Your tour begins in the afternoon with an introduction to your guide who will lead you to the different stops and inform you of their cultural and religious significances and histories. Kyoto was Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence from 794 until 1868. Now the country’s seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people, Kyoto has a distinct dichotomy of traditional and modern offerings. ( Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was not chosen as a target of air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today. (Next is the dramatic and colorful Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine. Admire this brightly colored shrine, with its vermilion pillars and green roof, and its enchanting inner gardens and ponds that reflects the elegance of life in the ancient Japanese court. Please note the tour will not enter the shrine’s Shin-en garden.
Explore Sanjusangendo Hall in eastern Kyoto during your first stop. At 120 meters long (394 feet), this wooden hall is the longest in Japan and houses all of 1,001 statues of Kannon, Bodhisattva, that date back to the 13th century. (Stroll the quaint old lane lined with pottery shops leading up to the famous Kiyomizu Temple, also known as Kiyomizu-dera. Listen to your guide explain the history of this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Enjoy a sweeping view of the entire city of Kyoto from its lofty terrace and grand walkways that meander through the Higashiwama mountain’s foothills.