Top Kyoto Arts & Design

Get more out of time in Kyoto with this exciting cultural experience in Kyoto’s Kagai district. Visit the Gion Kagai Art Museum—with admission included so you don’t have to wait in ticket lines—and enjoy the special opportunity to watch “geiko” and “maiko” sing and dance during a live performance in the atmospheric banquet room.

Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with this tour, you can discover its highlights. To save time waiting in ticket lines, admission is included, and a guide accompanies you as you walk around the grounds. Along the way, hear stories about shogun and emperor rivalry, discover the castle’s most photogenic places, and learn about its history.

Gion, Kyoto's famed geisha district, is packed full of tourists during the day making it difficult to get a sense of the area's culture. Avoid the biggest groups and immerse yourself in Japanese heritage on this small-group walking tour that leads you through the elegant streets after dark, while geisha and maiko make their way to their appointments.

Take a tour of Kyoto's famous Gion district and learn all about the mysterious geisha traditions of the area. Get an insider’s perspective on facts about geisha culture that tourists usually miss, and pass by shops, shrines, and beautiful temples. To elevate your experience, the tour also includes a geisha show with an apprentice geisha, where you can watch a dance performance and ask questions.

Learn traditional Japanese calligraphy during a hands-on workshop led by an experienced instructor. Discover special techniques, such as how to correctly use a brush, and receive insider tips you wouldn’t get from a book. All materials are provided, including brushes, ink, and washi paper, which saves you time sourcing your own equipment. Then, at the end of the session, you can take home your finished calligraphy—a perfect keepsake to remember your time in Japan.

Sightsee through Kansai’s most scenic areas, seeing iconic landmarks in Nara and Kyoto in one day, without the hassle of changing trains or getting lost. With pickup times in either Osaka or Kyoto, board a convenient tour bus to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kinkaku-ji and Todaiji Temple as well as 1000 vermilion gates of Fushimi-Inari Shrine and scenic Nara Park.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, as you explore Buddhist temples, shrines and the famous Nara deer park on this excursion from Kyoto. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that’s home to more than 1,000 deer.

Experience the rare opportunity to step inside a traditional Kyoto machiya, a wooden Japanese townhouse, and immerse yourself in the uniquely Japanese culture of the tea ceremony. In a small group of no more than six people, learn the basic concepts and ideas of tea ceremony, as well as the required etiquette. Watch a demonstration of the way of tea, then make your own. Your instructor guides you in how to drink it and also serve you a traditional Japanese cake.

Traditional Japanese crafts are tricky for outsiders to try their hand at. This class at the Kyoto Shibori Museum guides you through the technique of how to dye a silk scarf using the kyo-arashi shibori method. You can customize your scarf to your own color preferences and leave with an elegant scarf to serve as a souvenir of your trip to Kyoto. While your fabric is drying, you are free to browse the museum displays and try on a shibori kimono.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Japan’s most popular and beautiful shrines. Thousands of people visit it every day to see the 1,000 magnificent torii gates. But most do not get the full story behind the pretty pictures they take. Join me on this self-guided audio tour as we delve into the history behind the Shinto rituals and beliefs linked to this amazing shrine. We’ll take an easy stroll among the tranquil forest scenery. You'll be one of a few who will discover the real power of this shrine that has been influencing people's lives over 1,300 years. The landmarks include: • The unique fox statues dotted across the shrine • An unmatched vista of the thousand bright red torii gates • The Heavy-Light Stone where you can make a wish Let’s take a stroll and found out why this ancient shrine has lessons that can still be learned today.

Discover the Zen gardens, colorful temples, and ancient shrines of Kyoto on this small-group walking tour that’s limited to just 12 participants. Experience the elegant architecture and religious monuments of this historic Japanese city, once the imperial capital, as you join a guide on visits to the Gion Geisha district, Tofukuji Temple, and more.

