Top Kyoto Prefecture How to Get Around

Gion is known for its geisha culture and traditions, and this walking tour takes you to explore the hidden alleyways and places that most visitors miss. Learn insider stories about geisha life, with the chance to spot geisha along the way. The walk also takes in quiet backstreets, a 1,000-year-old shrine, and some of Kyoto’s most photogenic locations.

Embark on a journey through time in Kyoto and Nara, where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity. In Nara Park, encounter the free-roaming deer that charmingly bow to you in hopes of a treat. Explore the magnificent torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, and visit the Arashiyama area, which includes the serene Bamboo Forest, Nonomiya Shrine, UNESCO World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji Temple, the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama Rilakkuma Tea House and the beautiful Kimono Forest. Depart from Osaka or Kyoto, experience a magical fusion of nature and history with our friendly and professional guide.

If your time in Kyoto is limited and you want to see lots of its famous sights in a day, then this private guided tour is an excellent choice. Explore the city with a private guide to take care of navigating. Along the way, tick off 10 top attractions including the beautiful temple of Kiyomizu-dera, the geisha district of Gion, lush bamboo groves, and plenty more scenic surprises.

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.

Enjoy this half day walking tour of beautiful Kyoto. You’ll be led by your English speaking guide. Learn about the history, culture, religion, and the nature of this area. You’ll make stops at the Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni, Tatsumi Bridge, Chion-in Temple, Maruyama Park, Nene-no-Michi, Yasaka Pagoda, and Ninen Zaka Path.

Delve into Uji's captivating culture and history on this exclusive walking tour. Visit the UNESCO-listed Byodoin Temple, renowned for its architectural beauty and historical allure. Participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Taihoan, the birthplace of Japan's green tea, where you'll learn the intricacies of this revered practice. Enjoy scenic strolls across picturesque suspension bridges and explore sacred sites like Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine. Conclude your journey with a taste of Uji's famed green tea and local delicacies, making this tour a perfect blend of culture, tradition, and scenic beauty.

The magic of Kyoto’s Gion district is best experienced when it’s all lit up at night. Enjoy a more personalized approach to discovering Japan’s traditional culture on this small group tour. Wander through narrow back streets and see offbeat temples and shrines that most tourists don’t know to visit. If you’re lucky, you may even see a maiko or geisha.

Explore many of Nara's top landmarks in just one day on this deluxe, full-day coach tour. Heading out from Kyoto, pass by Fushimi Castle and Heijo Palace, before arriving in Nara. Visit Todai-ji Temple—one of the world’s largest wooden buildings—then meet the 1,400 deer that inhabit Nara Park. A stop at Kasuga Taisha Shrine is followed by a Japanese-style lunch (if selected). Finally, visit the Uji area of Kyoto, where you'll make and sample traditional matcha tea.

Take a tour of the Kyoto bamboo forest by rickshaw, and on foot, to explore every part of it. First you’ll be pulled by your guide through the green bamboo on a path reserved for rickshaws. Then pass by Nonomiya Shrine and stop for photos at a little park. The last leg is on foot, where you’ll walk to an impressive part of the forest. Early morning is best to avoid the crowds.

This guided tour helps you discover Kyoto’s dispersed temples, shrines, and cultural attractions in one day. Save time researching and planning your trip, by having the itinerary organized for you. Travel in an air-conditioned coach for a hassle-free day. Highlights include Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sagano Bamboo Forest, and Kinkaku-ji Temple—admission tickets are included for all.

Kyoto offers countless attractions, but navigating public transportation can be time-consuming. Skip the language barriers and the train confusion with this hassle-free private car tour. Travel comfortably in a private vehicle and follow a carefully crafted itinerary tailored to your interests, with possible stops including Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.

Discover Kyoto’s picturesque Arashiyama district without doing any research or itinerary planning, thanks to this efficient small-group walking tour. Meet your guide at Tully's Coffee near Randen Arashiyama Station before exploring the famous Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple, Nonomiya Shrine, and Monkey Park Iwatayama to see the macaques. Admission is included, saving time waiting in line. This tour lasts about 3 to 4 hours, offering a compact yet immersive experience.

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.

