Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Serene Garden Guided Tour with Tickets
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience the contrast between two UNESCO World Heritage temples in Kyoto: the lavish Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), built by a samurai, and the peaceful Ninnaji Temple, steeped in imperial heritage. Delve into Japan's history and culture as your guide illuminates the significance of Buddhist temples, spanning themes of power, prestige, and devotion.
Admire the gleaming golden façade of Kinkakuji and stroll through its picturesque gardens, learning about the historiy behind its creation.
In Ninnaji Temple, step inside the rarely opened Main Hall for a sacred chanting session led by a monk. Engage with the monk during an enlightening Q&A and learn about Buddhism's spiritual traditions. Visit the Sutra Hall to see and interact with the rotating sutra shelf, a ritual imbued with profound meaning.
Capture a memorable photo with the monk before visiting the elegant Imperial Residence. Conclude your journey in this tranquil space, soaking in the timeless beauty and imperial charm of Kyoto.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
*The details of the itinerary at Ninna-ji Temple may be subject to change due to the temple's circumstances.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Exclusive access to Golden Hall (National treasure) and Sutra Hall
Admission Fee (Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji)
Transportation fee from Kinkaku-ji to Ninna-ji (taxi)
Chanting session by a monk
Local Guide
Q&A session and photo with a monk
What To Expect
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Originally built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was later converted into a temple. The top floors are covered in gold leaf, creating a stunning reflection in the surrounding pond. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will visit Shariden, Karamon Gate, Rikushu-no-taki, Anmintaku, Hakujanotsuka, Yukatei Teahouse, and Fudo Hall.
Ninna-ji Temple
Ninna-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, founded in 888 by Emperor Uda. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and known for its five-story pagoda, gardens, and Omuro cherry trees. The temple is the head of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism and has a long history as a spiritual center.
Options
World Heritage Tour with Guide
This option does not include the explanation by the monk or the exclusive access to private areas.
Premium Plan with Monk Insight
Premium plan with Monk insight: This special option includes the opportunity to interact with a Buddhist monk.
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Up close and personal
983teachera,
Apr 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour with behind the scenes look at Buddhist life and artifacts. Great explanations about Japanese religions.
Inspiring tour！
kataokak2023,
Apr 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.005 Stars! It cannot be less. It was a wonderful tour. Our guide was just perfect: kind, passionate, well prepared, wel informed and with great English speaking skills. You could feel she is a professional. I happened to be in Golden Pavilion before but still there were many things I discoverd thanks to the tour. But the best part for me was Ninnaji. I had never been there before, and it turned out to be very beautiful and interesting place. Meeting and speaking with the monk was unusual experience, and entering usually closed buildings was something I will definitely remember. Thank you!
Authentic experience!
貴裕安,
Apr 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! Authentic tour! We visited two world heritage sites for three hours. Golden Pavilion was awesome. The borrowed landscape garden makes the Golden Pavilion outstanding. More impressive is Ninnaji Temple. Our guide Ellie was very good. She gave us clear explanation of Buddhism and Shintoism. The highlight of Ninnaji Temple is to get inside two building which are not open to the public. Those are Kondo Hall, main hall, and Kyozo, sutra hall. We saw some parts of the essence of Buddhism. We'll visit Ninnaji Temple during cherry blossom season again. Taka
A great experience in an easy way
jacquesKyo,
Apr 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an exceptional guided tour in Kyoto! The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) is simply breathtaking, and our guide shared its history in such a fascinating way. Thanks to Eriko who was a passionnate guide! The highlight was our visit to Ninna-ji temple, where we had the incredible privilege of accessing private areas. The interaction with a Buddhist monk was a unique and enriching experience. This tour truly offers an extraordinary experience, far from typical tourist routes. If you're looking to discover the authentic Kyoto and its hidden treasures, I highly recommend it!
highly recommend it!
douglashY4429RV,
Apr 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I loved the tour at Kinkaku-ji and Ninnaji. The Japanese guide, Ellie, is very friendly, fun, and has a lot of knowledge about Japan. I highly recommend it!
It was a very satisfying tour!
646kazumis,
Apr 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ninna-ji Temple is located in a little inconvenient place, but on this tour, the guide brought us to Ninnaji Temple from Kinkakuji Temple by taxi, which was comfortable, and though the temple is one of the World Heritage Sites and is a wonderful, historic temple, because of inconvenience location, there were much fewer visitors in the temple and it was very nice. Also, on this tour, a monk guided us inside buildings of Ninna-ji Temple that are not open to the public, which was a very special and wonderful experience. And the guide explained various things about Buddhism, Japanese history, gardens, etc. through two different temples, and answered our questions, so I think it will be a much more enjoyable and valuable experience than sightseeing without guiding especially for foreign tourists.
Insider access
renatatailor,
Apr 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great experience! It was not an ordinary tour, but we received many insights and the personal interaction with the monk in Ninnaji temple was great. Of course everyone can visit Kinkakuji, but without background information it is only a beautiful temple. Our guide was really nice, friendly and knowledgeable, we learnt a lot about Buddhism and the culture of Kyoto. Thank you so much!
A woundafle tour
Guide16935861873,
Apr 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful day. Kinkakuji Temple has a beautiful garden and is well-balanced overall. Our guide, Eri, told us many interesting stories and it was fun. At Ninnaji Temple, we were able to enter the Kondo Hall, which is not open to the public, and we had a special experience listening to a talk by a monk.
Culturally immersive experience
jefferym422,
Apr 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did a special tour of Kinkakuji and Ninnaji with Japan Wonder Travel in January 2025. This 3-hour tour succinctly covered a long and rich history of the 2 temples, each with distinct atmospheres. I thoroughly enjoyed the explanation given by our amazing guide, Ellie-san. She answered all our questions very well, not just those of the temples we were visiting. Although I have been to Kinkakuji before, getting to know the history and the details of buildings in the temple complex made me appreciate more of this Japanese cultural heritage. Ninnaji temple visit was a highlight for me. A monk guided us to the main Buddha hall and the archive which are not normally accessible to the public. The garden was very peaceful and truly gave the experience of a Zen garden. I spent some more time alone in the garden after the tour. All in all, I highly recommend the tour to people who would like to know more about the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto.
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