Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyoto, built in the early 17th century for the powerful shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. During his visits to the imperial capital, the shogun stayed in the castle with several ornate palaces and a beautiful garden. One of the complex’s palaces, Ninomaru, has survived to this day. The palace’s interior is painted by famous artists of the Kano school and is richly decorated with wood carvings and gold. Tokugawa Ieyasu himself admired the garden created by Kobori Enshu, the great master of the tea ceremony and landscape design.
- Tours
- Western Kyoto and Arashiyama
Kyoto One Day Tour “Kyoto sightseeing tour”
We will start our tour with the former residence of the military rulers of Japan, Nijo Castle, which has been the scene of several pivotal events in the country’s history. The main palace of the castle, beautifully preserved from feudal times, is a gem of Japanese architecture. It is known for its “nightingale floors,” the garden designed by master Kobori Enshu, and wall paintings created by the best artists of the Kano school.
The next stop on our itinerary is the Arashiyama district, famous for its natural beauty and unique temples. Our exploration of the area begins with Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, which, according to legend, was founded by the monk Kukai to repose the souls of the nameless deceased buried in the Adashino area since ancient times. By the early 20th century, the temple had amassed more than 1,000 grave markers and statues.
From the temple, we will proceed to a small street known as the Silk Road of Kyoto because its length is equal to the length of thread obtained from unwinding a single silk cocoon.
Following the Silk Road, we will reach the most renowned temple in Arashiyama – Tenryu-ji. Built on the site of Japan’s first Zen temple, Tenryu-ji has flourished and fallen into oblivion many times, burned down, and been rebuilt. However, the temple’s magnificent garden, designed by the legendary Muso Soseki, has remained unchanged since the 14th century and is one of the most beautiful gardens of the Old Capital.
We will conclude our tour in the bamboo grove, an iconic image associated with Arashiyama. The gentle rustling of bamboo stalks in the wind and the sight of rickshaws rolling by will make us pause for a moment to appreciate the simple beauty that has been cherished by the Japanese for centuries.
Route: Meeting point → Nijo Castle → Adashino-nenbutsuji → Kyoto Silk Road → Tenryuji Temple → Bamboo Grove
CUSTOMIZED ITINERARY FOR YOUR DATES
Dates
- One Day Tour
Duration
- 8 hours
Price
- Request
Daily itinerary
1
Western Kyoto and Arashiyama
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Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple was built on the mountainside where people of nearby villages were buried in ancient times. According to legend, the famous Buddhist monk Kukai founded Adashino Nembutsu-ji Temple in memory of all those buried there. At the beginning of the 20th century, all the gravestones and statues that had been forgotten for centuries were gathered on the temple grounds to pray for all the nameless dead.
Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenryu-ji Temple is the largest temple complex in the Arashiyama area, one of the five most important Zen Buddhist temples in Kyoto, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tenryu-ji was founded in 1339 by shogun Ashikaga Takauji in memory of Emperor Go-Daigo. The temple buildings burnt down and were rebuilt many times. The present ones date to the late 19th century, but the temple’s main attraction, the Tenryu-ji Garden, founded by the great master Muso Soseki, has survived in its original form to this day. The heart of the garden is a central pond with small islands covered by stones and pine trees. The forested mountains of Arashiyama serve as a backdrop to the garden.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Sagano-Arasiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto’s most popular and most photographed places. Everything here breathes with admiration for nature and love for detail. The path through the bamboo grove is carefully fenced off and cleared of dry leaves and branches. It’s an alley where you want to stroll, listening to the sounds of bamboo and the endless song of the wind. Bamboo doesn’t sleep; bamboo rustles and ceaselessly strives upwards. It’s a very hardy, fantastic plant!