I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

Imagine you are going on a bus tour of a famous city like Kyoto, Japan. What general places do you think you would visit? What things would the tour guide point out about a famous landmark (for example, the date of its construction)?

HELPFUL TIP: If you’re planning a tour to famous historical sites overseas like Kyoto, Japan, read a few guidebooks in advance. You might even find information for out-of-the-way spots that tourists seldom see.

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

1. Listen to the radio commercial by pressing the “Play Audio” button of the audio type you want to hear, and answer the questions. Press the “Final Score” button to check your quiz.

1. What time is the bus leaving?

A. 9:00

B. 9:15

C. 9:50
2. When was the Golden Pavillion built?

A. in 1397

B. in 1379

C. in 1339

3. What is Ryoanji Temple famous for?

A. its trees

B. its stone walls

C. its rock garden

4. What does the guide NOT say about Gion?

A. There are different shops to see.

B. Tourists should visit the theaters.

C. Gion is representative of traditional Kyoto.

5. How much time will visitors have to tour the castle?

A. 45 minutes

B. 60 minutes

C. 90 minutes

Score =

Correct answers:


Well, good morning everyone. My name is Craig Stone, and I’ll be your guide for today’s tour of Kyoto. First, I want to go over the itinerary for the tour, so everyone can enjoy the trip without being worried about being left behind along the way. And no one has gotten lost so far.

First of all, we’ll be leaving at 9:15 outside the main train station exit. That’s in thirty minutes. Be sure to board the bus by 9:00 sharp.

We’ll be visiting some of the most famous historical spots in Kyoto. Our first stop will be at the Golden Pavilion, a temple constructed in 1397. We’ll be leaving there at 10:30. You’ll have about forty-five minutes to stroll around the temple and its gardens.

Our next destination will be Ryoanji Temple. That’s always a difficult one to pronounce. This temple is famous for its beautiful rock garden. We’ll depart from the temple at 11:45.

Next, we’ll have lunch from 12:00 to 12:45.

In the afternoon, we’ll be making a brief stop at Heian Jingu Shrine, which was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kyoto.

After that, we’ll head downtown and stop in Gion. Many people asked me about different traditional shopping areas, and this is a place we don’t want to miss. You’ll have about an hour to look around, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the atmosphere of the entire area. The shops, the homes, and the restaurants. A very traditional flavor of Kyoto. We’ll be leaving Gion at 2:30.

Finally, we’ll visit Nijojo Castle, which was the residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun. You’ll have about an hour to tour the castle, and we’ll meet at the bus at 4:00.

Any questions?.

Key Vocabulary [Top]
  • itinerary (noun): plan or schedule
    - Please review the itinerary for the trip at least a week before you leave.
  • board (verb): to get on or enter
    - You need to board at least 15 minutes before departure.
  • construct (verb): to build
    - The tower was constructed over 500 years ago.
  • stroll (verb): to walk
    - I went for a stroll around the park early this morning.
  • destination (noun): final place of arrival
    - What is your final destination?
III. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Are there any sightseeing tours available in your home city? If so, where would they take a visitor to your city? Pretend you are the tour guide hosting exchange students in your city. What details about the city would you share with your guests? What would be the best way to see your city: on foot, by bicycle, by bus, or by taxi?