Private tour in Kyoto Brian V
up to 6 people
3 hours 30 minutes
Public transportation
1
Brian V.
It is fair to say that I am not your typical tour guide. Among other things, this is evidenced by...
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Visitors to Japan are typically surprised to learn that the majority of the Japanese people practice both Buddhist and Shinto rituals. From a Western viewpoint, it seems incongruous, if not nearly heretical, to practice two religions at once. How do the Japanese do it? This tour is designed to examine this complex development from both a doctrinal and historical viewpoint. Why didn't Buddhism, with its sophisticated philosophy and doctrine of personal salvation, simply displace the indigenous, animistic Shinto belief in nature deities like the Sun Goddess or Inari, deity of agriculture? Why do Japanese typically get married in a Shinto ceremony but have their funerals at a Buddhist temple? And, of course, why do many Japanese young couples now have a Christian marriage ceremony even though neither the bride or groom are Christians! In short, this tour offers an in-depth understanding of religious practice in Japan today . Note: If you are only 1 or 2 persons, please contact me for a new quote.
From Kyoto Station we travel one stop south on the JR Nara line to Tofukuji station. From there it is a ten minute walk to Tofukuji, one of Kyoto's largest and most famous Zen monasteries. While viewing the monastery's famous dry landscape gardens, we discuss both the basic teachings of Buddhism and the distinctive teachings of the Zen sect. After visiting other monastic structures, including the massive Buddha Hall and main entrance gate, we visit a relatively small Shinto shrine located on the monastery's grounds. Here we begin our discussion of Shinto and how it came to be so closely connected to Buddhism. From Kofukuji we take a short 15 minute walk through a quiet neighborhood to the neighboring Fushimi Inari Shrine. Although it is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Kyoto, its grounds are so extensive it doesn't feel crowded. Among other things, we will walk through some of the one thousand brightly colored "torii gates" that line the Shrine's walkways. Inari train station is nearby.
Contact your local guide to know more!!
By train and on foot
Central Entrance, Kyoto, Kyoto, 600-8216 Japan
We meet in the lobby of the Grandvia Hotel located on the 2nd floor of Kyoto Station (up the escalator from the ground floor of the station).
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Book with a 20% deposit!
Size:
up to 6 people
Duration:
3 hours 30 minutes
Transportation:
Public transportation
1
Book with a 20% deposit!
Size:
up to 6 people
Duration:
3 hours 30 minutes
Transportation:
Public transportation
1
You will receive an email shortly with your booking and payment information.