the expansive garden that surprisingly very few people enter. The views from this garden can be considered some of the most picturesque in all of Kyoto.
Shinmonzen Dori
One of the best kept secrets in Kyoto. Visiting here is like browsing through art museums without the entrance fees. And everything is for sale. Of course there is no pressure to purchase anything as window shopping is equally okay.
Kawai Kanjiro Memorial House
The converted home of a noted 20th century master potter, this museum is a fine example of the wabi sabi way of design and living. Eventhough Kanjiro passed away over 50 years ago, this space has the feeling as if he has just gone out to do some shopping and will be back soon. A truly wonderful experience, and for me- one of the must-see’s in Kyoto.
Toyokuni Jinja
We will briefly visit this shrine commemorating Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the samurai accredited with helping to end hundred’s of years of civil war and unify the country. Next to the shrine we will have a chance to see one of the largest bells in Japan.
Chishaku-in
This hardly-visited garden will transport your mind to far-away lands. Along with beautiful gardens, also on display are sliding door paintings by one of Japan's most heralded painters of the Edo period.
Sanjusangen-do
Home to 1,001 jaw-dropping golden Buddhas, this is a must see while in Kyoto. Photos are not allowed inside, so what is shown here hardly represents the experience we will have once we enter.
Guest Review: “The Most Unique and Unforgettable Tour of Kyoto”
“I’ve been visiting Kyoto for almost twenty years but experienced more on one tour with Andrew than in all the rest of my time there. What’s so unique is that he's so aligned and grounded in his community that a tour with him is more like a day in the life that fills and sustains these places, a gentle walk leading to unforgettable moments.
I’m not 'into Zen' and I never expected anyone could guide me through all the superficial beauty of the temples and gardens of Kyoto to a much deeper feeling of my own presence in the traditions that they represent.
I think that the real must-see wherever you travel is that sometimes elusive experience of yourself 'being there' and if you're in Kyoto that's where Andrew can take you.”
- Jason, Tokyo, August 2022