All Kyoto Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

This bus tour lets guest enjoy quick access to the popular scenic Sagano trolley train as well as an exciting river descent down the Hozugawa river in Kyoto, both of which are popular attractions in high demand and perfect for groups, families, and individuals who have limited time in Kyoto. These activities allow guests to appreciate the natural scenery of Kyoto's four seasons at any time of the year from both the train and boat. From cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, the changing leaves of autumn, or the snowy fields in winter, this tour will provide guests with unforgettable experiences and imagery. After the tour, guests will have time to explore the Arashiyama bamboo grove and surrounding area. Visit local souvenir and snack shops at this iconic Kyoto locale before getting back on the bus to head back to Kyoto Station.

Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride

7 hoursFree Cancellation

Kyoto: Kimono, Tea Ceremony with Japanese Garden and Studio

8 hoursFree Cancellation

Perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony dressed in a ceremonial kimono during this small-group cultural experience in Kyoto. Learn about the meaning of different kimono patterns and the history behind the tea ceremony from your guide, then watch the professional tea master prepare a cup of tea. Sip your tea and learn about Japanese manners during a tea ceremony, then enjoy the opportunity to try your hand at brewing your own.

Kyoto Tea Ceremony with Kimono near Imamiya Jinjya Shrine

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Embark on a half-day tour of Nara’s rich heritage. Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and interact with the sacred wild deer of Nara Park, believed to be divine messengers for over 1,200 years. Your tour starts with Kofuku-ji Temple, known for its five-story pagoda, then continues to Todai-ji Temple, where you’ll see the awe-inspiring Great Buddha statue. Your guide will share stories about these historic sites and Japanese Buddhism. Next, enjoy panoramic views from Nigetsu-do Temple, and walk to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, famous for its lanterns and deer. After exploring Nara Park, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. End the tour with a visit to a traditional old town, contrasting modern Tokyo, and see a merchant’s house to experience Nara’s past. This tour offers a unique mix of culture, nature, and history in Nara.

Nara: Half-Day Private Tour of 4 Must-See Spots & Deer Park

5 hoursFree Cancellation

Nara Private Tour Flexible Pickup from Kyoto Osaka or Nara

4 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

The tea ceremony is a cornerstone of traditional Japanese culture, but participating can feel intimidating to visitors. This small-group experience in Kyoto's Gion district lets you approach 'the way of tea' in a relaxed way, without the typical formality. Learn about the history of tea in Japan and how Zen philosophy shaped the ceremony while watching a master prepare tea. Afterward, make your own bowl of matcha and enjoy traditional sweets.

Traditional Tea Ceremony with Matcha and Sweets in Kyoto

Traditional Tea Ceremony with Matcha and Sweets in Kyoto

1 hourFree Cancellation

Kyoto Gion Night Walk & Geisha District Guided Tour

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Kyoto: Gion and Geisha District Walking Tour

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Explore Kyoto in Comfort and Style! Discover the timeless beauty of Kyoto on our exclusive, private day trip by car. Tailored just for you, we create a personalized itinerary based on your interests, allowing you to enjoy Kyoto’s iconic sights at your own pace. Visit renowned landmarks such as Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, and the tranquil bamboo forest of Arashiyama all in one day! The itinerary can be customized based on your requests.

Private Kyoto Customizable Day Tour with English Speaking Driver

8 to 10 hoursFree Cancellation

Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour & Geisha Culture

1 hour 40 minutesFree Cancellation

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

Kyoto Samurai Experience

Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

4 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

This is not just a sake tasting — it’s a 3-hour experience that will completely change how you understand and choose sake in Japan. Led by a sake specialist, you’ll go beyond “sweet or dry” and learn how sake is actually made, why flavors differ, and how to identify your own preferences with confidence. Visit the historic Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, then enjoy a guided tasting of multiple styles of sake paired with traditional snacks — with clear, practical explanations you can use anywhere in Japan. By the end of the tour, you will know which type of sake you truly like and how to select it without hesitation - enjoy sake not just during your travels, but as part of your life.

3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

Step into the elegance of Japanese tradition with an authentic kimono and tea ceremony experience in Kyoto. Begin by choosing your favorite kimono from our beautiful collection, with friendly staff helping you dress. Complimentary hair styling is also available for women to complete your traditional look. Once dressed, enter a peaceful Japanese-style tea room and discover the customs and rituals behind the tea ceremony. Your experienced instructor will demonstrate how to prepare matcha using traditional utensils, including the bamboo whisk (chasen). Then, try it yourself! Whisk your own bowl of matcha and enjoy it with traditional Japanese sweets. More than simply watching a ceremony, this is a hands-on cultural experience where you can dress, learn, participate, and taste. Enjoy a memorable journey into Japanese culture in the heart of Kyoto.

Kyoto: Kimono & Traditional Matcha Tea Ceremony

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Skip the lines Basic Ticket at SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM KYOTO

1 hourFree Cancellation

Private Nara Tour and Sake Tasting (Departing from Kyoto/Nara)

4 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

30 minutes to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

Kyoto Rickshaw Tour

Kyoto Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hours

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Covering Kyoto’s top UNESCO World Heritage sites in a few hours on your own is difficult. Simplify your experience on this half-day morning tour. Visit Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), and the former Imperial Palace, with entrance fees and transport included. Depart from Kyoto or Osaka and travel comfortably between landmarks by vehicle, making the most of your limited time in the city. Entrance fees included.

Kyoto Morning Tour: Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle & Imperial Palace

Kyoto Morning Tour: Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle & Imperial Palace

4 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

Kyoto Arashiyama Chopstick Making Workshop

1 hourFree Cancellation

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.

