Osaka Castle

Follow a bespoke route designed just for you which takes in the city's highlights like Osaka Castle as well as a few hidden gems. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Shinsekai

This unique neighborhood was modeled after Paris and New York City, and its art deco architecture is truly a sight to behold. Shinsekai fell into disrepair following World War II. Today, it is undergoing a revival, with bars and restaurants popping up alongside its old-fashioned attractions. Once you’ve admired the architecture of the neighborhood, head up the Tsutenkaku Tower -known as the Eiffel Tower of Osaka - for some breathtaking views of the city. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Dotombori

Lined with garish neon-covered buildings, the Dotombori Canal is the most iconic sight in all of Osaka. 
The famous canal network can give you a unique view of Dōtonbori, Osaka's premier entertainment district, before you visit hidden treasures in Dotombori arcade; a street line with shops, restaurants, and incredibly flashy signs for guaranteed Instagrammable photos. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Shinsaibashi

A giant (more than 600 meters!) shopping arcade where apparel shops, character goods, cafés and restaurants line the street. Just about everything a shopper would want is here. Be ready to go back home packed with Osaka-approved souvenirs! IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Umeda Sky Building

The open-air observatory overlooks the city of Osaka, Awaji Island and Mt. Ikoma. Enjoy panoramic views from 170 meters above the city.

Arashiyama

TOGETSUKYO BRIDGE The most recognizable feature of Arashiyama is the Togetsukyo Bridge, also known as the "Moon Crossing Bridge". It was most recently rebuilt in the 1930s after being created during the Heian Period (794–1185). The bridge appears especially lovely against the backdrop of the wooded slope. Adjacent to the bridge is a riverbank park dotted with scores of cherry trees. HAMMOOSE GROVES Nice walks and bicycle rides can be had along the walking routes that go through the bamboo trees. When there is a light wind and the long bamboo stalks softly move back and forth, the woods become very picturesque. Bamboo has been utilized for generations in local workshops to make a variety of goods, including mats, cups, boxes, and baskets. SANSO VILLA OKOCHI

Kinkakuji Temple

The upper two floors of the Zen temple Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), located in northern Kyoto, are entirely coated with gold leaf. Originally called Rokuonji, the temple served as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's retirement residence. Following his death in 1408, the shogun left it as a Zen temple belonging to the Rinzai sect. Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of Yoshimitsu, erected Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) on the opposite side of the city a few decades after seeing Kinkakuji. The only remaining building from Yoshimitsu's former retirement community is Kinkakuji, an elegant temple erected overlooking a big pond. Throughout its history, it has burned down multiple times, twice during the Onin War, a civil war that devastated a great deal of

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

One of Japan's most well-known temples is Kiyomizudera, which translates to "Pure Water Temple". It got its name from the pristine waters of the Otowa Waterfall, which is located on the forested hillsides east of Kyoto, where it was established in 780. The temple established the Kita Hosso sect in 1965 after first being connected to the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools of Japanese Buddhism. The temple was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The most notable feature of Kiyomizudera is its wooden stage, which protrudes 13 meters over the surrounding hillside from the main hall. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant view of the many cherry and maple trees below, which burst into a sea of color, from the stage.

Gion

Gion, the most well-known geisha neighborhood in Kyoto, is situated along Shijo Avenue between the Kamo River to the west and Yasaka Shrine to the east. Shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses) abound, offering entertainment by geiko (Kyoto's dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices). Gion's significant concentration of classic wooden machiya merchant houses draws tourists. The homes were constructed with slender facades that are only five to six meters wide but extend up to twenty meters in from the street because property taxes were previously determined by street frontage. Hanami-koji Street, which runs from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple, is the busiest section of Gion. The street and its side alleyways are lined with beautiful, lovely, and pricey places to eat.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

A significant Shinto shrine located in southern Kyoto is called Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha). It is well-known for the thousands of red torii gates that cross a system of paths that run behind the major structures. The paths lead into the forested area of the holy Mount Inari, which is located on the shrine grounds and rises to a height of 233 meters. Of the thousands of shrines devoted to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, Fushimi Inari is the most significant. Since foxes are believed to be Inari's messengers, there are numerous fox statues scattered across the shrine grounds. The history of Fushimi Inari Shrine dates back to a time before Kyoto became the capital in 794. While exploring the mountain paths is the main reason most international visitors come to Fushimi Inari Shrine,

Todai-ji Temple

The head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples. The main hall, the Daibutsuden houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu), 15 meters tall. Another popular attraction is a pillar with a hole in its base that is the same size as the Daibutsu's nostril. It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will be granted enlightenment in their next life. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Nara Park

See the iconic deer roaming through the city’s streets and parks like Nara-koen Park. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Isuien Garden

This garden, stretched between Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji temples is so quiet that you will feel almost outside the world in your little bubble of zen-peace. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Kasuga Grand Shrine

Nara’s most celebrated shrine, it was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, one of Japan's most powerful family clans.
Kasuga Taisha had been periodically rebuilt every 20 years for many centuries until Edo period. Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshippers. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two Lantern Festivals (February and August). IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

Kofuku-ji Temple

Don’t miss the astonishing five-storied pagoda (Japan’s second tallest wooden pagoda) and three-storied pagodas, historical landmarks of Nara. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences