These are of course fantastic sites to see when visiting Kyoto, but the tour was also particularly memorable due to our guide John. His long years in Japan, his humor, his artistic sensibility, knowledge, and his willingness to discuss aspects of his experiences living here really made it that much more of an interesting,enjoyable, special experience for us.

Very informative. Great way to get grounded as you start a trip to Kyoto.

Not only did we have the privilege of learning about the history of the Golden Pavilion and its gardens, but we also were able to explore temples and gardens adjacent to a working monastery, away from heavy tourist traffic. Gavin was a wealth of knowledge and a joy to spend time with - he opened our minds to the intentionality and history of Japanese gardens in a very relatable way. We can't wait to return!

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