Book Tour

Gion, Kennin-ji Temple, Yasaka Shrine Walking tour

price/head

JPY 12,000/head

Minimum Participants

2

Duration

3 hours

Meeting time/place

9:30AM / Good Nature Hotel Lobby (4F)

Breakup time/place

12:30PM / East gate of Yasaka Shrine

Gion is one of Kyoto’s flower districts(Maiko and Geiko districts). Its main street, Hanamikoji Street, is one of the most popular places to experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital of Kyoto. On both sides of the cobblestone street, traditional ryotei (Japanese-style restaurants) and modern restaurants that blend Japanese and Western styles in old buildings line the street, creating an aesthetic balance between the old and new that is unique to Kyoto. In addition, one step off the street leads to a back street where you can enjoy the local atmosphere of Kyoto with its less crowded streets. If you are lucky, you may meet Maiko or Geiko.

Kennin-ji Temple, built in 1202, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious Zen temple in Kyoto. In the main temple building, there are three different types of gardens, including a Karesansui (Dry Landscape Garden), where you can feel the relationship between Zen and nature and the universe. The temple is also rich in fascinating Buddhist culture, with its magnificent architecture, the Wind and Thunder Gods screens, and the twin dragon paintings on the ceiling of the 108-tatami in Dharma hall, which are the size of 108 tatami mats. As the temple’s founder, Yosai, promoted tea and tea culture, you can visit these remains. An interpreter-guide will explain the relationship between samurai, Zen, and the tea ceremony while guiding you through the temple.

Also called Yasaka Pagota, Tower of Yasaka, or Yasaka-no-tou, this five-story pagoda (Important Cultural Property) has a beautiful shape and is a landmark of Kyoto. At 46 meters tall, it is the 3rd tallest five-story pagoda after the Toji Temple and Kofukuji Temple, and is built in the pure Japanese style with a hon-gawara roof. After Prince Shotoku built the pagoda at the end of the 6th century, it was repeatedly lost and rebuilt due to wars and lightning strikes.nThe present pagoda was rebuilt in the mid-15th century.

Maruyama Park, famous for its cherry blossoms as represented by the u0022Gion Shizarezakurau0022 (weeping cherry trees), is the oldest park in Kyoto City, having opened in 1886. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature in each of the four seasons: the entire park is tinted green in summer, the leaves turn red in autumn, and the snowy landscape is beautiful in winter. The Japanese garden in the center of the park is a garden with a pond and a circular path around it, with the magnificent nature of Higashiyama as a backdrop. At the back of the garden is a valley-like landscape, with a stream running through it, and lush vegetation, making it one of Kyoto’s hidden healing places that are not frequented by many people.

Yasaka Shrine, located in Gion, which has protected the east side of Kyoto, is a beautiful and historic representative shrine of Kyoto, next to Maruyama Park. It is the headquarters of a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, an important god in Japanese mythology, and is believed to bring good luck in the eradication of epidemics and good health. The beautiful vermilion torii gate marking the entrance to the shrine and the guardian dogs on either side of the gate are very impressive. Visitors can tour the beautiful grounds and various buildings, including the main shrine and the hall of worship. It is also famous for the Gion Festival, one of the most famous festivals in Japan, held in July. You can also buy omikuji (fortune) and various amulets.