Kyoto Full-Day Excursion from Kobe (Osaka) Port
Description
I live in Kyoto—a city I truly love. Kyoto reminds me of something I had forgotten. In the rush of everyday life, I often find myself pressed for time. There are a few places I visit from time to time. A quiet garden surrounded by trees, and a five-hundred-year-old temple steeped in history and tradition welcome me. There are hardly any people around. The flowing water, the falling petals, the moss-covered gardens—all these simple beauties make me pause and notice what I’ve overlooked. Quiet Kyoto touches the soul. This is the Kyoto I want to share with my guests—not just the famous landmarks, but the hidden sanctuaries where the heart can breathe. All you have to do is put yourself on the side of nature. I'm sure you will feel the heart of Kyoto through these encounters.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Furukawa Local Market and Shirakawa Riverside Walking
Shoren-in: The fire that occurred downtown 300 years ago destroyed almost the whole city. The Imperial Palace burnt down. The emperor moved to the east of Kamogawa River and lived here for some years. So Shorenin used to be the emperor's residence. You can see Kyoto's Imperial Palace only from outside but here in Shorenin you can see the emperor's room inside. Its cultural value is priceless.
Konchiin Zen Garden Water Bridge Incline Walking
Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa in 1909 Shimogamo Shrine
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(7)
I can't really review the tour as it didn't happen. According to the guide, he cancelled the tour a week after our booking. I could not find a reference to that. But at any rate, the guide did not inform Viatour, and Viatour continued to inform us of our upcoming tour long after the alleged cancellation. At this point, we are still out approx $500.
According to the Viator Support Team, my cancellation was properly dealt with on the webpage. I'm sorry to hear that something wrong on the system.
Mike was a great guide. Had a wonderful experience. Learned a lot about Japanese history and culture along with the sites
Hi Ann, Thank you very much for your thoughtful message. I’m delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience and enjoyed learning about Japanese history, culture, and the sites we visited together. It was truly a pleasure guiding you. Mike
Mike was a wonderful guide. Our ship arrived at noon so our full day tour was extended to two days. We enjoyed Kyoto, missed the crowds and saw many sites. He shared history and the spiritual side of historic places. A tour we will not forget
We spent a wonderful day with Rieko Ohmura , our tour guide She was patient, instructive and immersed us in the history of the sites that we were able to visit. She helped us navigate the Bullet train back to our destination. Truly a very pleasurable experience and day spent with Rieko. Definitely a way to spend a day in Kyoto.
I’m very glad you could experience Kyoto without the crowds and that the places we visited left a lasting impression. Your kind words mean a lot to me, and I will continue striving to provide memorable and meaningful experiences for my guests.
We saw four great sites with Mike--more than you could ever see on a ship tour. Mike was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He also helped us buy our bullet train tickets back to Kobe. Overall a great day (but taxis were expensive due to all the traffic).
I’m very glad you could experience Kyoto without the crowds and that the places we visited left a lasting impression. Your kind words mean a lot to me, and I will continue striving to provide memorable and meaningful experiences for my guests.
We had an absolutely incredible experience on the Kyoto tour led by Mike! The destinations were thoughtfully selected, highlighting the most breathtaking and culturally rich spots in Kyoto. Mike was an outstanding guide—his deep knowledge, infectious enthusiasm, and impeccable attention to detail made every moment truly special. His passion for Kyoto’s history and culture shone through, creating a memorable and engaging journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Mike’s phenomenal tour to anyone exploring Kyoto!
Hi Torsten, Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful words about our Kyoto tour. I am truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed the carefully selected destinations and that the cultural and historical stories made your journey memorable. Mike
Mike was the best. He took us around to visit Nijo Castle, Kinkakujiyu Kinkakuji, and Shoren-in Temple. We learned much about Japanese culture, the struggle and harmony between the emperor and shogun and samurai, Shinto and the zen gardens and its five elements. Fascinating! Thanks to Mike for taking care of our senior group of four and myself, and making sure we got back to our ship safely. We highly recommend doing this tour with Mike.
Thank you, John, for writing a review for me. "Strangers on the Water" reminded me of my university days, sweet but bitter memories of my youth. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. Hope for your success as an excellent scientist. Mike
