Vegan Buddhist cuisine experience

Duration: 6-8 hours

Overview

On this tour, in addition to exploring some of Kyoto’s best loved tourist sites, we will experience what’s called Shojin Ryori, Vegan Buddhist Cuisine, in an authentic Zen temple setting. According to Buddhist commandments, the taking of life is prohibited. Despite the use of fish being a fundamental part of Japanese Cuisine, absolutely no meat or fish are used in Shojin Ryori. This tour will allow you to more deeply appreciate the connection between Japanese culture and religion. Can be part of 4-8-hour custom tour.

-Kinkakuji (the Golden pavilion)
-1,000-year old sweets shop
-Local Imamiya Shrine
-Daitokuji Zen temple
-Buddhist Cuisine in Daitokuji Zen temple
-Kintsugi -pottery repair studio
-Shimogamo Shrine
-Nijo Castle
-Kinkakuji Temple
-The bamboo forest and Tenryu-ji Temple
-Shojin ryori meal
-Nishiki Market
-Kinkakuji (the Golden pavilion)
-hand-picked local spots
-Daitokuji Zen Temple
-Shojin ryori meal at Kanga-an
-Shimogamo Shrine

We also have a cycling tour option:
On a cycling tour, Vegan Ramen is a lunch option.

Please note that the maximum group size for a bike tour is 4.
Southern Kyoto 8 hour tour:

-Manpukuji Zen Temple
-Shojin ryori meal
-Meditation session instructed by a monk: 1,000 yen p.p.
-Byodo-in Temple
-Tea ceremony experience: 500 yen p.p.
-Fushimi Inari Shrine

Click to check out the related blog post to get more ideas.

Details

Tour name	Meditative Kyoto
Duration	6 hours (recommended)
Meeting place	Your accommodation or Station
Starting time	9:00am / 9;30 am

Guiding fees

Standard group size is up to 4.

Guiding fees structure

Group size	4 hours	6 hours	7.5 hours
1-4	25,000 yen	33,500 yen	40,000 yen
5-6	28,000 yen	37,500 yen	45,000 yen
7-8	31,000 yen	41,500 yen	50,000 yen
9	34,000 yen	45,500 yen	55,000 yen
10	37,000 yen	49,500 yen	60,000 yen
11-	Available upon request	Available upon request	Available upon request

Extended hours
- When availability allows, travellers may extend the tour time on the spot, on the day, based on the table above.
- Alternatively, a 30-minute extension would be 3,000 yen.
Children age 6 or younger
- Up to 2 children age 6 or younger will not be counted when calculating fees. i.e. standard guiding fee is applied to a group of 4 adults with two 5-year old kids.
- Children in strollers will not be counted when calculating fees.
Private Groups Only
- All tours are private. Please note that travellers cannot join in other parties’ tours.

What’s included in the Guiding fees

Guide’s local transportation costs

Guide’s entry fees

Travellers are responsible for the following expenses:

Traveller’s transportation costs and entry fees to gardens, temples etc… (where applicable)

Lunch for both guide and travellers

Vegan Buddhist lunch would be 3,300 yen to 5,200 yen per person.

Transportation

Train/subway/bus/taxi/on foot.

In some sections, taxis are recommended to make best use of time.

Private car
- Private car with driver can be arranged upon request.
- Price range is 35,000 – 60,000 yen for 4-8 hours, depending on the size of your group.
- Travellers are responsible for paying for car and driver on the day of the tour.