Things to do in Kinkakuji Temple

If you're traveling a big international trip like we did and were a little nervous trying to figure out all the train systems this is a great option! We based in Osaka for a few days and wanted to see Kyoto and Nara while we were here. We figured we'd be a little overwhelmed trying to get over to Kyoto/Nara so we last minute decided to book a bus tour to the big spots we wanted to see. This was such a great tour! Harid was our tour guide and he was fabulous! You coukd tell he loved what he did. He was always willing to answer our groups questions and keep us informed of each next stop and expectations. We didn't book the lunch but he gave us a good recommendation of where to eat while the rest of the group did the lunch included. He even helped take photos for everyone when needed.

We had a wonderful one-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara with Harry Qiu from Wish Travel. He arrived promptly, tailored the itinerary to our needs, and gave us time to enjoy Nara and Kyoto at our own pace. We visited Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto and the surrounding areas. Harry also accommodated our last-minute request for my daughter to wear a traditional kimono, bringing us to a shop with beautiful options and reasonable prices. Despite our limited time, he found a charming, less-crowded shrine nearby for a memorable photoshoot. His driving was safe and comfortable, and he communicated fluently in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Friendly, flexible, and knowledgeable, Harry made our trip truly special. We highly recommend Harry Qiu to anyone seeking a personalised tour of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara.

if you feel stuck in Kyoto and not sure where to start your adventure, this tour is definitely worth every penny. Anson was very friendly, insightful with his tour and made sure that everyone was accounted for by the end of each tour. Totally worth it 👌

Fantastic tour. Our guide, Jack, was incredibly thoughtful and well-organized. He kept us informed with group reminders, shared meeting points and bus details ahead of time, gave great background on each stop, and recommended excellent local food. Everything ran smoothly, highly recommended

This trip to Kyoto was truly an amazing experience! 🥰 A special thank you to our tour guide, David, who was extremely attentive and patient throughout the entire journey. Not only did he seamlessly switch between Chinese and English for his explanations, but he also provided detailed introductions to the history, culture, and unique features of each attraction. This ensured we didn't just passively sightsee, but genuinely understood the stories behind every place. Throughout the trip, he thoughtfully reminded everyone of important details, and the itinerary was so smoothly arranged that we felt completely at ease and relaxed. This journey allowed us to enjoy Kyoto's beautiful scenery while gaining a wealth of cultural knowledge and wonderful memories. I am so grateful to have had such a professional and dedicated tour guide! I highly recommend this tour, and thank you, David, for helping us create such unforgettable memories of Kyoto! ❤️

Our guide Louis was extremely kind. Even though it was a day for English and Chinese-guided tours and we were the only Korean couple, he kindly guided us in Korean and even sent explanations via KakaoTalk, so we had a very comfortable and pleasant trip. Not to mention the scenery and our overall satisfaction haha. Thank you once again. Highly recommended a million times!

I had an amazing experience on this trip! ❤️ Everything was well organized, the places were beautiful, and I enjoyed every moment. A special shoutout to our guide, Apple 🍎, who was incredibly sweet, friendly, and helpful throughout the journey. She made the whole experience even more enjoyable with her lovely personality and positive energy. 🥰 Highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Japan. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip! 🇯🇵✨

Actually, I had already been to all three spots on this itinerary, and I had visited Uji just two months ago. However, revisiting old places has a different charm. This tour turned out to be unexpectedly small, with only six participants, plus the driver, Xiao Ge, and the tour guide, Tina. I was the only Chinese-speaking tour member, so Tina really worked hard. After explaining everything in English, she would explain it all over again in Chinese. Although I understood most of the English, hearing things in my native language always gives me a more precise understanding. Nowadays, these one-day tours use various messaging apps. Tina would explain the next itinerary and introduce the destination on the bus ride there, using a tablet to show photos and maps. She was very dedicated and attentive. She would then send all this information to the messaging apps (LINE, WhatsApp, WeChat) so you could check it or use it for navigation during your free time. She would also announce the meeting times here. Everyone was extremely punctual on this tour; not a single person kept the group waiting at any of the stops 👍. My personal habit when traveling independently in Japan is to usually join one or two tours per trip to catch up on some sightseeing spots I might have missed. This guided tour experience ranks as the absolute best out of the ten or twenty times I've done it 🥇. Thank you, tour guide Tina, thank you driver Xiao Ge, and thank you to the fellow group members.

Last time, I visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, so this time I went to places I hadn't seen before. It was just before a long holiday, so there weren't many people, and it was wonderfully peaceful and quiet! When you actually see it, it's not so much 'Wow, that's amazing!' but rather beautiful scenery, the path you walk while admiring that scenery, various photos taken at photo spots, and an unexpected seagull zoo feeding (making eye contact with seagulls and hawks). I didn't have high expectations, but it was fun! The only downside is that the travel time is a bit long if you depart from Osaka! However, our guide, MICA, explained many things about Japan so well and took such beautiful photos that I even changed my KakaoTalk profile picture for the first time in a while! 😄