Kyoto Private Night Tour with a Local – Bars, Bites & Culture
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Stroll the back alleys of Kyoto, missed by many visitors, as dusk falls and they are at their most atmospheric on this private guided tour. In the company of just a guide and your party, see how ancient tradition blends with contemporary culture as you explore the enchanting wooden alleyways lit with traditional paper lanterns in the historic Gion district and the picturesque streets of old Pontocho, where, with luck, you might spot a geisha or two.
- Private tour exclusively for your party
- Explore hidden corners of historic neighborhoods as dusk falls
- Get insights into local life and culture from your guide
- Flexibility to customize the tour to your preferences
What's Included
- Two drinks (choice of local beer or non-alcoholic beverage)
- Private and personalized 4-hour walking experience with a passionate local host
- Pre-tour questionnaire to tailor the experience to your preferences
- Direct communication with your host for itinerary planning and local recommendations
- Additional food, drinks, and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Kyoto (Pass By)
Gion (Pass By)
Gion Shimbashi Bridge (Pass By)
Pontocho District (Pass By)
Yasaka Shrine (Pass By)
Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- After booking, you'll receive a short questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 48 reviews
Ezequiel_M, Dec 2025
Very informative and organized
Our guide, Amy, customized a plan and was very friendly throughout the tour !
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're happy that you had an informative and organized experience with Amy. It's wonderful that she was able to customize the tour to your preferences and that you enjoyed her friendly company throughout the day. We appreciate you sharing your feedback and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Glen_M, Sep 2025
We had a truly awesome tour with our guide, Mia. She was incredibly knowledgeable and was able to shape the tour to our requirements. Absolutely excellent. Our only criticism that we didn’t receive the promised two drinks which we had forgotten were included.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
So glad to hear you had such an excellent tour with Mia — it’s wonderful that she tailored the experience so well and shared her knowledge with you. I’m sorry to hear about the missed drinks, and we’ll follow this up internally to make sure such inclusions are not overlooked in the future. Thanks for pointing it out and for sharing such kind feedback!
Tricia_G, Jul 2025
Amazing experience seeing the Gion area in the evening, would highly recommend doing this one on one experience
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We’re thrilled the one-on-one format made your experience special, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you on another City Unscripted adventure in the future!
Rebecca_C, Apr 2025
One of our favorite activities! Oulan was extremely knowledgeable, and we enjoyed exploring the Gion district with him. He was eager to answer all of our questions, and is an excellent photographer to boot. Highly recommend spending your time with Oulan!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great time exploring the Gion district with Oulan. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Neha_D, Mar 2025
This was a highlight! And Goku was the best tour guide. We got to take a train, experience off the beaten path areas, had a local meal, and saw a different part of Kyoto. So much fun and Goku answered all our questions. Very patient with our big party
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Great to hear you had a good time with Goku in Kyoto! Thank you for your positive review—it means a lot to us.
Brian_K, Dec 2024
Andy was a wonderful guide. He had already laid out the best places to see for our night tour of Gion. The night tour gave us a different look of Kyoto, and was interesting to see. While the day is full of crowds, at night you are able to quietly move through small streets and alleyways and see things you might never during the day. We got lucky and saw Maiko and Geiko on our journey, and never would have otherwise. Andy not only showed us great spots but also had a wealth of knowledge to answer all of my questions about what makes this part of Japan so unique, and the history of how it came to be.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that you had an unforgettable experience with Andy on your Gion night tour. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Kenneth_M, Dec 2024
We had a wonderful evening with Austen on our Kyoto night tour. He was extremely knowledgeable and stuck to the planned itinerary of combining iconic and contemporary Kyoto. I would highly recommend him.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful evening with Austen and enjoyed his blend of iconic and contemporary Kyoto insights. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we hope to host you again soon!
MYH, Jul 2024
Our tour with MIKI was AMAZING. She is a true local with a deep knowledge and love for Kyoto. Her communication leading up to our tour was great and so thoughtful - she really wanted to know our wish list and checked in via WhatsApp, as well as during our actual tour on what she recommended next and always asked "does it sound good?"
She planned the most stunning tour for us, she knew all of the secret spots - every single moment was breathtaking. Look at the photos! She also knew a secret for bypassing what had to be an hour long line of a special Sakura show - we could not believe our luck and of course, all credit to Miki!
This was 1 of 4 tours during our time in Kyoto and Tokyo and our two teenage sons shared how much they really enjoyed Miki and her tour. She is so friendly with a wonderful energy that she made the mostly walking tour SO fun for them and us! She helped us make memories for our family forever.
We are recommending Miki to all of our friends who are now planning their trip for Sakura Season 2025. Plan now, because she will book up fast!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
We're especially glad that your teenage sons enjoyed the tour and found Miki's energy and friendliness made the experience fun for everyone. We can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable experience!
