Katsuoji is a Buddhist temple located in the forested region of Mino, north of Osaka City. Founded in the 8th century, Katsuoji has been revered for over 1,300 years and is known as the "Temple of Winning Luck" and the "Temple of Winning Dharma." The lucky atmosphere of Katsuoji is enhanced by countless daruma dolls scattered throughout the complex, which are well-known symbols of good luck in Japan. For centuries, emperors and shoguns have prayed at this temple for victory in their endeavors. Today, visitors still flock to this sacred site, seeking "winner's luck" in work, academics, business, sports, and other pursuits. The temple grounds of Katsuoji offer beauty in every season. In spring, cherry trees blossom, while summer brings blooming alpine roses and hydrangeas. However, autumn is particularly spectacular. Many visitors come to Katsuoji in mid-November to witness the stunning autumn foliage as the area transforms into a vibrant scenery of red and yellow from the maples.
The bamboo forests of Arashiyama are a must-see when visiting Kyoto, serving as a symbol of the city. This stunning and serene natural attraction is known for its towering bamboo stalks and tranquil ambiance. Walking along the peaceful paths surrounded by lush greenery will help put your mind at ease. You can truly feel time slow down as you take in the beauty of nature. The groves are especially captivating when a light breeze dances through, causing the tall bamboo stalks to sway gently back and forth.
Nonomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Arashiyama district on the west side of the city of Kyoto. Unlike most shrines that feature iconic vermilion torii gates, Nonomiya Shrine has a distinctive black torii gate known as a kuroki torii. Despite its small size, the shrine has a lengthy history, founded in antiquity as a purification shrine for imperial princesses who were appointed as priestesses for Ise Shrine. Nonomiya Shrine has a reputation for helping and interceding on behalf of women, and many parishioners are women who want to find love or wish for children and a safe childbirth. Many of the omamori on sale at the shrine reflect the theme of women’s happiness, and you can find a variety of amulets available at the shrine office.
Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a true gem of the Arashiyama district in Kyoto and is ranked as the top among the city's five great Zen temples. While visiting Tenryu-ji, be sure to experience the stunning Sogenchi Garden. Designed by the renowned Zen master Muso Soseki, this garden has maintained its timeless beauty over the years. The picturesque landscape features a central pond surrounded by rocks, pine trees, and the forested mountains of Arashiyama.
The Togetsukyo Bridge is the most iconic landmark in Arashiyama. Originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185), it was reconstructed most recently in the 1930s. This famous bridge spans the Katsura River and provides picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and riverscape. It features bronze ornamental caps along its balustrade made of Japanese cypress. With this, the historical image of Uji Bridge is retained and the design harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.
The Kimono Forest is a distinctive textile art installation made up of 600 clear acrylic cylinders, each standing 2 meters tall. These pillars are adorned with vibrant kimono fabrics featuring a range of designs, from elegant floral patterns to geometric shapes and traditional Japanese symbols. The installation showcases 32 traditional Kyo-yuzen designs. The Kimono Forest is a must-see attraction that provides a unique and enchanting perspective on traditional Japanese textiles and craftsmanship.
“Rilakkuma” means “Bear in a relaxed mood.” Rilakkuma is someone impossible to be hated by others. It’s a lovely place to wander around and the Rilakkuma cafe & shop blend in beautifully. You will be drawn into Rilakkuma’s world, where you’ll embrace a lazy and relaxed lifestyle while enjoying everything Rilakkuma does. The first floor features a variety of exclusive items related to Rilakkuma that can only be found in Japan. The second floor is a café that offers lunch, drinks, and snacks, accompanied by cute Rilakkuma character. There are also Rilakkuma plushies on the tables to take photos with.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion）is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. A breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its dazzling golden exterior and serene gardens. The name Golden Pavilion is derived from the gold leaf that the pavilion is covered in. The gold employed was intended to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings toward death. The Golden Pavilion is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. Each floor has a different architectural style. The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai, and zen.
Apple is as a fantastic guide who gave us plenty of information but also allowed us to explore as we wished throughout the day. She was present at the temples checking that everyone was okay and made a point of moving us out of a line we didn’t need to be in and took a family photos for us. It was a long day but worth the money to see three gorgeous places in Kyoto/Osaka. Thank you
This was a laid back tour. We were given lots of time to enjoy the spots that we visited. Were given time to really explore and enjoy each spot we visited. Apple was a great guide. She made sure that you have all the information for the place we are visiting. She was also great in giving a backgroud for every spot. She made sure you had all the information you needed to know about the olace we're visiting
The guide was so friendly, I like this trip, all was the same has de description says, ありがと ございます...
It was a nice tour, the bus really comfortable, very puntual and the guide CC really nice.
My husband and I had such a wonderful time on this tour! We liked the fact that our guide, Cali, explained a lot of the history and information on the bus between stops and then let us do our own thing at each site we visited, rather than us having to follow her around closely at each place. We really enjoyed Katsuoji, it is laid out really well for visitors to make a loop through it and see everything and it was extremely beautiful. Arashiyama area was very, very busy and crowded but once we walked a little further into the forest and gardens it was a peaceful time so I would recommend venturing off the main street and checking out some of the smaller shrines that are past the main part of the bamboo forest. We especially enjoyed the small shrine which seemed to be dedicated to hair and got a really cute scissor shaped omamori to bring home. Kinkakuji was similarly crowded but it’s a must-see, so we enjoyed that as well despite the crowds. Our trip fell during a public holiday, so I think that was part of the reason for the crowds. Special shoutout to Cali for being so sweet and such a great guide. I mentioned to her that I had been having some stomach problems and she very, very kindly messaged me after the tour to tell me to take good care of myself and to offer recommendations on easy foods to digest that I could find in Kyoto. It was so sweet and she didn’t have to go out of her way to show such kindness but she did. I would recommend the tour to anyone visiting Kyoto! Thank you Cali!
