Things to do in Kinkakuji Temple

It was our 12th day in Japan, and all the previous days had been exhausting. I had wanted to do this tour on my own, but the kids weren't keeping up as well anymore. I decided to book this tour a day in advance, and it was the best decision. We visited several places without getting too tired or worn out, and the kids happily continued. We wouldn't have been able to see so much on our own. Our guide and driver were very kind!

Our tour guide, who could switch between Chinese, Japanese, and English, and also spoke Korean, made sure every group member was taken care of. It was a huge benefit not having to research the history and stories of each attraction ourselves. They offered pre-ordered lunch, which allowed us more time to explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple and its surroundings, and the food was quite good. The itinerary was well-paced for the limited time (however, this tour is not suitable for travelers who prefer to savor sights slowly or spend a lot of time taking photos, as the time allotted for Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine doesn't allow for walking the entire Senbon Torii path!). The tour bus was clean and tidy, and the ride was smooth and steady. I'm prone to motion sickness and usually sleep on buses, and I didn't wake up due to poor driving.

I had a great day in Kyoto! The itinerary was great and we managed to do and see so many things in one day. All of the activities were amazing and things i wanted to see and it was all really well organised and easy. I went as a solo traveller and if you’re looking for an easy day trip to Kyoto with no stress about transport and creating an itinerary then i highly recommend this tour!!! Our tour guide was great and super helpful and informative. Thank you :))

This tour was great, very punctual, and they complied 100% with what they offered. My guide "Effy" was super special; she explained everything super clearly, even with slides. Super recommended. Este tour fue genial, muy puntuales y cumplieron al 100% con lo que ofrecen, mi guía "Effy"super especial, explico todo super claro hasta con diapositivas.... super recomendado.

The tour experience is nice. Our tour guide CC introduced the background of attractions and Japanese history on the touring bus in a fun and comprehensive way, so we got to have much free time to explore attractions by ourselves. In addition, she also recommended some great and affordable restaurants to avoid tourist traps. Although going three attractions in a day is a bit tight to view deeply in the attractions, it’s worth for beginner travelers to enjoy the sights and vibes. Moreover, having a designated touring bus saved us lots of energy, husstle and time moving among attractions.

Here's an honest and straightforward review of three major attractions in Shiga Prefecture: Shirahige Shrine, Biwako Terrace, and La Collina Omihachiman. 1. Shirahige Shrine Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I left feeling a bit disappointed. The torii gate in the water is located across the road, making it dangerous to cross and difficult to appreciate properly from a distance. The shrine itself doesn't offer much to see, so it's best suited as a quick stop. 2. Biwako Terrace This was definitely the highlight of my trip. The panoramic view of Lake Biwa from the terrace cafe was truly spectacular, and I was most satisfied with being able to relax amidst the expansive scenery. 3. La Collina Omihachiman It was so crowded that it was hard to leisurely soak in the unique atmosphere. The signature dessert, the confectionery, also tends to be a hit or miss in terms of taste. However, the grass-roofed buildings and the garden views were beautiful, making it an excellent spot for taking photos.

The tour was convenient because transportation and the itinerary were already organized for us. We were able to see many places without worrying about navigating trains and buses ourselves. The only downside was that the schedule felt a little rushed, so I would have loved more time at each location.

Richard the tour guide was helpful and responsive. The tour included beautiful views in Amanohashidate. Chairlift and Sky Cycle were a surreal experience at Amanohashidate Viewland. Boat ride was a fun experience feeding the Seagulls and Kites at Ine Bay.

We had such a great day on this tour with Apple. Apple was great at giving information about each place before we arrived. We were provided with must see and visit recommendations to help us whilst exploring Arashiama on our own. All of the stops are beautiful. The tour itself was very efficient with just enough time in each place to see all the highlights. Would definitely recommend!