Get a more comprehensive understanding of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove as you expore the surrounding area on an electric bike tour. Cover more ground than you ever could by walking as you visit stunning temples and areas away from the main tourist hubs. The tour includes everything you need, including a bike, helmet, temple fees, and snacks.

Embark on a journey through time in Kyoto, Nara and Uji, where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity. In Nara Park, encounter the free-roaming deer that charmingly bow to you in hopes of a treat and visit the impressive Todai-ji Temple. Explore the magnificent torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and discover the city of Uji, renowned for its green tea production. Stroll along the cobblestone path of Byodo-in Omotesando, a paradise for matcha green tea lovers. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Byodo-in Temple, which features its Phoenix Hall built in 1053-highlighted on the obverse side of the 10 yen coin. Depart from Osaka or Kyoto, experience a magical fusion of nature and history with our friendly and professional guide.

This is not a typical walk through Gion. Instead of simply passing through Kyoto’s most famous district, this experience helps you understand what most visitors are actually looking at, but rarely notice. Led by a local guide who has lived in Japan for over ten years, this walk is shaped by daily life, storytelling, and a genuine passion for Kyoto’s culture. As we move through Gion at a relaxed pace, with time for photos and questions, you will gain a clear understanding of how the world of geisha truly functions, their arts, traditions, and the rules that shape their daily lives. Rather than focusing on chasing geisha sightings, this experience gives you the context to understand the atmosphere, the behavior, and the meaning behind what you see around you. Gion can be busy, but once you understand what you are looking at, the experience becomes completely different. By the end of the walk, you will not just have seen Gion, you will understand it.

Kyoto is famous for its “geisha” culture, and this experience offers a rare chance to watch a real “maiko” (apprentice “geisha”) perform up close. Sightings like this are increasingly uncommon, making it an experience many travelers miss. During the show, enjoy traditional dances, take part in a question-and-answer session, and play a classic Japanese game too.

Even if you’ve only got limited time in Japan, the country’s super-speedy bullet trains let you maximize your days there—but lining up to buy tickets can take hours. This private day trip lets you tick off the highlights of Kyoto and Nara from Tokyo within a day, saving you hours of logistical planning and helping you avoid navigating websites in Japanese. Your guide will meet you at your arrival station so you can jump straight into sightseeing. Note that while bullet train booking is taken care of, the ticket isn't included in the tour price.

With this Kyoto tour, you can combine multiple experiences in a day—including a walk in a zen garden, a visit to Tofukuji Temple, and a chance to learn the fundamentals of zen meditation. The group size is kept small, which gives you excellent access to your guide for questions, and you can also enjoy a vegetarian Shojin lunch along the way.

The greatest feature of this activity is that it is a fully private experience combining a guided walk around the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ujigami Shrine with an authentic matcha experience. Led by a former maiko, the experience goes beyond the taste of matcha to introduce the essence of Japanese culture through movement, space, and ma. The subtle sense of pause and harmony, explained in a clear and approachable way. After tasting several varieties of matcha, you will also prepare your own bowl of matcha in a traditional tearoom. By seeing, listening, tasting, and practicing, you can experience Japanese tea culture in a truly immersive way. As this is a completely private experience, it allows families and couples to enjoy a calm and intimate time without concern for other participants.

Embark on a journey through time in Kyoto & Nara, where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity. In Nara Park, encounter the free-roaming deer that charmingly bow to you in hopes of a treat and visit the magnificent torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. Explore the Arashiyama area, which includes the Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine, UNESCO World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji Temple, Kimono Forest and Arashiyama Park Nakanoshima Area. Depart from Osaka or Kyoto, experience a magical fusion of nature and history with our friendly and professional guide.

Kyoto’s Arashiyama district is famous for its Bamboo Grove, but it’s more than just a place to take a great photo. Learn about Arashiyama’s history, temples, and culture from your guide on this small-group walking tour. Visit hidden and less-crowded gems such Tenryuji Temple, Okochi Sanso Garden, and the Monkey Forest. A combined Fushimi Inari option is also available for a fuller experience.

Nara's Great Buddha and free-roaming deer are the reason most travelers make the trip from Kyoto, and this private tour starts early enough to reach them before the tour buses arrive. Walk through Nara Park to Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and the hilltop hall of Nigatsu-do with a local guide, then round off the tour with a sake tasting at the Harushika brewery (own expense).