• Visit Higashiyama, Kyoto’s breathtaking historical district, in a traditional kimono. Walk along its cobblestoned slopes to discover Kiyomizu-dera, a striking temple complex built abreast a waterfall, then stroll beside geisha in the Gion district before finishing the tour in beautiful Yasaka Shrine — all the while learning about the history of this great area.
• ◆ Tour the most popular area in Kyoto with a nationally certified interpreter-guide
• ◆ Trek up to Kiyomizu-dera, a temple with over 1,250 years of history, best known for its overhanging stage overlooking the city
• ◆ Enjoy a truly serene moment in Kennin-ji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, founded by Eisai, the founder of Zen Buddhism
• ◆ Explore the brilliant vermillion red buildings of Yasaka Shrine
• ◆ Walk the streets of Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district
• ◆ Look around at the traditional shops, cafés and galleries that dot the Higashiyama district

Our first stop of the tour is the celebrated Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Built atop a cliff, Kiyomizu-dera is best known for its stage, which juts out as a large terrace off the mountainside. From this stage, you can see vast panoramic views of Kyoto and breathtaking sights of the many cherry and maple trees changing colors on the mountains. The temple, which means “Temple of Pure Water” in Japanese, sits beside a waterfall from which divine water is said to gush. This water, it is said, is believed to have sacred properties that will help you succeed in life. Kiyomizu-dera is so iconic in Japan that it has inspired a phrase: "To jump off the Kiyomizu-dera stage," which means to take on a challenge at great risk. The temple has a history going back to the 8th century, and it is Kyoto’s most visited UNESCO World Heritage Site.