Private tour in Kyoto Akiko M
5.0
(11) reviews
7 hours
1
7 hours
1
Akiko M.
5.0
Guide rating
55
Reviews
Tours delivered
31 hrs
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Explore Japan's spirituality in Nara with me! Hello everyone, my name is Akiko. I'm a nationally licensed tour guide in Nara focusing on the Yamato area. Here, you can still feel the presence of the ancient spirits in the air as you enjoy Japan's seasonal natural beauty. Nara is famous as the ancient capital of Japan. Here, there are many historical UNESCO World Heritage sites. When the ancient capital was later moved to Kyoto (794 A. D. ) many sacred sites in Nara remained important and have been worshiped for over 1300 years. As I have experienced my own spiritual growth, both in and beyond Japan, I came to realize the true value of the spiritual heritage of Yamato, which is rarely explained to visitors in English. As we say in Japanese, 「温故知新」 or "Onko chishin". This means- if we want to learn about the future, we should consult the past. I believe history has much to teach us. True heritage is the spiritual teaching and wisdom of those who came before us. These are not religious, but universal teachings. In this sense, Yamato has a lot to offer. It is my passion, mission and honor to share what I've discovered about the long and rich cultural and spiritual history of Yamato. I truly hope you'll have the most memorable and meaningful trip ever as I guide you in Japan! I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter since 2009. As we travel through the town we will utilize public transportation, taxis or walking. I am not a driver, but I can arrange for a taxi and a driver for you.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Akiko M.
With over 1, 100 years of history, Kyoto is filled with cultural sites that attract millions of visitors every year. Most visitors only visit a handful of sites while there are here. As a result, if you only visit the "main attraction" you will spend your entire time in Kyoto surrounded by dense crowds. In this tour we will avoid the crowds and go to the some of the lesser known but very important cultural sites on the east side of Kyoto. As we enjoy traditional architecture, gardens, art, statuary, and good food your mind will be transported to a far away time where you can feel the deep energy of Kyoto.
We both had a wonderful day and enjoyed our time with Akiko very much. we learned a lot of Japanese history in general and Kyoto in particular. Akiko was warm, friendly and above all knowledgeable. She talked about so much of the beauty, the often brutal past and the incredible present. All questions were answered and she was most helpful with our planning for our additional time in Kyoto. In short, she was a top highlight of our 3.5 week trip to Japan.
Akiko was excellent. Very friendly, knowledgeable and happy to adjust plans to suit our ever changing requirements. Her deep connection with Kyoto made the day very enjoyable.
I booked two half days and one full day tour with Akiko for my boss and she had the most amazing experience. She stated that Akiko had such warm hospitality and learned so much during her time in Kyoto! Thank you for making her time in Kyoto the highlight of her trip to Japan!
I asked Akiko if she could help us do a whirlwind tour of Kyoto as we only had a day to spend in the city and we wanted to see as much as we could. Akiko was amazing at putting the day together and working with us to get in everything we wanted. We never felt rushed and she was always communicating on options for things to do next. She was amazing with our kids (aged 15, 13, & 10) and kept them engaged in everything that we saw. She even made them personalized calligraphy of Japanese words while we ate lunch (at an incredible restaurant she found for us). By the end of the day we wished we could spend another day with Akiko in Kyoto because we wanted to continue to see so much more with her.
Kyoto is a place of incredible beauty! But if you need a break from the big crowds at the big attractions, Akiko's Hidden Highlights tour is the perfect answer! Places like Eikando and Heian Jingu have to be seen to be believed. And there's nothing quite like walking down a hall full of 1,001 life-sized golden Buddha statues. And when our last stop of the day was unexpectedly closed, Akiko had a back-up plan ready to go and treated us to the serenity of Tofuku-ji Temple instead. Akiko's knowledge of and enthusiasm for Kyoto are genuine, and we had a wonderful day with her!
This tour exceeded our expectations! Akiko is very knowledgeable about history and the area. We felt as if we were spending an afternoon with an old friend while learning much about the local culture and customs!
● Meet at Higashiyama Station (Tozai Line). We will then take about a 10 minutes taxi ride to Eikando. ● Visit Eikando. Known for it's beautiful architecture, gardens, and art, this temple is usually very quiet and offers us a chance to get close to nature. ● Walk to Shirakawain. This traditional inn has a small but beautiful garden that we can walk through and enjoy peaceful moments away from the crowds. ● Walk to Heian Jingu. Heian Jingu is one of the most important shrines in all of Kyoto. Here we will explore Heian period architecture and gardens. ● Lunch ● We will then take a 15 minute taxi to Sanjusangendo and explore the 1, 0001 golden Buddha statues in this temple hall. ● Walk to the Kawai Kanjiro Memorial House. This former home of a well known artist is filled with wonderful art from the mid 1900's.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
We will take a couple of short taxi rides during this tour, but mainly walking.
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Higashiyama Station (Kyoto city subway,Tozai Line) or in the guest's hotel lobby
English
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7 hours
1
7 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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