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View all Kyoto toursKinkaku-ji Temple and Serene Garden Tour with Tickets in Kyoto
Tour in Kyoto, taking in Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji. Run by Japan Wonder Travel, booked direct rather than through a reseller.
Highlights
- Kinkaku-ji
- Ninna-ji
- Runs 2.5 hours
- Exclusive access to Golden Hall (National treasure) and Sutra Hall ※Monk Guided Tour only
- Chanting session by a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only
- Q&A session and photo with a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only
Kinkaku-ji Temple and Serene Garden Tour with Tickets: Key Facts
| Price | From $77 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2.5 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
This is a 2.5-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji. It is run by Japan Wonder Travel, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.
Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years until 1868 and has 17 UNESCO-listed sites among some 2,000 temples and shrines. The big three are Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and best in morning light; Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden stage on the eastern hills with the Higashiyama lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it; and Fushimi Inari's gates. Nijo Castle has the nightingale floors that squeak against intruders, and Ryoan-ji the rock garden. Temples open around 8:00 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, and the city bus is slow; a day with a driver or a guide who orders the stops against the crowds is the difference between four sights and seven.
The price covers Exclusive access to Golden Hall, Chanting session by a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only, Q&A session and photo with a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only, Admission fee and Transportation fee from Kinkaku-ji to Ninna-ji. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.
Yamazaki-an. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Japan Wonder Travel before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Starting location
Yamazaki-an
Kinkaku-ji
Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)
Car
(15 minutes)
Ninna-ji
Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (105 minutes)
2 drop-off locations
Ninna-ji Temple, 仁和寺
Detailed Itinerary
Starting location: Yamazaki-an
Kinkaku-ji: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)
Car: (15 minutes)
Ninna-ji: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (105 minutes)
2 drop-off locations: Ninna-ji Temple, 仁和寺
Includes
- Exclusive access to Golden Hall (National treasure) and Sutra Hall ※Monk Guided Tour only
- Chanting session by a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only
- Q&A session and photo with a monk ※Monk Guided Tour only
- Admission fee (Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji)
- Transportation fee from Kinkaku-ji to Ninna-ji (taxi)
- English speaking guide
Important information
Meeting point
Yamazaki-an
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Takashi was a very knowledgeable and informative guide. We were incredibly lucky that it was only our family on the tour, so it was a very personalised visit to the two temples. We learnt a huge amount and got to understand the history and also religion associated with the different places. He took lots of lovely photos of us as a family and created some fantastic memories. He also recommended further places to visit as I love gardens in particular. Would highly recommend.
Satomi was an incredible tour guide. She taught us so much about Japanese history, culture and architecture. She was friendly, knowledgeable, flexible, and fun. She's the right person with whom you want to explore iconic Kyoto sites. We visited Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji temples. Everybody knows about Kinkaku-ji but the gardens at Ninna-ji were a wonderful discovery. these two sites offer complementary examples of Japanese Buddhist gardens and religious sites. We would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who wants a better understanding of Kyoto's Buddhist heritage.
Guide très sympathique, lieu magnifique
Our guide on this tour was Naomi who did an outstanding job explaining the history of the Pavillion and gardens, pointing out the best vantage points, assisting with photos, explaining the social hierachy during the Samurai Era (12-19 Century) and leading a private optional visit to Ninna-ji Temple where she arranged a very interesting meeting with a Buddhist monk. In addition to being very organized and fluent in English, Naomi was exceptionally kind by helping us find our way to an unrelated afternoon tour. This tour and tour guide were highlights of our visit to Kyoto! I highly recommend.
Great, my guide Taka was very experienced and gave a perfect inside in this unique site. A must for every visitor, thank you!
The tour was great - Harumi was a wonderful tour guide, she was very knowledgeable about both sites, helpful and friendly! The sites themselves were beautiful and tranquil, with lots to learn.
Excellente et la guide Mika était absolument FANTASTIQUE, passionnante, et à l'écoute. MERCI!
Great. Our tour guide Annie was amazing at answering all of our questions. We really enjoyed seeing the areas not normally viewed. I highly recommend Annie as a tour guide!
gros coup de coeur pour le temple d'or qui est magnifique a regarder. Ninna ji est différent, et peu de zones où l'on peut entrer (interdit au public) notre guide Annie était très sympathique et donnait des explications simples (accessibles malgré notre niveau d'anglais moyen).
Sehr gut. Der Tour-Guide Taka war sehr freundlich und hat vieles sehr gut und aufschlussreich erklärt. Er hat zudem Fragen schnell, freundlich und erkenntnisreich beantwortet.