Best of Kyoto: Golden Pavilion & Nijo Castle
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Port
Osaka, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$330
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Travel 90 minutes to Kyoto, the seat of Japan's Imperial court from 794 to 1868 and, today, the cultural capital of Japan.
A panoramic drive leads through the countryside past notable landmarks such as the Toji Temple. At 180 feet, it is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. Watch for the 429-foot-tall Kyoto Tower — Kyoto's tallest modern structure.
In Kyoto itself, you'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo Castle — the finest surviving example of Japan's feudal-era castle architecture. Completed in 1603, the castle includes the Ninomaru Palace, whose "nightingale" floors were deliberately built to squeak, alerting guards to an intruder. Its extravagant interiors, built almost entirely out of cypress wood, are ornamented with gold leaf and elaborate woodcarvings.
Step back further in time to the 14th-century grounds of the spectacular Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion — a National Special Historic Site and one of the most popular attractions in Japan. Originally built in 1397 as a shogun's retirement villa and later converted into a Zen temple, it sits in the center of a magnificent garden, with a wooden pavilion extending over a reflecting pond. However, its most notable feature is the glimmering gold leaf that gilds the two upper stories.
After lunch at a local hotel, shop at the Kyoto Handicrafts Center before returning to the ship.
Please note: Travel time between Osaka and Kyoto is approximately 90 minutes each way. Traffic can be unpredictable; your patience is greatly appreciated if a delay extends the tour duration. Photography and video are not permitted inside Nijo Castle. You must remove your shoes at one or more location(s). This tour does not enter the Honmaru Palace. At Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, you will visit only the grounds, for views of the pavilion. Tour requires 2½ hours of walking and standing. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, flagstones, inclines, gravel, grass, and many steps, including about 30 steps within the temple grounds. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Bring your passport for duty-free shopping. Bring local currency or credit cards, as most vendors do not accept US dollars. Tour sequence may vary. Unfamiliar accents can be challenging; feel free to ask your guide to repeat or elaborate on information, and to speak more slowly so you can fully comprehend and converse.