On Day 1, follow our carefully curated program
Guide meets you in the morning at your hotel lobby or at JR Kyoto station at agreed time, and accompanies you to the car with driver awaiting.

■Dive into domain of shinto deities, surrounded by pristine forest in autumn colors
Bright vermillion colors of shrine buildings are not just picturesque but full of history. See what and how is offered at altar to deities at one of the oldest shinto shrines in ancient of Kyoto.
Next to the shrine grounds, at Kamogawa river bank, visit a charming old villa of one of rich merchant family clans.

■Hidden gems for brightest autumn colors
A short drive away visit former imperial villa turned into a temple - be stunned by autumn colors and tranquil beauty of views from the retired emperor's palace rooms.
Next, a few minutes away by car, visit poet-samurai former residence turned into another buddhist temple - the place most beautiful in late autumn.

■Eat what zen monks eat
Next, head to zen temple of "Vatican status" for Zen Buddhism practitioners, with monastery cuisine restaurant well hidden in the middle of vast precincts of the temple. Your vegetarian-only lunch at the temple restaurant - your pre-set set lunch course will be served in tatami room, meaning you will sit on the floor at low table.
No meat and no fish (compensated by variety of tofu, vegetables and mushrooms), although alcohol is available. You won't get to interact with monks over lunch, but you will be eating exactly what high rank zen priests eat. The guide will explain every dish served (there will be many, as portions are quite small). We better be on time for lunch, as last order time is 3 PM.
After lunch, time permitting, be mesmerized by the beauty of dry landscape gardens of this zen temples, autumn colors and some of the zen buddhist art - famous "stone gardens", albeit without buzzing crowds you would encounter in more famous zen temples. Your guide will be there to add another layer of cultural interpretation to what will be mesmerizing you at monastery gardens.

■Be dropped off at the place of your choice at the end of the tour
After 7 hours tour, the driver will drop you off at the place of your choice in Central Kyoto - have the address in English and Japanese ready. As an option, we can arrange either dinner reservation or delivery of gourmet box to your hotel - subject to terms and conditions, it is possible exclusively on very advance notice.

On Day 2, guide will take you to places of your choice by public transport or on foot
For people who choose program for two consecutive days, 2nd day is very flexible.
You decide on the program yourself, and it can be:
- Shopping for traditional crafts of art level, exploring hat hereditary artisans and potters offer,
- Best matcha green tea ice cream in entire world from old traditional tea shop
- Exploring traditional part of the city with rickshaw
- Kimono experience with elegant Kyoto lady who will transform you into kimono-clad beauty in a matter of just 1 hour
- Small art museum with unique exhibition you will be amazed by
- A walk combining small museum exhibitions and Japanese gardens in picturesque suburbs
- A city walk browsing antique shops and traditional crafts/ art galleries and stylish cafes
.. to name a few.
All depends on your priorities and preferences, and how soon you communicate those to us (certain experiences must be booked in advance, while some are available at any time in daylight hours).

If you want to maximize your time in Tokyo, we suggest to choose hotel in Higashiyama area, and explore the area on foot with guide - this is highest concentration of sightseeing spots in Kyoto.