Kyoto Spring Garden Tour & the Lake Biwa / Hikone Castle Getaway

The 2025 Spring Garden Tour (including the Lake Biwa towns of Hikone and Omihachiman) will take place during one of the loveliest times of year in Kyoto … in May the rush of the cherry-blossom season has subsided, the city is relaxed and full of ‘shinryoku’, the fresh green energy of new maple foliage sweeping through the forested mountains that encircle the city. Many local residents consider May to be their favourite month in Kyoto.

During the tour, we will explore gardens of various styles, experiencing some of the finest examples of landscape and garden design in Japan. You will have a taste of a variety of urban and rural neighbourhoods, each with their own ambiance and treasures to discover, as you become familiar with navigating the city of Kyoto.  Our adventures take us on the road to the Miho Art Museum, and to the shores of Lake Biwa, with a combination of world-class art, architecture, gardens and a gorgeous castle.

On every Kyoto Garden Tour, we take time to enjoy the aesthetic sensibilities and culinary offerings of the Japanese culture. Our goal is to slow down and really feel the ambiance, the flavour and the elegance of the unique settings we are in. We let the atmosphere sink in.

IMPORTANT: Tour participants must be able to walk with easy confidence, without the need for mobility aids or assistance, for several hours a day. Terrain may include steppingstone paths, uphill grades, stairways and uneven streets. Please note: Masking may be required as necessary, esp. on public transportation.

Tour Dates: May 8 - 18, 2025

Group size: 11 people

Included:

• 10 nights accommodation, 8 fully-guided days, 1 free day

• Breakfast and lunch on all guided days, & all meals while traveling outside Kyoto

• Welcome and Sayonara dinners featuring Kyoto’s unique ‘kaiseki’ cuisine

• Limo-bus to/from KIX and ITM airports and transportation on all guided days

• All garden and museum admissions on guided days

A few highlights:

• Experience select gardens in and around Kyoto of varying styles - our numerous garden experiences are the core foundation of the tour, and we don’t rush, we take our time to feel and to savour what we find

• Our accommodations are in a sub-temple within the historic Myoshinji Zen temple complex - our guests love staying in this ultra-atmospheric setting, and having a peaceful ‘home base’ to return to each day (with western beds & ensuites)

• 8 fully guided days – accompanied by our top-notch guide, Judith Clancy, author of numerous guidebooks on Japanese culture & the charms of Kyoto

• On our first morning, we focus ourselves with an introduction to Zen meditation and a hands-on workshop in the traditional art of calligraphy

• Fall under the spell of Zen temple gardens while quietly viewing them from wooden verandas

• Explore Ohara, the picturesque rural village north of Kyoto, with quiet forested gardens

• Relax in nature on an open-air boat-ride down the scenic Hozu river gorge … with a few rapids to liven things up

• Take in the colourful Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto’s most photogenic annual festivals, on our free day

• Enjoy a day-trip to the Miho Art Museum, an architectural tour-de-force designed by IM Pei, with an excursion to a Shigaraki pottery village

• Shop at local specialty stores throughout the city (let us point you to our favourite ones) and at the Chion-ji outdoor craft market, with booths spread across the temple grounds, bustling & fun

• Attend our own private shakuhachi musical performance, always a favourite evening

• Wander at your own pace through Hikone castle and Genkyuen garden

• Explore the quiet lakeside town of Omihachiman, known for its picturesque streets and scenic canal

• Enjoy subtly delicious and always beautifully presented fresh regional cuisine in small local venues

• Discover the charm of Kyoto, an exceedingly clean and safe city full of artistic treasures, cultural and culinary delights, as the springtime verdure and serene gardens work their magic