Passeios por Sanzen-in Temple

We thoroughly enjoyed this day trip filled with serene shrines, peaceful temples, natural beauty, and some touristy shopping and food at the end of the tour. Our guide Hide, was friendly and knowledgeable and he got us everywhere safely and on time. We would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see these major sites and attractions without having to worry about the transportation.

Bringing children to Japan for summer vacation, there are many places we want to visit, but transportation requires planning, and without a guide, we might not understand anything after a tour. I've never joined a one-day tour or similar travel groups in China, so I tried this with an open mind, and it truly deserves a five-star review! This package is really great and affordable (I never expected something so good to be so cheap). The guide is a very enthusiastic Chinese person with permanent residency in Japan. The entire bus journey was very comfortable, and along the way, the guide shared a lot about the customs and culture of Japan over the many years they've lived there, which was very insightful. Many thanks to guide Wu Shifeng, who was excellent and very professional, with no hidden costs! We visited classic Kyoto landmarks in one day, and the pace was just right! Highly recommended! Everyone, go for it with confidence!

The Floating Shirahige Shrine Torii Gate and the Mangetsu-ji Ukimido, floating on Lake Biwa, are quite unique and beautiful. La Collina's grass-roof pavilion in Omihachiman also has a somewhat fairytale-like feel, and their Baumkuchen is worth trying. The only downside was that after several days of heavy rain, the Biwako Valley Ropeway we were supposed to take was under maintenance, so we went to Sanzen-in Monzeki instead. Fortunately, the temple was tranquil and a good place to purify the mind. The guide, Mr. Roman, was a courteous, thoughtful, and responsible person. He maintained accurate time management, provided brief introductions and reminders before reaching each attraction, and thoughtfully catered to the needs of every member of the group. It was a valuable experience.

If you're planning a leisurely trip to Kyoto, one that isn't rushed and allows you to deeply experience the beauty of Kyoto's mountains, forests, and ancient temples, I truly highly recommend this tour! 🌿 I especially want to give a strong recommendation to tour guide Wang Zhaoyu! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you only speak Chinese, there's absolutely no need to worry. Mr. Wang speaks Chinese very fluently, and his professionalism was evident from the day before the meeting. The day before, I couldn't find the meeting point, so I called the guide on a whim, and to my surprise, he not only answered immediately but also patiently helped me step-by-step. This level of service alone deserves a five-star rating! Throughout the entire trip, Mr. Wang's explanations were clear, and he was friendly and approachable. His driving skills were also incredibly impressive; despite being very prone to motion sickness, I didn't feel sick at all. His driving was smooth and comfortable, allowing everyone to safely enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. The itinerary was also excellent, very suitable as an introductory tour for these attractions. It not only allows you to quickly understand the characteristics of each spot but also helps you identify which places best suit your preferences. If you find a particularly favorite spot, you'll have a better direction for planning a deeper, self-guided exploration next time. For a one-day tour, this pace is very comfortable, suitable for companions who walk slower, with ample time reserved at each attraction to experience the charming blend of Kyoto's mountains, ancient temples, and streams. It's a route I highly recommend. 🍃 Nanzen-ji Temple boasts a solemn and ancient temple atmosphere, complemented by the famous Suirokaku aqueduct, where history and nature perfectly merge, offering different charms in each season. Eikan-do Temple is renowned for its autumn foliage, and although this wasn't the maple leaf season, the tranquil and elegant garden still had a unique charm, each with its own beauty. 🍃 Sanzen-in Temple is filled with a strong sense of Zen, with its quiet and healing moss garden. Strolling through it instantly calms the mind. This time, I was also lucky enough to catch an exhibition by Professor Kumiko Minami (on its last day), adding an unexpected surprise to the trip. 🚃 Although the Eizan Electric Railway (Takaragaike Station – Kurama Station) doesn't have the spectacular autumn maple tunnel, the summer's lush green mountains and the fresh, healing scenery along the way showcase another kind of vibrant Kyoto landscape. ⛩️ What's most unforgettable about Kifune Shrine are the red lanterns neatly arranged on both sides of the approach, looking especially dreamy against the green backdrop. Although I didn't experience Kawadoko cuisine this time, just seeing the Kawadoko landscape built along the stream deeply conveyed the unique charm of Kyoto's summer. Overall, this was a relaxed, stress-free, in-depth trip to Kyoto, where there was no constant rushing, but rather a genuine opportunity to slow down and experience the beauty created by the intertwining of mountains, ancient temples, and streams. If you're still hesitating whether to join, I truly recommend choosing tour guide Wang Zhaoyu; he is professional, friendly, meticulous, and reliable, and will definitely enhance your Kyoto trip!

Thanks to our tour guide Xiaoyu, who was incredibly helpful. The area around Lake Biwa is perfect for a leisurely exploration, and first-time visitors on a group tour can hit the major attractions. Before heading to the top of Mount Biwa, prepare a thick jacket and enough cash. The scenery at the summit is like a fairyland, but it's also very cold. Tourists accustomed to swiping Alipay everywhere for taxis and subways in big cities should still prepare some cash when visiting less-traveled spots; I exchanged some with the guide. It's good that Japan doesn't constantly demand exorbitant tips like the US, nor does it aggressively push sales like some domestic destinations. Very professional and well-regulated.

Casper is amazing! He's the best tour guide I've ever had on multiple tours. All four Lake Biwa spots we visited on this trip were beautiful, and I highly recommend this tour to everyone! I look forward to joining another tour during the snowy season or autumn foliage next time!

This is a meaningful tour visiting four locations: Shirahige Shrine, Sanzen-in Temple, Mangetsuji Temple, and La Collina. I chose it to see Shiga Prefecture, which is not well-known in the Kinki region, and it was great to see the magnificent Lake Biwa, which is quite large. Sanzen-in Temple, included as an alternative to the Lake Biwa Terrace during the winter season, unfortunately turned out to be a temple located in Kyoto Prefecture. Personally, I would prefer a schedule that only includes attractions in Shiga Prefecture, excluding Sanzen-in. It seems that an image upgrade is needed for Shiga Prefecture tours. Unfortunately, the tour bus (18-seater) was old and fully booked with no empty seats, so if you ended up in a bad seat, you had to endure the discomfort of a long journey.

Great weather all day. Got to see some beautiful sights, though if I'd known Biwako Valley would be so cold up there, I would've brought my jacket. Anyways thank you for being patient with me. seemed like I was the naughty one in this group tour😅and I really appreciate the guide Peter for taking photos, it meant a lot to us which is why I give 5 stars. The weather was great, and I saw some beautiful scenery. Also, I'm very grateful to our guide Peter for helping us take photos; it made us very happy.