Kyoto – Bamboo Grove Euphoria and Japanese Hollywood

Kyoto - bamboo grove in Arashiyam (8:30-17:30)

Kyoto is a city of a thousand temples. The fiftieth Emperor Kanmu in 794 was appointed the capital of Japan and until 1868 was officially considered the capital of the country and the residence of emperors. Kyoto was formerly known as Heian City of Peace and Tranquility. This is an unusually colorful and romantic city, there are about 2000 temples and churches (17 of them are under the protection of UNESCO), hundreds of parks and dozens of ancient palaces. The special charm of Kyoto is given by the unique harmony of all its numerous buildings with the surrounding landscape Our amazing program will begin with the Saihoji temple with a moss garden.

In 1339, the famous monk-gardener Muso Soseki created a garden with a pond in the form of the hieroglyph “heart” and islands where white herons nest, with picturesque stone compositions. We will see the famous stone waterfall, created over 600 years ago. Eiga Mura is a theme park in Japan styled after the Edo era. In fact, on 36.000 sq. m. there is a mini-city of the Edo period with houses, forts, taverns, and with full interior decoration. In this town studio Toei shoots every year more than two hundred series of various historical series and a fairly large number of films. The park is a kind of operating open-air film studio, where anyone can transform into a beautiful geisha or a brave samurai. You can watch a sword show or a ninja show here. Here we will have a unique opportunity to transform into a geisha, aristocrat, samurai, etc. (more than 10 different species). You will wear not only the appropriate costume, wig, and accessories, but also professionally put makeup, creating a full image of the chosen hero. Then the photographer will capture you by memory and offer to choose your favorite picture. In this form, you will be able to walk around the theme park for 40 minutes. (reservation is required for 1 week) In Eygamura, anyone can become a movie star! After lunch, we will enter the bamboo grove of Arashiyama, where sunbunnies play on the minimally graphic texture of bamboo.

Our walk will begin with the Togetsukyo Bridge – “the bridge crossing the moon”, which offers stunning views of the slopes of the eponymous Mount Arashiyama and the Hozu River. Next, we enter the Sagano Bamboo Grove with an area of 16 square meters. This place, revered by locals, has gained popularity not so much because of its extraordinary beauty, but because of the special sound that arises from the contact of the flying wind with a dense bamboo grove. The Japanese government has introduced the sounds of this bamboo grove to hundreds of protected attractions in the country.

Just one path paved with gray granite and bordered by two rows of wheat-colored branches. The path runs through the forest, a fabulous bamboo forest. Trees grow without knowing barriers, their hollow trunks reach unrestrained to the sky, almost piercing it. Sunlight, falling, falls on thousands of rays that seep through the dim veil to illuminate the thickets. In some places, the narrow path begins to wriggle like a snake. But it's not exhausting to walk on it. On the contrary, it is a fascinating walk, it is a meeting with the forest.

During the day, the leaves acquire a particularly rich bright green, almost explosive hue, and in contrast to the shadows, give the forest a touch of mysticism, and at night it turns into a refuge for romantics. The best time to visit is autumn, when the leaves are painted in fiery ochre, giving the landscape a mesmerizing picturesqueness. For local residents bamboo trees of this grove and to this day serve very practical purposes: they make boxes, baskets, dishes, mats and other items of folk craft. Near the forest are the famous Zen Buddhist temples. You and I will visit the Sanctuary of Nonomy. It is interesting primarily as a remnant of an ancient tradition that existed in Japan in ancient times (and about which there are many records in ancient literature), but then interrupted. It is a tradition to send unmarried close relatives of the emperor to the sanctuary of Ise-jingu as the chief priestess. At the sanctuary of Nonomy, the princesses appointed priestesses underwent preparatory purification rituals that could last more than a year. Walking through the grove, enjoy the taste of ice cream made from tofu, or take with Japanese chestnuts.

But our journey does not end there, we are waiting for the romantic Sagano train, which will take us to the beautiful scenery of the Jozu River, which flows in the canyon between Arashiyama and Kameoka. A visit to Arashiyama will inevitably give a feeling of renewal. And memories of being in paradise - in Japanese paradise.

If desired, you can complete the tour with a visit to Onsen - a thermal complex with mineral water (not included in the main excursion, paid additionally)

Full day excursion, duration of 8 hours

Each additional hour is paid at the rate of 3,000 JPY/h.

Excursion cost: 30000 JPY / 300 USD per group from 1st to 3 people. (more than 3 people - contractual)

(The tour starts and ends at your hotel)

The price includes:

1. Services of a Russian-speaking guide on the program.

The price does not include:

1. Lunches.

2. Option: (departure from Kyoto or Osaka)

- Public transport - 3,000 JPY per person.

Car + gasoline, parking, toll roads - 45000 JPY

Taxi approximately 25,000 yen for a full day for a group of up to 3 people

3 Entrance tickets for the full tour program - 5500 JPY per person.

(Dressing is not included in the selected image. Payable on-site from 8500 JPY-16,000 JPY not including professional photos. Photo paid extra - 4000 JPY / 2 photos

The distance from Tokyo to Kyoto is about 500 km and the transfer by high-speed train takes 2 and a half hours, the cost of one-way tickets is about 14,000 yen.

In cases where the guide accompanies customers from Tokyo, customers additionally pay:

1 tour guide ticket for high-speed train Shinkansen round-trip - 28,000 JPY

2 hotel guide-9000 PY / day

Prices can vary from the number of people in the group to the season. For a more accurate assessment please write a request by email