Kyoto Samurai and Geisha Town Private Walking Tour

In 1603, the shogun relocated his shogunate to Edo, present day Tokyo. Nijo castle was built as the castle where the shogun stayed when visiting Kyoto. Inside the castle, there are more than 1,000 gorgeous and unique pictures painted on sliding doors giving you an understanding of the powerful authority of the shogun. It was in this very castle that the last shogun declared to return the power to the Emperor in 1867, after 260 years of his family’s governance.The garden with bonsai-like figured pine trees and rocks in various shapes is outstanding.

This famous Zen temple built in 1397 by 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga shogunate is an icon of Samurai culture and one of must-sees in Kyoto. The combination of golden pavilion and its shiny reflection on the pond cannot help mesmerizing visitors.

In Kyoto, there are five Kagai (geisha districts), and Gion is the biggest one among those. Geishas are important part of traditional Japanese culture as they are well trained professional performers and succesors. Let’s stroll around Gion district where a row of beautiful, old-style houses are still preserved. If you are lucky enough, you may encounter Geiko or Maiko(apprentices) dressed in gorgeous kimono.

Situated in Gion area, this temple was founded by 3rd Shogun of Kamakura shogunate as the first zen temple in Kyoto. It dates back to 1202. There are two things here not to be missed. One is its dry garden designed by Kumakichi Kato in 1940 which expresses the wabi-sabi aesthetic sense in Japanese art centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The other is a picture of powerful twin dragons painted on the ceiling of the main hall as can be seen in other zen head temples too. They are believed to protect Buddhism. As the painting was so large, it took the painter Junpei Koizumi almost two years to complete it.