Kyoto One Day Guided Private Tour
Sambi Temples' area and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (within 9hours)
Approximate Walking Distance: 7.5miles / 12km
This tour is available between March and November.
Contents:
1. Highlights
2. Itinerary
3. Tour Prices & Included/Not Included
4. Booking Conditions
5. How to Book
6. Payment Information & Cancellation Policy
7. Places you can visit in this tour
1. Highlights
The Sambi temples are located in the mountains and there are many (uneven) stone steps to once we get to the area by bus. The steps can be slippery during winter months (between December and February). Therefore, this tour is available between March and November for your safety.
【Important】
- During the peak season for the autumn foliage in November, the Sambi area usually becomes extremely crowded.
- We might have to keep standing while on the bus for about 50 minutes to get to the area. When coming back, the situation on the bus might be similar. (Taxi is another option but will be more costly than the bus and will be your additional expense.)
- To avoid the crowd (during the peak season) as much as possible, this tour starts earlier than other Kyoto tours presented by Kyoto MANSAI Tours.
In this tour, you can visit JIngo-ji Temple, Saimyo-ji Temple, Kosan-ji Temple and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto.
What are the "Sambi Temples"?
Jingo-ji, Saimyo-ji, and Kosan-ji temples are collectively known as the “Sambi temples”. “Sam (or San)” means “three”, “bi” is the Chinese character meaning “tail”, used for the addresses of these three temples in common, therefore “Sambi” literally means “three tails”. Please note that Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is not part of “Sambi” temples, but we can visit as part of this tour.
To read more about each place, please click here.
We will have lunch along the route of the tour (Not included in the tour price; please pay locally).
【Notes】
- This tour is private and guided: other guests outside your group will NOT participate the same tour. Maximum six people for each tour/group.
- The tour comprises of walking and the usage of public transport.
- Taxis are possible upon your request however it will be your additional cost.
- If one place is closed due to unexpected/safety reasons or because it is a closed day, we can visit somewhere else as equivalent as possible along/near the route of the tour.
2. Itinerary
Sometime between 7:00am and 8:00am (More accurate time will be informed; the meeting time varies depending on the month, the location of your accommodation) The guide will meet you in the lobby of your accommodation (within Kyoto city) as the starting point of the tour.
Star mark “★ “means it is designated as a UNESCO site.
- visit Jingo-ji Temple
- visit Saimyo-ji Temple
Lunch (Not included in the tour price)
- visit Kosan-ji Temple ★
- visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Between 4:00pm and 5pm (varies depending on the meeting/starting time of the tour.) Tour ends at Kyoto station.
3. Tour Prices & Included/Not Included
(1) Tour Prices
- If there are any children aged 11 years old or younger in your group, please make an inquiry to receive an estimate (A discounted price will apply). *The age on the date of the tour.
|
Total Number of person(s)in your Group |
Price Per Person (Tax included) 1day/ within 9hours |
|
Six (maximum) |
10,000 yen |
|
Five |
10,700 yen |
|
Four |
11,700 yen |
|
Three |
13,400 yen |
|
Two |
16,900 yen |
|
One (only you) |
26,200 yen |
(2) Included
- Entry/Admission fees
- Public Transportation fees
- Guiding fee
(3) Not included
- Meals and snacks
- Other costs incurred as a result of the request from the Client
- Travel Insurance *
* Kyoto MANSAI Tours recommends all the client shall have travel insurance before starting the tour, and this insurance should cover injury, emergency medical expenses, and other expenses that might arise as a result of inconveniences occurring to the client.
4. Booking Conditions
- If the client is traveling alone, he/she needs to be 20 years old or over to book this tour.
- If there is a traveler under 20 years old of age is in your group, he/she needs to be accompanied by his/her parent or guardian.
*The age of adulthood is 20 years old in Japan.
*The age mentioned here means the age on the date of the tour.
5. How to Book
Step 1: Inform your Requested Date for the Tour
- Please submit the following form to inform your requested date for the tour.
- Within 24 hours you will receive a response, which informs you whether the guide (Fumiko) is available OR not on your requested date. If you do not receive any response within 24 hours, please check your spam email folder or/and contact Kyoto MANSAI Tours again.
Step 2: Inform other necessary information
- When the day is secured for you, you will receive the link of the "Booking Form" by e-mail.
- In the Booking Form, you will be asked other necessary information.
- Please submit the Booking Form within 7 days you receive it.
Step 3: Pay the deposit / tour fare
- You will receive an invoice for the deposit / tour fare. To read when and how to pay the deposit / tour fare, please go to the following "Payment Information & Cancellation Policy" page.
6. Payment Information & Cancellation Policy
7. Places you can visit in this tour
Jingo-ji temple
Jingo-ji temple is well known for its magnificent autumn foliage in mid-November, and its green maples in Spring as well as in Summer.
Old Buddhist statues and buildings are also worth-seeing, although buildings are reconstructions. The principal image is the "Standing Statue of Yakushi Nyorai " or Medicine Buddha made of Wood, said to have been created between 10th and 14th centuries (exact year is unknown).
To get to this temple, we will walk up about 400 stone steps; and we will walk down the same steps when going to the next place.
Saimyo-ji Temple
Saimyo-ji Temple was founded in the 9th century, but the current temple buildings were reconstructed in around 18th century.
It houses old Buddhist statues of Shakyamuni, Thousand-Armed Kannon Boddhisattva, and Aizen-myo-o(deity of love).
Many people visit this temple to appreciate cherry blossoms in Spring and tinted maple trees in Fall, as well as beautiful stone lanterns near the temple gate.
Kosan-ji (also called Kozan-ji) Temple
Kosan-ji (also called Kozan-ji) Temple is a UNESCO site and was founded in the 13th century by Buddhist priest Myoe.
He was the first person to grow tea in Japan and it took place in this mountain area called “Togano-o”.
One of the buildings located within the temple ground is called ‘Sekisui-in’, also dating back to the 13th century, believed to have been used by Myoe as his study, considered to be a masterpiece of residential architecture. It can be a special experience for you to be able to go inside of the 13th-century National Treasure.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is famous all over Japan as a power-spot for academic achievement.
Many people who hope to improve their abilities and students who wish to get better grades go to this shrine from all over Japan to make a prayer.
There are over 1,500 plum trees and their blossoms bloom in late February at this shrine. In other months, visitors can appreciate the magnificent shrine buildings after making your wish.
There are 12,000 Temmangu shrines in entire Japan, and Kitano Temmangu Shrine is considered to be the most powerful - as it is the main shrine.
TO BOOK "Sambi Temples' area and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine" TOUR, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO "HOW TO BOOK" SECTION.