Sandra_K, May 2024
Guid Nehal very helpful and agreed to modify the trip to suit elderly people. Thoughtful and considerate guide. No one should miss this trip when in Kyoto. The food and drink venue unique - good fun.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your kind words! Nehal’s thoughtfulness and flexibility truly shine, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone. Glad you had fun with the unique food and drink venue—Kyoto is always special!
David_B, Apr 2024
We had a fantastic time and Michael was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable and showed us parts of Kyoto that we would not have seen. He was extremely friendly and chatty, which made us feel so at ease. Loved the whole experience and could not fault anything. We would definitely recommend Michael as a guide. Thank you
Response from Host, Apr 2024
We're thrilled that Michael was able to share his knowledge and show you unique parts of Kyoto. Thanks a million for the recommendation, and we'd love to have you back for more adventures.
Ed_S, Apr 2024
Nehal was an amazing guide for this tour. Our family loved it. He was very knowledgeable about Gion and great company! Thank you!!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
It's fantastic to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with Nehal as your guide! His knowledge about Gion and his great company undoubtedly made your tour memorable. Thank you for sharing your appreciation, and I'm glad to hear that your family loved the tour!
cesareceni, Apr 2024
Amazing night walk with stunning Vanessa, highly recommend 🙏
visiting Kyoto after 5pm gives a different feeling of this magnificent town
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Think of us next time you travel, we have a network of over 1,200 hosts around the world. I am so happy to hear you had a great time with Vanessa! Your words are cherished!
Linda_D, Mar 2024
Wonderful tour with Brenda. She has a deep knowledge of the area, and pointed out and took me to places I never would have found or noticed on my own. We had a wonderful drink and snack at a LOCAL izakawa, that didn't offer any English translations ... absolutely delicious.
Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto and savored the delicious drink and snack at a local Izakaya. Your positive review warms our hearts. Many thanks to you!
Bethany_R, Mar 2024
We are really grateful for the opportunity to have Hanako as a tour guide! We saw historic streets and enjoyed drinks by the river like the locals do! Hanako shared with us many fascinating stories and insights about Japan ranging from hundreds of years ago to modern times. She was also very kind to those of other faiths like myself as a Christian when opting not to pray at a shrine, and she was good at explaining the biggest religions of Japan. She gave us great recommendations for restaurants and stores to shop, letting us know that Kyoto is home to Nintendo’s main office (we later walked past it after the tour and knew the building’s significance)! Hanako was super fun to meet, and it was special being able to share time together. I was quite sad to see her go at the end, but she had recommended to us a super yummy place for dinner after the tour so it was time. Thank you so much for the hard work and friendliness! Hanako, we so appreciate you!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
We're delighted to hear that you had such a memorable and enjoyable experience with Hanako as your tour guide in Kyoto. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Hanako!
Rafidah_O, Mar 2024
The guide assigned to us changed the timing of the tour 2 times in 2 days leading up to the tour. The first change was the day before the tour and the 2nd change was a few hours before the tour. We only have 4 days in Kyoto and have set all our activities prior to coming here so that we could cover as many attractions as possible. Changing the timing of the tour just mess our plans up.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Rafidah,
I completely understand your frustration with the changes in the timing of your tour. We understand the importance of sticking to a set schedule, especially when you have limited time to explore the city. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we will review our scheduling processes to ensure that such changes never happen. Our team hopes to have the opportunity to provide you with a smoother experience in the future.
Warm regards,
Ruslan and the City Unscripted Team.
Ebony_L, Mar 2024
Our tour guide, Toga, was great. He responded promptly to our discussions prior to our tour. He was knowledgeable about the city. I asked to go to speakeasy bars and even had my own specific request which he incorporated and even took us to a very cool bar. I would recommend Toga and this tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
It's wonderful that Toga was able to accommodate your specific requests and take you to a cool bar. Thank you for recommending Toga and the tour!
Jordan_L, Mar 2024
Sam was a fantastic tour guide and we had a lot of fun! We were able to see a lot and visit several shops and try a lot of new foods. We also went to Yanaka shrine and it was beautiful to see at night. Would highly recommend Sam, he was great and made a very memorable experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with Sam! Yanaka Shrine sounds like a beautiful highlight of your tour. We appreciate your recommendation!
ADAM_L, Jan 2024
Absolutely excellent. Super interesting. Relaxed vibe. Quality locations. Guide was a real professional and very knowledgeable. Thanks 🙏
Response from Host, Jan 2024
We're thrilled you had an absolutely excellent experience! The relaxed vibe, quality locations, and knowledgeable guide made it special. Thank you for your kind words!
Corinne_G, Nov 2023
This experience was incredible! Axel is an extremely knowledgeable guide studying Japanese culture and language. We walked all over Kyoto, drank at small local meet-up bars and were even lucky enough to see Geisha. Getting to learn about the history and culture of such a vibrant city, while out on the town was truly a delight! Cannot recommend this tour enough!
Response from Host, Dec 2023
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with Axel, feeling as if you were with a knowledgeable friend. We look forward to the chance to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience!
