Top Kyoto Walking Tours - page 2

Cycle past a mix of Kyoto’s most famous sights and its lesser-known secrets during this half-day ‘Hidden Kyoto’ bike tour. Take a 4.9-mile (8-kilometer) ride that starts by winding past iconic Kyoto temples and shrines like Kinkakuji, Koto-in, and Kitano Tenmagu. Continue exploring off the beaten path, discovering intimate Zen gardens and charming backstreets known only to locals.

This half-day tour covers 5 of the most visited venues in Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple, Ninenzaka Sannenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, Gion and Nishiki Market. The guests will find many unique shops and cafes which they might just walk pass by if they are not with guides. Hear many interesting stories of each place and useful travel tips from knowledgeable guide as they walk past the central area of Kyoto.

Follow a customizable itinerary through Kyoto during this bespoke half-day private tour. Simply select with attractions you’d like to visit and enjoy an in-depth visit in the company of your own personal nationally licensed guide. Tours include a front-door pickup at the front of your hotel. Travel like a local by public transportation or taxi; upgrade to include a private car at an additional cost.

Planning a day trip to Nara can take time, so let a private guide do the hard work instead. This flexible private tour can start in Kyoto, Osaka, or Nara, with optional private car transportation upgrades. Just pick 3–4 attractions from a list of recommended sights before your tour, then enjoy a personalized tour of your top picks, with a guide to share local history and stories.

Soak up the historical atmosphere of Kyoto on a small-group walking tour. Immerse yourself in the history of the former Japanese capital as your guide leads you to the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. Learn more about these historic landmarks in a few hours than youever could on your own.

This bike tour is the perfect way to explore Kyoto. Cycle down narrow backstreets that are inaccessible by bus tours, and cover ground at a faster pace than a walking tour. The itinerary showcases Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, the traditional geisha district of Gion, Tofukuji Temple, Takase Canal, and plenty more scenic surprises along the way.

Get a deeper experience of Kyoto food culture than would be possible on your own by joining this guided food tour. Stroll through the districts of Gion and Pontocho, stopping into small bars and restaurants to sample traditional drinks and food that have been carefully chosen to make up a full meal. The experience also includes the opportunity to try three different types of local sake too.

Immerse yourself in the cultural and architectural splendor of Kyoto on this private tour, ideal for first-time visitors. Choose from two different routes, both of which cover major Kyoto attractions including Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple, and explore the city with a personal guide. On the northwest-bound route, you’ll visit the Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Food Market, and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama Park. Alternatively, the southeast course covers the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, and the Gion area. Receive undivided attention from your guide on this private tour.

Avoid the crowds and time pressure that often come with visiting Kyoto by starting early on a private tour designed to get you ahead of peak visitor times. Instead of navigating busy attractions later in the day, you experience iconic sites at their most peaceful, with a smoother flow between key locations. It’s an efficient way to see Kyoto’s highlights while avoiding the rush.

Experience an authentic tea ceremony, which is at the heart of Japanese culture and is a centuries old ritual, in Kyoto. You’ll be provided with a tea bowl, tea scoops and whisks, and instruction on how to make matcha. You’ll also try matcha and sweets, and you are encouraged to ask questions. Photos and short videos are permitted. Usually guests sit on the floor, but chairs and tables are also available if preferred.

Cover a lot of ground while getting an intimate perspective of Kyoto on this fun bicycle tour. Avoid the risk of getting lost in this busy city with maze-like lanes when you tour with a guide and a small group of no more than six. Learn about Kyoto’s history and culture as you cycle past geisha houses, Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and through the old parts of town.

Discover the art of ‘shibori’ during this 30 to 60-minute scarf-making class in Kyoto. Learn about Japanese culture from your knowledgable guide and become versed in one of the country’s many art forms. Use traditional tools and fabrics to make your scarf, then take this memorable handmade souvenir home with you to show your friends and family.

Explore Kyoto’s eerie side on a unique ghost tour through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, which is crowded by day but super-spooky at night. This isn’t your typical haunted house experience—expect chilling urban legends, local ghost stories, and atmospheric streets after dark. Includes a drink to start and a brief solo walk in the dark for spine-tingling immersion. A small group ensures an intimate night in one of Kyoto’s most famous locations—the bamboo forest.

