- Duration
- 3 hours
- Location
- Kyoto
Philosopher’s Path Tour
Pure Land Buddhism and Nature
Take Aways
FAQ

Alejandro is an architect specialized in architectural history and heritage conservation, with work experience in Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Since he started living in Japan in 2010, he has been researching the Japanese philosophy for the conservation of wooden monuments. He completed his PhD at the University of Tokyo in 2017. His main interests are traditional Japanese architecture and design, Japanese history, and urban history. Many little known treasures lay hidden in the centuries old city of Kyoto. He enjoys helping others discover them during their visit to the ancient capital.

Robin's background is varied: from design, animation & illustration, to co-running a local food company in Dublin, Ireland, to work in the Specialty Coffee scene, acting as a brand ambassador for European specialty coffee companies in Europe. She loves learning new things and sharing her passions for food, coffee and design with others.

John was born in 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. At Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) he majored in English and German literatures, graduating in 1974. An offer to teach English for Panasonic brought him to Kansai, where he settled in Kyoto in 1977. Soon after arriving, he started studying Japanese at the Kyoto Nihongo Gakko, and, in 1979, he took up Nihon Buyo (classical Japanese dance) under the tutelage of WAKAYAGI Kimiha. (Kimiha-sensei died in 2015, and in 2019, John resumed his dance study with WAKAYAGI Shuho.) In addition to dancing, writing and editing have also kept him busy. For three years he served as editor of the “Kyoto Visitor’s Guide”. As a freelance writer, he has contributed articles to The Japan Times, Asahi Evening News, and the Japan National Tourist Organization’s website. He also authored the Kyoto chapter of EYEWITNESS: JAPAN (Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling Kindersley publisher, 2000). Interests include sumie, Kyoto food culture, the Thai language, and travel (especially to Southeast Asia). Although happily mired in the Kyoto milieu, he is grateful that Osaka is only a 45-minute train ride away.
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