Kyoto’s Northwest Path

Itinerary (customizable):
Ryōanji Temple
Kinkakuji Temple
Kitano Tenmangū Shrine
Kamishichiken Geisha District

Description:
In this tour we will be visiting the world’s most famous rock garden at Ryōanji Temple before we take thebu s over to Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion where we stroll through the garden cosmos. We then head over to Kitano Tenmangu shrine which has a long and intriguing history and beautiful gates before we end up at Kamishichiken District.
At Ryōanji, you will see the world’s most famous rock garden. A mysterious landscape of fifteen stones floating in a sea of white gravel. The written history of this garden has been long lost in flames, but the garden is the same as it was since the estimated 15th century.

This Zen masterpiece has inspired everyone from the Japanese imperial family to Queen Elizabeth II, who once sat in quiet reflection here.
Next, we visit Kinkakuji, the glittering Golden Pavilion, whose golden walls shimmer across a mirror-like pond all dug out and made deliberately to make it look like the centre of the world. Once the retirement villa of a shogun, this UNESCO World Heritage site is Kyoto’s most iconic temple which is breathtaking in every season.

Our path continues to Kitano Tenmangū, the grand shrine dedicated to the god of learning and scholarship. There is a dark history tied to why this shrine was built, but today, all we see is its 2,000 plum trees, bustling flea markets, and vivid seasonal festivals. It's a place where tradition and everyday Kyoto life come together.

We finish in Kamishichiken, Kyoto’s oldest and most exclusive geisha district. Unlike the busy streets of Gion, this area feels timeless and intimate. If we are lucky, we may glimpse maiko or geiko (geisha) heading to their engagements. A graceful ending to your Kyoto journey.