Uji, Home of Green Tea and a Buddhist Paradise - Kyoto Environs Half Day Tour

I was so thrilled that we found Brian and were able to take multiple tours with him (four days in total) throughout our stay in Kyoto. My husband and I are both artists with a deep interest in sacred art and architecture, and we wanted to better understand the religious ideas that gave rise to the extraordinary temples and shrines in and around Kyoto. Brian was a font of knowledge, helping us understand the histories and dynamics of each place we visited, including the fascinating relationship between Buddhist and Shinto practices, the contrasting beliefs of the various Buddhist sects, and the interplay of religion and politics throughout Japanese history. At every turn, Brian’s commentary provided insights that deepened what we saw and experienced. Not only was he a wonderful and patient teacher, but he was also generous, funny, and genuinely a joy to spend time with. He made our visit to Kyoto unforgettable, and we will never forget him. If what you are after is simple sightseeing and photo opportunities, Brian’s tours might not be for you. But if you are interested in understanding the religious concepts and practices that have shaped Japanese history, art, and culture, I cannot recommend him highly enough. Each tour with Brian was wonderful and deserving of recognition in its own right, so please forgive me for posting versions of this review multiple times. I honestly can’t recommend one tour over another because they were all exceptional. I do, however, strongly recommend discussing your interests and preferences with Brian beforehand, as we did, so he can thoughtfully tailor the experience to your personal interests.

Brian was our tour guide for the day, our day started off on time very pleasant and very knowledgeable man which enhanced our experience that much more. The sites and land scapes were beautiful. None of the sites on the tour were crowded, which we appreciated. Brian's knowledge made this tour "come alive" for us. Brett & Michelle

Exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly guide who seems to know everything there is to know about Japanese history and the history of Buddhism. If you are looking to actually learn about the places you are visiting, drop what you are doing and hire Brian right now. You won’t regret it.

It was a joy to be guided by Brian. He is an unique individual, both a professor and a zen meditation priest. We learned so much from him, not just about Japaneses religion, but also about the nature of religion and humanity. But what we appreciated even more than his knowledge, is his sweet, loving nature. His mastery of zen meditation shines through his personality.

We loved every second of the tour! Brian is a great guide and showed us the beauty of Uji. We enjoyed learning about animism and the development of religions and Shinto and Buddhism very much. This tour was a highlight of our stay in Japan for all of us.

I was very happy with my tour in Uji with Brian and throughly enjoiyed my time with him. He challenged my knowledge of Japanese culture and religious traditions from a different point of view and this really made my tour in Uji all the more interesting. If you are looking for a guide that will not only tell you about the story of the temples and the architecture, then Brian is the one for you. I just wish there had been even more time to explore Uji and its surroundings.