- Time: 6 hours
- Fee: ¥60,000 (about US$390)
- Expenses: about ¥6,000 per person
For those who want to escape the crowds and dig deeper into Japan’s past, we offer a tour of the Kashihara area. Kashihara, which is about 20 kilometers south of Nara City, was the cradle of Yamato civilization, the forerunner of modern Japanese culture. It serves as the perfect window into Japan’s ancient past.
The tour starts at Kyoto Station, where your guide will join you and escort you to Kintetsu Kyoto Station. You will board a comfortable direct express train for the 55-minute trip to Kashihara Jingumae.
After arriving in Kashihara, you will walk a short distance to Kashihara-jingu Shrine. This grand shrine was built in 1890 on the spot where Japan’s legendary first emperor is said to have been enthroned in 660 BC. After seeing the shrine, you can enjoy a pleasant walk around a pond with mountain views behind it.
From here you have two choices: You can take a short stroll up a small mountain and then walk down through the local farmers’ residential area, which takes about 45 minutes. For those who prefer a flat walk, we will stop at an imperial burial mound (kofun). These ancient burial grounds are sometimes called “the pyramids of Japan.” They entomb the early emperors of Japan and serve as the visible markers of Japan’s early Yamato culture.
Then, you’ll walk to Imaicho, which is one of Japan’s best preserved Edo Period towns. The lanes here are lined with superb authentic traditional houses and other structures. You can enter several of these and your guide will take you into the best of them.
After a lunch in the area, you will make your way to a nearby train station for the journey back to Kyoto. Your guide will accompany you to Kyoto Station and can advise on the best way to get from Kyoto Station back to your lodgings.
For information on fees, please see the Fees page. To book a tour, contact us.
