Kyoto Morning Tour: Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace

General information

Program details

This tour is recommended for those traveling to Kyoto for the first time as you will visit the most popular sightseeing spots all before noon! On this tour you will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. You will visit the World Heritage Site of Nijo Castle which boasts impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace, which are a must-see. Then, yo´ll see Kinkaku-ji Temple, with its beautiful golden Shariden (a building in which Buddha's ashes are enshrined), and see its elegantly beautiful garden. Finally, you will see the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was used as the Emperor's residence until about 150 years ago. After sightseeing at Kyoto Imperial Palace, the bus will stop by the lunch venue for the 1-day tour. After that, participants will be dropped off at Kyoto Station.

Nijō Castle - A flatland castle in Kyoto built in 1603 and consists of two concentric rings. The grounds house a renowned Japanese landscape garden, the Ninomaru Palace Garden

Kinkaku-ji Temple - Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, it was named Kinaku-Ji, meaning 'Temple of the Golden Pavilion', because of the famous Golden Pavilion, which was actually a pagoda built to house the sacred relics of Buddha.

Kyoto Imperial Palace - The palace, known historically as Dairi, was the residence of the Emperor and the establishment dates back to the year 794 during the Heian-kyo Relocation

Important Information

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed to visitors on the following days: Mondays (it is also closed on the following day if Monday is a national holiday) and whenever there is an Imperial Household event, so the tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead. If the closed day falls on the 25th, the tour will visit Nishi Hongan-ji Temple. 

Nijo Castle is closed on Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December. (It will also be closed on the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday). If closed, Ryoan-ji Temple will be visited instead.

The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations.

There will be no designated seats.