Visit Kyoto's Amazing Zen Gardens in a Private Half Day Tour
Overview
Visit some of the most beautiful gardens of the Kyoto temples, have Matcha tea while watching the gardens and feel the "wabi-sabi" concept. We will also tell you the secret of enjoying Japanese gardens and meditation practices.
Highlights
- Enjoy tea time.
- Visit some of the most beautiful gardens in Kyoto.
- Try short meditation.
- Visit nearby temples and shrines.
- Do what locals do.
Key Information
Description
This is a private half-day tour. If you're a nature lover and want to immerse yourself in rustic tranquility, this tour is a must! Japanese gardens are traditional gardens that create miniature idealized landscapes, often in a highly abstract and stylized way. The gardens of the Buddhist temples were designed for contemplation and meditation. I can also tell you the secret of enjoying Japanese gardens and meditation practices. Itinerary: 9:00 Meet in front of "Kyoto Tourist Information Center 京なび (JR Kyoto Station,2nd floor). Move to Tofukuji JR Station (one stop) Walk to Tofukuji Temple through the beautiful Gaun bridge. Enter to Tofukuji Temple's "Honbo Ｇarden" designated as a National Site of Scenic Beauty. The gardens arranged at the four quarters are designed by Mirei Shigemori (a famous garden builder who expresses the simplicity of Zen with the abstract construction of modern arts). Walk to Unryuin Temple passing by Sennyuji Temple. (the family temple of the imperial family) Along the way, you'll see a magunificent 10 meters Buddha statue aged about 800 years. Enter to Unryuin Temple (a subtemple of Sennyuji Temple). Try a short meditation while watching the garden. Feel your inward thoughts through 2 windows: "the Window of Delusion" and "the Window of Enlightenment". Enjoy Matcha tea with seasonal sweets viewing the garden. 12:30 End the tour If you have time, you can visit "Fushimi Inari" grand shrine after the tour - it's only one stop from JR Tofukuji Station or Keihan Tobakaido Station.