Kyoto Private Custom Walk: Iconic Highlights or Quiet Serenity?
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 3 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Swap crowded group tours for the intimate alternative of a private walking tour in Kyoto. Save time reading guidebooks and join a guide on an exciting itinerary to check off a curated list of highlights—such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Nishiki Market. A private tour means you can ask plenty of questions along the way, and you can also visit off-the-beaten-path locations too.
- Get your bearings of Kyoto with a private guide to navigate
- Lots to see—including temples, shrines, and natural wonders
- A private tour ensures the guide’s undivided attention
- Learn about local history and culture as you explore
What's Included
- Tour customization
- Pre/post-tour planning for your trip
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- We kindly ask our guests to cover the cost of things above for the guide as well as yours.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Itinerary
1
Tenryuji Temple
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Arashiyama Kimono Forest
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Togetsukyo Bridge
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Kinkakuji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
6
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
7
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
8
Sannenzaka Ninenzaka
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
9
Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
Yasaka Pagoda (Gojunoto), Hōkan-ji Temple
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
11
Hanamikoji Street
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12
Tatsumi Bridge
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
13
Pontocho District
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 58 reviews
Yuhey was our tour guide. He was kind and so knowledgable about so many different topics on our tour. We appreciated his easy going personality, willingness to lead and also to be flexible when there were things that were of interest to our group. When we return to Japan, we would not hesitate to use this group and Yuhey. Thank you!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely message! I really enjoyed spending the day with your group and sharing stories together. I’m so glad you had a good time in Kyoto, and I hope to see you again on your next visit to Japan!
Our guide was a lovely person who took great pictures and was very helpful. The issue we had is that she was fairly new to Japan, didn't speak the language and knew very little about the history and culture of Japan. I am not sure whether we didn't read the fine print (or booked the wrong tour), but if the aim is to stroll and see interesting corners of Kyoto, then this tour should be fine. If it is to learn about what you are seeing, then this is not the right tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you very much for your feedback. We truly appreciate your kind words about our guide’s friendliness and helpfulness.
She is indeed new to guiding and to Japan, but we welcomed her to our team because of her warm personality and her genuine love for the city of Kyoto. That said, we sincerely apologize that the tour did not meet your expectations, especially in terms of cultural and historical insights.
Should you visit Kyoto again in the future, we would be honored to arrange one of our most experienced guides for you. We also hope that by then, she will have grown into a more knowledgeable and confident guide, and it would be our pleasure to welcome you back with a much-improved experience.
Warm regards,
Kiyoto Noda
My wife and I had the pleasure of engaging Kiyoto-san for a customized private tour of Kyoto, and we couldn’t have been more pleased. From the start, his careful planning, respectful communication, attention to detail, and genuine warmth impressed us deeply. Above all, it was his sincerity that stood out.
A native of Kyoto, Kiyoto-san is deeply dedicated to sharing his love for the city with his guests. Our engagement began weeks before the tour, when he reached out to learn about our sightseeing preferences, dietary needs, and mobility considerations. He then crafted a thoughtful, personalized itinerary that made the most of every minute.
As the tour date approached and the weather forecast evolved, Kiyoto-san stayed in close contact, refining our plans to ensure an optimal experience. He went above and beyond—reserving a table at a lovely restaurant and even pre-ordering special menu items to accommodate my wife’s dietary restrictions.
A skilled and cautious driver, he navigated Kyoto’s narrow, often crowded streets with ease, all while sharing fascinating insights into the city’s rich history and contemporary life. He was also incredibly kind and attentive—helping push my wife’s wheelchair over gravel paths and hilly terrain without hesitation.
One particularly touching gesture came during our car rides: Kiyoto-san asked about my wife’s favorite music and curated a playlist just for her. To our delight, that same music became the soundtrack to a beautifully edited highlight video he delivered just hours after our tour—a treasured keepsake from an unforgettable day.
Kiyoto-san is far more than a tour guide. He’s a man on a mission, continuously striving to elevate his craft. His broad travel experience and extensive education allow him to bridge cultures with ease, explaining Japanese traditions through Western analogies and expressions. His English is flawless and easy to understand, yet he remains thoroughly rooted in Kyoto’s heritage.
This tour was truly exceptional—an experience we will always cherish. We wholeheartedly recommend Kiyoto-san to anyone visiting this beautiful and historic city.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so very much for this heartfelt and beautifully written review. I’m truly touched—not just by your kind words, but by the care and thought you put into sharing your experience. Honestly, I think I might print this out and hang it on my wall!
It was a true honor to spend the day with you both. From our early planning conversations to the final few steps of the tour, I felt genuinely invested in making your Kyoto visit as comfortable, meaningful, and memorable as possible. Your openness, warmth, and good humor made it a joy to guide you.
I’m especially glad the video resonated with you. Creating that little keepsake was a way to say thank you for trusting me, and to help capture some of the magic we shared together that day.
Please know that you’ll always have a local friend here in Kyoto. Should your travels ever bring you back this way (or even just close by), I’d be thrilled to see you again—wheelchair, playlist, and all.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Kiyoto
100% would recommend this tour. Akiyo showed us the perfect balance of both popular and hidden spots. She went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. We even got to meet a grandmaster pottery maker!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I'm so glad that we were able to meet the master and you enjoyed it! Your kind words mean a lot to me. Hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!--Akiyo--
We had a great time visiting the Kyoto sites with Paren on a rainy afternoon! The tour was casual, informative, and flexible enough to give everyone in the family a little bit of what they like to experience in a tour. Thanks, Paren!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Janina,
Thank you so much for such a kind review, and it was truly a pleasure to guide you and your lovely family around Kyoto!
-Paren
I had 2 days with Kiyoto when we could explore different parts of the city. He has great knowledge about Kyoto and made great suggestions about to do after the tour. And more than this, he took amazing pictures and made a nice video of each tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for your review, sir! It was a great honor for me to be your guide and help you make the most of your time in Kyoto. I actually enjoyed it just as much as you did!
Member Pricing
From
$80.28
per personWas $84.50(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Kyoto Private Custom Walk: Iconic Highlights or Quiet Serenity?
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