I recently got a chance to join a Kyoto Morning Tour by Sunrise Tours! In addition to visiting 6 popular Kyoto sightseeing spots, I also took advantage of the hotel pickup and dropoff service, which made me feel like I got a great bargain for only JPY 5,600!

I spent the night at the Kyoto Hotel Okura and woke up bright and early to head down to the lobby and wait for my pickup at 8:15 a.m. I was greeted by Sunrise Tours' English speaking staff, and all I had to give was my name and tour name, and I was ready to go!
*Pickup for the Kyoto & Nara 1-Day Tour and Kyoto 1-Day Tour is along with the Kyoto Morning Tour, so make sure you tell the staff the correct tour name!

The picture on the left is of the pickup counter at the New Miyako Hotel. It's directly in front of Kyoto Station, and the last pickup point before tours begin, so it's possible to step directly off of the train to Kyoto and join a Sunrise Tour! To see the full list of hotels with pickup service, click here.

First we visited Nijo-jo Castle, built over 400 years ago and former Imperial residence. Kyoto is most famous for its religious sites, like the many World Heritage temples and shrines, but Nijo-jo Castle is unique in presenting a chance to experience the history of the Tokugawa Shogunate. On Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December (or the following day should they be national holidays) the castle is closed, and the tour visits Ryoanji Temple instead. If you're interested in visiting the heart of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto, try a tour that visits Ryoanji!

Popular among Japanese and visitors to Japan alike, Kinkakuji Temple, or the Golden Pavillion, is perhaps Kyoto's most famous temple, and with good reason! On a clear day, the temple's sparkling reflection in the nearby Kyoko Pond is simply a breathtaking sight. Everyone that comes to Kyoto should see this!

The last stop of the morning was Kyoto's Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to publish any photographs from the inside! In order to pass through the earthen walls surrounding the Imperial Palace, usually it's necessary to submit an application by mail or complete a reservation form online in Japanese. Luckily, when joining a tour visiting the palace, all you have to do is fill out a short form given to you on the bus by your tour guide! (*Name, sex, age, and nationality are required fields on the form) Easy access to the normally secluded palace is another great reason to join the Kyoto 1-Day Tour! The palace is closed on Saturdays, and the tour visits Nishi-Honganji Temple instead.

After visiting Kyoto Imeprial Palace, our tour was over. We all parted ways and took advantage of the dropoff service to hotels around Kyoto from Kyoto Handicraft Center, home to many traditional Japanese workshops.