Kyoto Afternoon Tour – Heian Shrine Sanjusangendo Kiyomizu Temple

Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Kyoto including Nijo Castle

Explore the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Nara on a full-day tour from Kyoto. You\'ll tour Kyoto in the morning, enjoy a buffet lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, then take an afternoon tour of Nara\'s temples and shrines.

Known as the cradle of Japan\'s cultural heritage, Kyoto was Japan\'s capital and the emperor\'s residence from 794 until 1868. On your morning tour of the city you’ll see the main highlights of wonderful, culture-rich Kyoto, including Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogun. The castle was built in 1603 and is noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and gorgeous interiors.

You\'ll also visit Kyoto\'s most popular temple, Kinkakuji Temple, the home of perhaps the world\'s most authentic and exquisite Japanese garden, as well as the celebrated Golden Pavilion. At the ancient Kyoto Imperial Palace you’ll visit the former residence of the Imperial family, which clearly shows the Japanese taste for purity, simplicity and calmness. Here you\'ll also visit the Shishinden Imperial state chamber where enthronement ceremonies took place.

After lunch (free soft drinks included) and shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, you\'ll see demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts before traveling to Nara, in Japan\'s Kansai region. Nara was the country’s first permanent capital city, and has an abundance of Unesco World Heritage sites, including some of Japan\'s oldest Buddhist temples. You’ll visit the Todaiji Temple housing a great image of Buddha, colorful Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns, and the Deer Park, where tame deer freely roam and can be hand-fed.

Tour rate guide*
AUD $190.37
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Nara Afternoon Tour of Todaiji Temple Deer Park and Kasuga Shrine from Kyoto

Enjoy an afternoon visiting Nara. Due to its past as the first permanent capital of Japan, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan\'s oldest Buddhist temples. On this tour visit the Todaiji Temple - Huge temple housing Japan\'s largest Buddha statue, Deer Park - home to hundreds of freely roaming deer, and Kasuga Shrine - Nara\'s most celebrated shrine.

Japan\'s first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. As the influence and political ambitions of the city\'s powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784.

Nara is located in the Kinai plain, less than one hour from Kyoto. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan\'s oldest Buddhist temples.

Visit the Todaiji Temple, constructed in the 8th century, is one of Japan\'s most famous and historically significant temples. In it\'s huge precincts are various national treasures of Japan. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is one of the world\'s largest wooden buildings. One of Japan\'s best-known temples, it enshrines a gigantic bronze statue of Buddha. A wonder of religious architecture.

See over 1,000 tame deer roam freely in the verdant 1,250 acres peaceful park. If you wish to feed the deer, they will gladly eat from your hand. Special deer food is available for sale in the park grounds.

Tour concludes with a visit to Kasuga Shrine, the most famous and beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara, it features some 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns.

Travel by return coach to Kyoto.

Tour rate guide*
AUD $99.72
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Arashiyama and Sagano Morning Walking Tour

Stroll through rural bamboo groves and visit mountain temples outside Kyoto on this morning walking tour of the Sagano and Arashiyama districts. You\'ll experience the tranquil beauty of Japan\'s rural temples and gardens, and experience Japanese life outside the big cities.

Your morning walk begins at Sagano, northwest of the Kyoto Basin, with a stroll through the verdant Sagano Bamboo Grove surrounded by mountains in the greater area of Arashiyama.

Then it\'s on to Jojakkoji Temple, spectacularly located halfway up a mountain. Jojakkoji was the final home of Empress Dowager Kenrei-mon-in, a principal character in the Tale of the Heike, one of the most important works of classical Japanese literature. It is said to have been built as a nunnery, and has a history reaching back to the 6th century. The temple\'s principal treasure is a statue of the Jizo and a pagoda surrounded by Japanese maples.

Next you\'ll visit Tenryuji Temple, one of the head temples of the Rinzai Zen School and established in 1339 by Takauji, the first shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate. The temple is famous for its landscaped garden, which unlike the temple buildings has survived in its original form.

Finally, you\'ll take a walk over Togetsukyo Bridge (Crossing Moon Bridge). The present bridge was rebuilt in 1934 using steel but faithfully copying the structure of the original bridge.

Tour rate guide*
AUD $128.42
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