Kyoto Premium Night Foodie Tour in Gion(9+dishes + Sake tastings)

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Garden & Secrets

5 hoursFree Cancellation

The streets of Kyoto's Gion geisha district are always packed full of tourists during the day. Avoid the daytime crowds and enjoy a more authentic experience of the culture-rich district on this small-group nighttime walking tour. Go beyond the typical tourist sights to uncover the deep history and veiled traditions as you explore geisha secrets, historic sites, and the “real Japan” most visitors never find. In addition to Gion, you'll also visit other well-preserved historic parts of Kyoto.

Kyoto 5-Star Gion Geisha Walk – Small-Group Authentic Experience

Kyoto 5-Star Gion Geisha Walk – Small-Group Authentic Experience

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in Kyoto

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What are people saying about Kyoto

Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha

Elin_B, Oct 2026

Great tour with Michael, highly recommend

We had a great tour with Michael who was very knowledgeable about the area and Geishas. The tour was interesting and Michael was also quite funny and shared some personal experiences. We also got to see many places and different buildings, and the group size was also good. We would love to do another tour with Michael and highly recommend this to anyone visiting Kyoto.

1 Hour Geisha Show in Kyoto

Luke_R, Oct 2026

Great experience well worth the money!

The best experience I have had in Japan! Maiko was amazing and playing the game was a lot of fun (Despite me losing) The Q&A was very informative I certainly learnt a lot about the life of Geisha and Meiko. We went to the nearby shrine where we took pictures with Meiko.

Kyoto: Gion Food Tour 13 Dishes at 4 Eateries

Marvin_P, Oct 2026

Saw a really cool side of Kyoto

We had a great time on this tour. Thunder was real nice, funny and full of great information, not only about the food, but also history and the culture. While I didn't enjoy every bite of food, the tour itself was top notch. The tour also pulled us to a part of Kyoto we had not visited before and now we can't wait to go back. You will try several types of food and several variations within each style.

From Kyoto / Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

PENELOPEYF_T, Oct 2026

A great tour of key spots in Kyoto

Along day but a lot was covered. Generally a very good trip. The only thing to improve are the instructions on where the tour. The named spot was not signed. Something more simple like in front of the AVANTI Building would have been much clearer. Our guide , Charles, was very informative, had a good sense of humour and kept us on time.

10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour

Claudia_A, Oct 2026

Best way to see Kyoto's Cultural Roots

This was an incredible way to see the Kyoto, great personal experience, we felt engaged with the sites, the culture and people. Our guide Naru was super easy to talk to, we felt like we knew him, he guided us with care as if we were his friends. Highly recomend this business.

Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Kurt_D, Oct 2026

Super duper guide!

This was the absolute right decision. We also won the lottery.with Kiyoshi. He was knowledgeable, wise, at the right pace to our day, and a consummate gentleman. He honored all of our requests and made many excellent additional selections. Completely worth it. Also a great selection of taxis and trains. Great lunch selection, also. All around, a 10 out of 10.

Kyoto Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Geisha

Jacques_F, Oct 2026

A highlight to our trip to Kyoto!

We really enjoyed ourselves! The staff did a great job and were very engaged with the crowd. The ability to use the app to order drinks and food that came directly to the table was great and allowed us to focus on just being there. The food and service were on point. The young woman who facilitated the event along with the wresters did a fantastic job demonstrating the history and fundamentals of this tradition. Speaking to that point, the Geisha demonstration only added to the level of enjoyment. We loved how they took care of us and made this a spot recommending. We would easily recommend this as a must to do while visiting Kyoto. Thank you Kyoto Sumo Club for your time and hospitality!! 改めてありがとうございます。

Authentic Knife Making Experience at a Blacksmith in Kyoto

Marita_B, Oct 2026

Fantastic Activity

This activity was really fun! We started with a metel bar, and the we turned it into a knife. We started with coal to heat it up, and used a hammer to shape it. After that, we sharpened the knife by using a sand machine. In the end we got a handel to put it on and how to maintain it. Great people helping us the whole way!!😃👍

Award-Winning Authentic Ramen Making Experience in Kyoto

Stacey_K, Sept 2026

Fun, interactive cooking class!

Fun interactive cooking class where you actually cook your own meal! This was a super fun course where we learned a lot about Japanese ramen’s history as well as the ingredients that make it delicious. The instructor, Elsa, was informative as well as adorable in getting to know each of us during our session.

Hiroshima & Miyajima 1-Day Tour from Osaka, Kyoto or Hiroshima

Anett_B, Sept 2026

Impressive tour

It's an amazing tour! We got all including tour except for lunch. An agent met us at Osaka train station, very easy to find, accompanied us to the train and our full day guide Joe met us after exiting the train station in Hiroshima. The smart part of the trip was that we first went to Miyajima Island by ferry to see Torii ref gate in the water because later the water goes away and the gate will be on the sand. Unless you wanna go to restaurants and see night view, the gate shrine is definitely more impressive during the day. Lunch on the island is amazing because it's known for large pacific oysters and lots of clean restaurants and street food. We had over 2 hour free time to go around shop and eat. Later we went to Hiroshima for history

Hiroshima & Miyajima Tour From Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka

Ronald_C, Sept 2026

Worthwhile day trip

What a great, well-organized, and full day. Meeting at Shin-Osaka station in the morning was easy. The day basically included visit to 1) the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and 2) Miyajima Island. The Museum was a powerful experience. For Miyajima Island, there was enough time to walk around, take lots of pictures of the Great Torii from the sea, but not enough time to take the cable car. Lunch was OK. I don't know if different counters (which may be different owners) provided different experiences. At my counter, the Okonomiyaki had only one small piece of meat (that seems less than usual), and the soft drink was a partial glass. When we asked for more soft drink (it was a very hot day), we were told that would be 300 yen. That seems excessive. I wish the tour company would control the lunch quality better.