See the most picturesque temples and beautiful gardens that Kyoto has to offer on this 4-hour afternoon tour from Osaka with a guide, stopping at some of the city’s most significant religious monuments. Gain new insight into the traditions of ancient Japan and get plenty of photo-taking opportunities as you visit a selection of its beautiful temples and shrines.
Begin your tour around midday continuing on to Osaka station for your rail journey to Kyoto. Climb aboard your included JR rapid service train for the trip to Kyoto station, where you’ll disembark and make a short walk to the city’s nearby Avanti to connect with your coach bus.
Start your Kyoto exploration by heading to the visually-striking Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine, a wildly colorful building bearing bright-red columns and a green roof. The interior of this beautiful structure is perhaps even more impressive, harboring a series of immaculate gardens and placid ponds.
Continue next to Sanjusangendo Temple on the eastern edge of Kyoto. This beautiful religious site, home to 1,001 statues of the Bodhisattva and built in the 13th century, is famous for being the longest wooden building in the entire country, spanning more than 394 feet (120m) in length. Spend around 30 minutes checking out this impressive temple before boarding your bus for the next stop.
Proceed next to the famous Kiyomizu Temple, stopping to browse the rows of pottery stores that line the streets leading up to the site. This elegant UNESCO World Heritage site, originally build in the 8th century, offers panoramic views of Kyoto and the surrounding area from its spacious terrace among the wooded hills and nearby Otowa waterfall.
Finish your Kyoto experience with a trip on the JR rail back to Osaka station, where you’ll make your own way back to your hotel.