Verdune_B, Nov 2023
Sasha was a great guide - his knowledge and experience were extensive, and he was glad to share what he knew; he took us to places we would never have found on our own.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Sasha's knowledge and experience enhanced your tour experience. It's our goal to provide unique and enriching experiences that you might not discover on your own. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future.
ALI_H, Nov 2023
Our tour guide’s name was Taiga. This night tour in Kyoto was absolutely enchanting. Taiga was incredibly knowledgeable about the city and its hidden gems and also passionate about sharing the rich history of the temples and shrines. He took us to breathtaking spots, shared fascinating stories and historical insights along the way. It was a truly immersive experience, and I highly recommend this night tour with Taiga for an unforgettable adventure in Japan (Kyoto) 🇯🇵😊 You will not regret this!
Thank you Taiga for this amazing tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
I'm so happy you had a great time exploring Kyoto with Taiga! He's a gem, isn't he? Thanks a million for the recommendation and we'd love to have you back for more adventures.
Tamara_J, Oct 2023
This was one of the best walking tours we've been on. Our host, Taiga, was absolutely brilliant - he took us through a number of hidden back streets and alleys of Gion that were off the tourist path, and was a wealth of information about the history of the area.
We visited a local Shrine and Taiga told us about the difference between a shrine and a temple, and really personalised the information to our interests. He also took us to a local restaurant and bar where we samples some local dishes.
He was great fun and we thoroughly enjoyed walking around Gion with him, learning about the history, culture and traditions of the area. We'd recommend this tour to anyone looking to uncover some hidden gems in one of the world's most magical cities.
Ye_L, Oct 2023
Gion area and the other part of the city center in the night time is so different. Although this night tour is more for the bar-hopping, but guide Kenya has adjusted the itinerary to show us various aspects of night Kyoto where only locals know.
Dina_S, Oct 2023
Alex our guide had fantastic knowledge about the area and the history. He showed us some hidden gems. Great tour to do at night as the streets were not crowded
Praveena_S, Oct 2023
This tour was excellent way to see Kyoto at night. It’s beautiful with all the lights etc. our tour guide Kento was awesome and he followed all our interests and took us to great places and off beaten paths which we had requested. Highly recommend this tour to see the Gion district at night
Alfred_H, Aug 2023
I had a great time at the Fushimi Inari shrine! The guide showed a genuine interest in providing a great experience.
cposgay, Aug 2023
We had mentioned that we wanted to try Okonomiyaki and Kenya did not rest until he found a spot that served it. He also introduced us to Sparkling Sake which we really enjoyed. He is a knowledgeable and personable guide and we all really enjoyed our evening with him.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Hi! I am so happy to hear that Kenya did it again! He is a great host and always tries his very best to personalize the experience for our guests. Your review has brightened our day. Your support means the world!
Bobbi_F, Jun 2023
Chai was a wonderful guide. She made it fun and engaging, and she has an amazing ability to capture the perfect picture in the night of Gion. Her knowledge of the city, areas and history is exceptional. Her personality is warm and friendly. The night flew by as we felt we were in the company of a long time friend. I highly recommend Chai.
Courtney_C, Jun 2023
Highly recommend and thoroughly enjoyed our private tour. We ventured into areas we wouldn’t have seen otherwise and our guide was absolutely fantastic!
Christine_C, Jun 2023
It pains me to write a bad review but this tour was an entire waste of $255 so I would like to save another family this money and tell them to do another tour through a licensed company like ToursbyLocals. We thought this would be a cool night tour walking through Gion District and learning about the history as well as stopping at some fun places for food and drinks. In my survey request, I asked for history, culture, place for great coffee or cocktails and then taste local fare. This was not the case. We went to visit a Shrine (that was fine although the history could have been better described) but then after that we just walked around a highly dense area with little information given. We ended up at a cheesy Ice Cream shop and a mediocre dinner. We spent 4 hours with our guide and it felt more like, "walk around, get your steps in and bring a stranger to dinner". Our guide wasn't local and his level of knowledge of Kyoto was not of a true guide. We took other amazing tours in Kyoto through TourswithLocals with a licensed Japanese guide and learned so much. This was not the case on this tour although I am hard pressed to call this a tour. Everyone was so greatly disappointed.
From $148.31
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Kyoto Private Night Tour with a Local – Bars, Bites & Culture
48
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$148.31
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Kyoto, Japan
- Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) Tours & Tickets
- Arashiyama Park Tours & Tickets
- Teramachi Street Tours & Tickets
- Kodai-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Nijo-jo Castle Tours & Tickets
- Sagano Tours & Tickets
- Nishi Hongan-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion) Tours & Tickets
- Gion Corner Tours & Tickets
- Daitoku-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine) Tours & Tickets
- Myoshin-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) Tours & Tickets
- Kyoto Station Tours & Tickets
- Tenryu-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- The Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku-no-michi) Tours & Tickets
- Pontocho Alley Tours & Tickets
- Kamogawa River (Kamo River) Tours & Tickets