We loved the tour with Apple and Ricky they where the best. We Would 1000% percent do it again thank you.
Amazing experience getting to see the highlights of Kyoto. Our tour guide was Apple and she was amazing, very knowledgeable and kind. Would definitely recommend this tour as it makes it so easy to see so many beautiful places in one day.
Amazing tour seeing the best highlights of Kyoto, everything was so beautiful and wonderful to experience. Our tour guide was Apple and she was very amazing, knowledgeable and kind. Would definitely recommend especially if you are wanting to try see alot within just one day!!
Apple the tour guide was very friendly and kept me well informed throughout the tour. The tour went at a good pace neither feeling rushed or drawing on too long. I highly recommend this tour!
The tour was fun and everything we wanted to see were explained clearly by Apple, our tour guide, who's very nice and friendly. Would definitely recommend this tour.
We really enjoyed this tour! We primarily wanted an easy no hassle way to get to Katsuo-Ji from Kyoto without having to worry about public transportation and this was it. Our tour guide Apple gave a brief introduction on the bus about the temples/attractions and then we had free time to explore the areas ourselves.
Apple was awesome and very knowledgeable. I Highly recommend this tour if you’re a first timer in Kyoto.
Apple was a wonderful guide! She was super informative and the places they chose for this tour was nothing short of magical. 10/10 would recommend 😎
Amazing tour experience and our tour guide Noa was very helpful. Beautiful temples and bamboo forests, must see.
The tour was great I really enjoyed myself! The tour guide was amazing and helpful. I would definitely recommend.
We had a great day in Kyoto , Apple was our tour guide she was full of knowledge. Would definitely recommend it.
Apple and our driver was excellent! Thank you for the wonderful day! A comprehensive tour of multiple attractions and sightseeings, including recommendations for foods/restaurants
It was an amazing day and I loved our guide, Apple. She’s amazing and it worths the tour! Katsuoji temple is special, really!
Great Experience, Our guide Amanda was very kind and clear in her communication, she was very patience and helpful to find the pick up point . The 3 places that we visited were amazing with enough time to enjoy them, although it was raining we enjoyed tons!!
This tour was great to experience the 3 temples/shrines. Tina was very knowledgeable and pleasant, we really enjoyed her as a tour guide. Our one drawback was that no one came into the temple/shines with us to explain what we were seeing or the history behind things. We were told the history while on the bus, but basically let loose at the different sites.
Apple provided an excellent tour. Very complete, well organized, and customer friendly. Great experience overall. Tour was timely, tour bus was comfortable, excellent drive. Thorough, not rushed.
Overall very good but Arashiyama portion could have been first on the itinerary due to the excessive crowds at the site.
It was a fantastic day and our tour guide explained everything perfectly so we could make the most of it. I recommend this tour for sure!!
We had a great time with our guide Willa and our driver. They were professional, polite and informative. They kept the group on time throughout all the stops the whole day. I liked that Willa sent us reminders the night before the tour but also sent us information before we arrived to each site of the tour- this was very helpful. She made things run very smoothly. Highly recommend and next time I come through Kyoto, I would check out the other tours this group offers.
Apple is such a beautiful person! She makes sure you’re well informed and most of all, safe. This tour was so fun! Would definitely do it again.
Steven was a wonderful & funny tour guide. He provided a lot of information on the sights visited & activities that could be done after the tour was completed. Would tour again with him!
Excellent communication Super organize and on time Very pleasant and enjoyable A fun time with best recommendation food and destination Unforgettable Thanks to Apple best tour lady ever
Amazing tour even on a rainy day! Apple was an amazing tour guide! The places were crowded, but that’s to be expected. Either way we still had plenty of time to see everything we wanted to see!
Very easy and quick tour around some beautiful temples and towns. The bus was clean and the tour guide spoke multiple languages
This tour was great and covered a number of wonderful stops. This would have been a five star review, but I feel the tour company could do a much better job of describing the timeline of the tour. While it is a tour of Osaka and Kyoto, it also picks up tourist IN Osaka and Kyoto. After the last stop, that was just north of Osaka, the bus goes all the way back to Kyoto to drop people off and then goes back to Osaka. And this is during rush hour. W”I didn’t find out about this until after the bus left the last stop. If I had known before I would have taken the city bus back into Osaka and saved myself another 2 hours on the tour bus after a long day. It was very frustrating and unnecessary. Theodore was a great guide on the trip.
The itinerary was very nice and we did all the activities on time. You can take it either from Osaka or Kioto
Highly recommended this tour for someone who wants to visit Daruma! Tour guide is friendly and knowledgeable, make everything stress-free. We enjoyed this tour so much!
Tour of some of the most important places in Kyoto. The guide Theodore stood out for his knowledge, kindness, and availability
It is a very complete tour with a lot to see. Temples, bamboo forest, typical shops, great variety of food. Our guide Apple is a delight and has helped us throughout the day.
We liked it a lot! The guide was very attentive. The tour is very comprehensive; we made the most of the day without getting too tired. Thank you very much.
Very well organized and everywhere enough time to explore everything. There are numerous options for lunch
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