Kyoto Morning Tour - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace including Lunch

Enjoy the sights of Kyoto on this morning tour. Visit Nijo Castle, marvel at the gold covered Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion, walk through Kyoto Imperial Palace - The emperor's residence until 1868 and enjoy buffet lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, where you will also have the opportunity to make your own woodwork print.

Nijo Castle - The Kyoto Residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and gorgeous interiors.

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) - Kyoto's most popular temple is the home of perhaps the world's most authentic and exquisite Japanese Garden, as well as the celebrated Golden Pavilion.

Kyoto Imperial Palace - The ancient Imperial Palace clearly shows the Japanese taste for purity, simplicity and calmness. The residence of the Imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868. View the Shishinden Imperial state chamber where enthronement ceremonies took place.

Kyoto Handicraft Center -  Enjoy a buffet lunch and shopping at Kyoto Handicraft Center. Enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. It's also a paradise for shopping. After lunch, enjoy making your own woodblock print or cloisonne (of your choice) with assistance of the English-speaking staff  at the Handicraft Center.

Your tour will conclude at the Kyoto Handicraft Center where a free shuttle service is provided to major Kyoto hotels.

IMPORTANT: The Imperial Palace will be closed on April 22 and April 30, 2009. The Imperial Palace will be substituted with a visit to the Nishihonganji Temple. The Nishihonganji temple houses several national treasures and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Schedule details

Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion, Kyoto

Departure Point:

Tour departs from Kyoto New Miyako Hotel

OR

Selected hotels in Kyoto

Departure Time:

• 8.40am from Kyoto New Miyako Hotel
OR

• Kyoto Tokyu: 8.05am
• The Westin Miyako Kyoto: 8.00am
• Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto: 8.15am
• Kyoto Hotel Okura: 8.15am
• New Hankyu Kyoto: 8.25am
• Kyoto Tower: 8.35am
• ANA Hotel Kyoto: 8.45am
• Karasuma Kyoto Hotel: 8:25am
• New Miyako: 8.45am
• Hyatt Regency Kyoto: 8:35am
• Yoshi-ima: 8.10am

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, exact pickup time will be advised on reconfirmation.

Return Details:

Tour concludes at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. The Handicraft Center offers free shuttle services to major hotels at 3pm, after which a transfer service is available on request.

Pricing information

Click the link below for a price quote on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.

Additional information

Kyoto Morning Tour - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace including Lunch

Inclusions:

• Hotel pickup (from selected Kyoto hotels only)
• Transportation by Motorcoach
• Admission Fees
• Buffet lunch at soft drink from Kyoto Handicraft Center
• Woodblock print at the Handicraft Center
• English speaking guide
• Tax

Exclusions:

• Guided hotel drop-off. A free shuttle service is available from the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

Additional Information:

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
• You will be asked for your full name, nationality, gender and age to follow the necessary procedures before entering Kyoto Imperial Palace
• Not wheelchair accessible

Itinerary:

Nijo Castle: On Tuesday's in January, July, August and December when Nijo Castle is closed, the tour will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Ryoanji Temple is a temple of Zen Buddhism. Well known for its karesansui garden - a type of dry garden composed of 15 rocks over white sand. This garden is believed to represent the philosophy of Zen.

Kyoto Imperial Palace: On Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and some other days when Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed, the tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu instead. This shrine is known as the god of study. Many people go here to pray for success in passing school entrance examinations. "Ushi-san" (Mr. Cow), the familiar of the god of Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine, is always lying stretched out, and he seems quite content to be caressed by visitors. When supplications for improved academic performance and examination success are made, he is said to pass these on to the god of the shrine. That explains the presence of so many cows within the grounds of Kitano-Tenmangu. White cows, black cows, brindle cows, calves - all stand in readiness for the visitor. While originally the cow was the symbol of a good harvest, at some point it came to represent scholarship after being associated with Sugawara Michizane for so long. Not only that, but in the process of being rubbed by countless visitors praying for good health, this cow's body has been polished to a high gleam.

Note On June 25, September 25 & December 25, the tour visits Higashi Honganji Temple. Higashi Honganji (East Honganji) was built in 1602 as the head temple of the Otani faction. Its main hall is Kyoto's largest wooden structure. As one part of the headquarters of the two factions of Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land Sect), one of Japan's largest Buddhist sects, it is a place to experience a certain atmosphere of contemporary Japanese Buddhism.

Kyoto Handicraft Center Buffet Lunch Sample Menu

A variety of dishes are available from western and Japanese including:

• Western: Vegetarian curry, fried chicken, soup, pasta, fish, salad bar.
• Japanese: Mixed vegetable tempura, vinegar seasoned rice with vegetables, sauteed burdock flavoured with soy sauce, oden - vegetable cooked in soy sauce broth
• Dessert: Fruit, doughnuts, apple jelly, milk jelly
• Beverages: Varitey of soft drink, orange juice, grapefruit juice, peach juice, oolong tea, iced coffee, coffee, tea, hot cocoa

Terms and Conditions:

If you cancel at least 8 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 per cent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 per cent cancellation fee.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.