Things to do in Rurikō-in Temple

It is incredible. Not only do they explain what sumo is, but they make you feel and experience it. The staff is very attentive and fluent in multiple languages, and the wrestlers are very nice and fun. I had a great time and had the opportunity to observe and try to move a professional sumo wrestler.

The experience was fun for the whole family. It wasn't too difficult to shave the wood, even for my 8 yr old. We chose Sugi, Walnut, Sakura, and Purple Heart. Victor K. was very helpful, professional, and patient. He provided clear instructions and helpful hints to make the beautiful chopsticks. You can tell he truly enjoys the craft of making chopsticks. The personalized engraving was a fun extra we all loved.

I had an absolutely wonderful experience today. I learned so much about the history of matcha, which was unexpected. The hosts were friendly and spoke great English. I will definitely visit them again on my next trip to Kyoto.

Ash and Wil guided us perfectly through this knife-making workshop. They demonstrated great knowledge of the technique and were attentive at every step to ensure our knives turned out perfectly. It was a wonderful activity and a lasting memory; now, every day when we cook, Japan will be in our thoughts.

One of the BEST experiences of our Japan trip! From arrival, everyone was kind, patient and welcoming. We were three generations: my mom, me and my 4-year-old daughter, and they found matching kimonos for ALL of us! My mom and I are plus-size, and we had beautiful options without needing the ¥5,000 celebratory upgrade. They even had my daughter’s size and gave her a sweet little add-on. We also booked the 60-minute photography session directly through the kimono shop, and DO IT! 📸 Our photographer was amazing. He posed and directed us, chose beautiful locations, and captured individual, mother-daughter and three-generation photos. It was HOT, we needed restroom breaks, and we had a 4-year-old, but he was incredibly patient and never made us feel rushed. Just LOOK at these photos! We left with more than vacation pictures; we have family keepsakes we’ll treasure forever. 👘💕

Our guide Ms Shion was amazing! She is very enthusiastic and engaging. The walk covers quite a lot at a good pace but we didn’t spot any maikos or geishas which was my main objective. I wonder if the route could be reversed so there’s a higher chance of spotting the talented artistes at the the Queen of Geisha district?

A lovely and authentic experience. We learned the proper way to prepare matcha and gained a better understanding of the meaning and traditions behind the tea ceremony. Wearing the traditional Japanese kimono made the experience even more special and memorable. Highly recommended!

Very fun and informative experience, the staff is friendly and helpful. The host is charismatic and the experience of watching a live sumo show is priceless!! Recommended!! By the way they include drinks so you can enjoy the show and not worry about those yourself

Aye was an absolutely amazing tour guide at Nijo Castle! He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so many fascinating details about the castle, its history, and features that we never would have noticed on our own. I had previously visited Nijo Castle without a guide, and I can honestly say that this experience was 100% better. I learned so much and walked away with a completely new appreciation for the castle and its history. On top of being an excellent guide, Aye was incredibly thoughtful and attentive. When it started to rain during our tour, he even offered to get umbrellas for us! It was such a kind gesture and really showed how much he cares about the people on his tours. I cannot recommend Aye enough. If you’re visiting Nijo Castle in Kyoto, having him as your guide makes the experience so much more meaningful and memorable. Thank you, Aye, for such a wonderful tour!