Many travelers to Kyoto make a visit to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest without exploring the surrounding area. This small-group walking tour ensures you don't make the same mistake. Go beyond the bamboo and discover such serene spots as the private Okochi Sanso garden, where matcha is served in a former tea house; Tenryu-ji temple; Arashiyama shopping street; Togetsukyo Bridge; and Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama.

This private tour allows you to discover the highlights of the Arashiyama and Sagano districts of Kyoto, without having to do any research. Instead, set off with a private guide to take care of the navigating and teach you about the local area. Along the way, stroll past an abundance of interesting sights, such as Arashiyama’s bamboo groves, Togetsukyo Bridge, Jojakko-ji Temple, and Tenryuji Temple.

This private full-day tour makes it easy to explore some of Kyoto’s highlights without the risk of getting lost. In the morning, head to Arashiyama, a peaceful district in western Kyoto where you can see wild monkeys, cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, and take a stroll in the bamboo forest. In the afternoon, be amazed by the golden Kinkakuji, a must-visit attraction in Kyoto.

See the heart of downtown Kyoto and experience the city’s nightlife in a bar hopping adventure through the Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi areas. Visit hidden bars and izakaya where you can try different food and drinks and connect with local people. See a different side of Kyoto in the evening as you explore authentic spots that would be difficult to find on your own.

This tour is best for first-time visitors to Kyoto. You will visit popular must-see tourist attractions such as Golden Pavilion, bamboo groves, and Tenryuji Temple with its wonderful World Heritage garden. We will also take you to hidden jem, meaning the temple of heaven, which is a relatively quiet and beautiful temple. You can enjoy popular sightseeing spots in a comfortable and efficient manner by cab. The tour ends in the Arashiyama area.　 After the tour, the guide will give you directions to other must-see places such as movie studios, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, etc. If you are new to Kyoto, please join this tour and get an outline of Kyoto sightseeing.

This private tour with a local host is the perfect introduction for first-time visitors to Kyoto. Get invaluable tips on which tourist traps to bypass, discover hidden gems that locals love, and ask plenty of questions along the way. Highlights on the tour route include Kennin-ji Temple, Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, and stunning views from Shijo Bridge.

For outsiders, Japanese culture can be difficult to grasp but this guided tour offers the chance to get a locals' eye view of one of the most traditional of Japanese settings. Accompanied by a guide who tailors the tour to your interests, stroll through the historic streets of Kyoto's Gion district, famed for its scenic cobbled streets lit by paper lanterns, traditional architecture, and association with geiko and maiko culture. Visit Pontocho alley, one of Japan's oldest nightlife areas, and stroll by teahouses as your guide offers insights into local culture.

Get an up-close perspective of Kyoto’s Arashiyama district on this small-group walking tour. Learn more about Kyoto’s history and culture as you visit Arashiyama highlights such as the beautiful bamboo grove, the 14th-century Tenryuji Temple, the wide Togetsukyo Bridge over the Katsura River, and more. Get a more intimate look at this rich part of town by exploring on foot for about four hours.

Start your day right on a fun small-group breakfast walking tour of Kyoto’s Nishiki Market. This is a great opportunity to learn more about local Japanese food while seeing some sights that you might otherwise miss. Start with a stroll through historic Gion before tucking into the delicacies on offer in the 400-year-old market that’s known as the “kitchen of Kyoto."

Sake—traditional rice wine—is Japan’s most famous drink, and Kyoto’s Fushimi District is renowned for its sake production, home to over 30 breweries. During this small-group experience, discover the wide varieties of sake and learn how to identify your preferences, led by a sake sommelier. Sample several different sakes, accompanied by tasty Japanese snacks, and leave with a cheat sheet to help you order your favorite sakes while in Japan.

Dress in traditional Japanese attire in this kimono and yukata experience in Kyoto. You won’t have to worry about wearing the clothing incorrectly as you’ll have a professional fitting session. Stroll around Gion, and visit nearby shrines such as Kiyomizu-dera and Heianjingu Shrine. The experience is flexible, and different time slots are offered throughout the day. You can also upgrade your experience to include makeup, and hair styling.