Fans of matcha will appreciate this hands-on workshop on Japanese tea, which combines instructive lessons in traditional matcha preparation with a bonafide tea ceremony experience. Listen to enriching background on the little-known history behind the sacred ritual, once favored by monks and samurais. Learn how to brew top-quality matcha from an organic farm, and enjoy your tea with cakes from a famous Kyoto confectionary—all in a traditional townhouse.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT ENTRY POLICY - PLEASE READ: 1. VOUCHER IS NOT A TICKET: The booking confirmation/voucher from this platform will NOT be accepted at the gates. 2. OFFICIAL TICKETS REQUIRED: You must present the OfficiaE-Tickets for entry. We will send them to your email and platform inbox within 7 days before your visit (please check your spam folder). 3. Strict Booking: Once confirmed, dates/times are strictly non- modifiable. Thank you for understanding. TeamLab's exhibitions resonate directly with traditional Japanese aesthetics, drawing parallels to Zen gardens and fusuma-e. Exploring the congruencies between their digital installations and Kyoto's historical vistas offers a profound avenue for deeper cultural immersion. Addtional Information 1. Children aged 0 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older. Each adult may escort a maximum of three children. 2. Parking is not provided; please utilize public transportation.

This is a perfect pick for nature lovers, and those interested in Japanese spirituality. Put away the guidebook and follow the lead of a landscape designer with over 15 years’ experience. It’s a great way to discover secret local spots that you wouldn’t discover otherwise, and to understand more about the meaning behind zen gardens.

This private tour is not for the casual observer—it’s an immersive exploration of architecture, philosophy, design, and the psychology of local life. If these subjects don’t intrigue you, this tour is not for you. Away from the fleeting highlights of TikTok—which I personally dislike—this private tour is designed for the opposite: depth. Rather than simply announcing Googled facts like many guides, I aim to unveil the essence of Japan that curious travelers are truly seeking. The soul of the country is revealed through well-known sights, with discussions and debates as we peel back Japan layer by layer. [ Warning ] If you’re not into architecture, design, philosophy, or psychology, this tour isn’t for you. [ Notice ] This tour is completely private, meaning it will be only the travelers in your booking—no one else will join.

Joining this tour will give you an insight into Japanese history and sake. SAKE Master will tell you the secret of excellent SAKE. You will know the difference with your tongue. Let's have fresh SAKE! You can also enjoy a set of 17 kinds of drinks compared with the top image that is famous on SNS. Why not embark on a journey to find the best sake while walking the streets of Kyoto with a local guide? Enjoy a very scenic view. Let's go together. ・Discover Fushimi's rich sake culture with a local guide. ・Visit three diverse sake breweries for tastings. ・Explore the historic Fushimi sake district, one of Japan's top regions. ・Uncover centuries-old sake-making secrets. ・Gain insights into sake production at the Gekkeikan Brewery, established in 1637.

Secure your exclusive timed-entry ticket to step beyond observation and become the artist. This isn't just a viewing—it's an invitation to control a living vortex. Your movements directly dictate the swirling lights, shifting colors, and evolving soundscape within this immersive digital universe. Each interaction creates a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, ensuring no two visits are ever the same. By booking, you guarantee entry to this transformative nocturnal experience at the Kyoto Botanical Gardens, where nature and technology spectacularly collide.

Big group tours typically take you to crowded spots and follow a tight itinerary but this private tour of Kyoto promises a personalized, more flexible experience. In the company of just your chosen travel companions (up to 10 max) ride around the ancient Japanese city in a private vehicle and discover the hidden gems, from secret temples to local stores, that most tourists miss.

Unlike typical Kyoto temple visits, this guided tour of Sanjūsangen-dō offers rare insight into one of Japan’s most mysterious and visually stunning sacred spaces. While photography is not allowed inside, our expert guide brings the hidden stories of the temple to life — from the purpose of its 1,001 golden Kannon statues to the meaning behind the number 33 and the origins of this awe-inspiring structure. This tour is designed for curious minds. You won’t just walk through the temple — you’ll understand it. With a compact 1.5-hour format, it’s the perfect addition to your Kyoto itinerary, whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler seeking something truly unique.

Discover Kyoto’s magical Gion district, which is known for being the city’s Geisha area. Don't worry about language barriers, as a guide is there to help you translate and explain the difference between maiko, geiko, and other Japanese words. The unmarked narrow streets of Gion can make it easy to get lost at night, but this is not a problem with a guide to navigate and lead the way. Upgrade to a longer, private tour for a closer look at Geisha culture.

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.