[Kyoto] Kyoto Morning Chion-in Temple & Yasaka Shrine Tour with Traditional Breakfast

Before the tour buses arrive and the stone lanes fill with crowds, Kyoto belongs to the monks, the locals, and you. This morning walk begins at 6:30. First stop: Chion-in Temple — one of Japan’s grandest temples — where resident monks perform their daily chanting ritual, a practice continued here for centuries. From there, we visit Yasaka Shrine, serene and unhurried at this early hour, before settling into Maruyama Park for a traditional Japanese breakfast served in furoshiki cloth. The second half takes you deep into Higashiyama’s backstreets — Nene’s Path, Kōdai-ji, panoramic views over old machiya, Ninenzaka — finishing at Yasaka Pagoda as the city wakes around you. From there, Kiyomizudera is a short walk away. Small group. Unhurried pace. The Kyoto that most visitors never see.