Transfer to Kyoto on Your Own (tickets from Odawara to Kyoto included):
You need to go to Kyoto by train this morning. We will reserve the train tickets from Odawara to Kyoto for you in advance. Please check out of the hotel one hour ahead of the train’s departure time. Ask the hotel staff to reserve a taxi in advance at your own cost, taking you to the Odawara Station in 20 minutes. From here, take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. Sometimes it may need to transfer at Nagoya Station. Please rest assured that our guide will inform you of the details in advance. The whole journey takes about 3 hours this morning.
Kyoto Essence TourUpon arrival in Kyoto, you will be met at the train station by our local guide, who will first escort you to the hotel within walking distance for check-in. Drop off your luggage, and then the guide will accompany you on a short taxi ride to the
Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple). Here, in addition to the Buddhist architecture, you will marvel at the traditional Stage of Kiyomizu built on the hillside. From below, you can see this huge wooden stage without a single nail. Climb up the stage, and you can get a panoramic view of Kyoto.
After the visit, our guide will lead you to start a
Gion walking tour. Stroll from
Sannenzaka to
Ninenzaka, both of which are bustling ramped pedestrian streets lined with traditional Japanese architecture, teahouses and souvenir stalls. Walk all the way to the
Maruyama Park, a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, where you can see a huge weeping cherry tree that are more than 200 years old. Visit the
Yasaka Shrine and then enter Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, where you might happen to see a dressed geisha walking past. If time permits, the guide will lead you to the nearby
Kennin-ji Temple to admire its beautiful murals before escorting you to the Gion Corner Theater for a traditional geisha performance.
★
Enjoy Geisha Show at Gion CornerNo visit to Japan is complete without seeing a geisha performance. We will specially arrange a wonderful geisha show for you at a famous local theater. Dressed in kimonos, with delicate makeup and elegant manners, these geishas or maikos (apprentice geishas) specialize in traditional dance of the Kansai region, offering a great feast of Japanese culture and crafts.
► Instead of an informal show in a small teahouse on a regular tour, our luxury tour arranges this prestigious theater for our distinguished guests to enjoy a formal geisha performance.
► VIP tickets for premium seats in front rows will be arranged for you, allowing an up-close experience.
► Watch seven authentic traditional art performances in one go, including Kyomai dance, ikebana flower arranging, tea ceremony, koto music, bugaku dance, Kyogen comedy, and bunraku puppet show.
► Tip: After taking you to the theater, our guide will leave. After the show, you can walk around Gion to enjoy the night view and then take a taxi for 10 minutes back to the hotel at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station (4 stars) or The Thousand Kyoto (5 stars)
► Lunch & Dinner Suggestions: (on your own expense)
The Nishiki Market, in the heart of Kyoto, is a proper place for lunch recommended by many gourmets; while the Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Gion areas are full of snack bars that are good for dinner. Our guide will be willing to give you advice on what and where to eat. You can try dango dumplings, matcha ice cream, tempura, croquette or other local food.