One of the most rewarding places to visit in Kansai, Kōya-san provides a delightful window into Japan's Buddhist culture in a spectacular natural setting. Gain a better understanding for the religious practices of the Shingon school of Buddhism on a private Koyasan tour with a friendly and knowledgeable local guide.

Consider spending a quiet night in one of Koyasan's temple lodgings. The tranquility you'll find here makes it worth spending a night away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Osaka. In Koyasan's lovely mountain setting, your guide will introduce you to the mergings and diversions of Shinto and Buddhism as you visit the temples of Kongobuji and Garan. Your guide will also introduce you to the region's vegetarian specialities, such as goma tofu, and also suggest great places to experience more of the local cuisine.

See what interests <i>you</i> most in Koyasan - whether it's history, contemporary religious practices, nature or gastronomy - on your private Koyasan tour.

Koyasan

Let's explore Osaka. This tour traverses the city from north to south as we hop subway lines like a local. 

We will start in trendy Nakazakicho, home to the most second-hand shops in Osaka, and the site of the city's oldest remaining buildings, then go deeper into Osaka's history with a trip to the museum and then the first Buddhist temple in Japan, Shitennoji.  

Our final stop is in the glittering district of Shinsekai, framed by the iconic Tsutentaku tower and filled with the delicious snacks Osaka is famous for. 

See the sights of Osaka

History, Culture &amp; Food: Half Day Osaka Exploration

Osaka Architectural Highlights Walking Tour

Osaka, the host city of Expo 2025 (World's Fair), has been a commercial and transportation center for western Japan for a long time. It's so vibrant, colorful, full of character, and worth a visit! You will love Osaka's laid-back culture, exceptional food, and friendly people.

We will visit iconic monuments and buildings to see how Osaka grew in significance historically and how locals enjoy the modern city.

The variety is what makes Osaka fun! From one of the foremost stone wall constructions built in the 17th century, a beautiful Buddist pagoda, a uniquely designed highrise complex that made the "top 20 buildings around the world" list, to Osaka's Times Square, you will experience a lot of different aspects of the city.

Why don't you join me? You might start considering staying in Osaka for another night!

Experiencing Osaka through Modern and Historical Architectures With a Local Guide

I was born and raised in Osaka, which is the city that shares the border with Nara but most of my elementary and middle school trips were destined to Nara, just like thousands of other schools in Japan do because Nara is where you can feel what Japanese tradition is without complicated explanations.

The tallest buddha statue generously smiling at me, in a biggest wooden hall with the scent of incense. Tranquil forested path full of moss-covered stone lanterns. Sacred deer freely roaming in the foot of the mountain.
All of these experiences were stuck in my head as a child and they gave me an idea of what our tradition is about despite the fact that I was one of those children who didn't mind history and religion and even hoped it was a trip to somewhere fancier like Disneyland.
More or less, the ideas of tradition we felt in Nara stay in our childhood memory and the more I learn about the tradition, the more it brings me back to Nara.

So if you want to experience the tradition, Nara is the perfect place!

Round trip ticket fee for Limited Express on the Kintetsu Line.

Experience the tradition and feel the atmosphere of the ancient imperial capital

Discover beautiful and mesmerizing Nara - Walking tour with locals

History and Architecture of Osaka - Walking tour with locals

Architecture is a living witness of history. Every time I stand in front of the huge stonewalls in Osaka castle, it gets me back to the chaotic civil war that happened in the 15th century right here at this location, which by the way one of my mother's side of the family's ancestors participated as a Samurai general!

In the process of Japan's modernization, there was a dramatic story of people who struggled between tradition and innovation.
When I first visited Tekijuku, which is the second destination of this tour, it was in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. Stepping into the rooms where young enthusiastic pathologists used to learn cutting edge western medicine to prevent smallpox was pretty impressive and this site became my favorite to introduce to the travelers.

At the end of the tour, I will introduce a significant western-style architecture in downtown Osaka. What was the reason that Japan rushed for westernization so much after the political transformation in the 19th century? Let's find out!

Yoshino tours

Explore with 4 tours and 3 guides.

Felicity Maree

$ 286 (USD)

Madoka H.

$ 278 (USD)

Lisa W.

$ 559 (USD)

Lisa W.

$ 338 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Yoshino

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