Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The subway system and local bus network can be very confusing for tourists visiting Kyoto, so save yourself the risk of getting lost and opt for this worry-free private tour instead. Door-to-door hotel transfers are included, and a guide takes you to a selection of key sights, such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, or Nishiki Market.
- Avoid busy public transport: Travel around Kyoto in a private vehicle
- Great way to tick off multiple highlights in a day
- Flexible and personalized tour: Choose from a list of places to visit
- Potential stops include Gion, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Kinkaku-ji Temple
What's Included
- Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
- Private vehicle
- Customizable Walking Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'Itinerary' list'
- Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
- You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
- Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under Itinerary
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
This tour departs only from Kyoto. We can not pick you up In Osaka, Kobe or Nara etc. Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Kyoto area or your preferred location around Kyoto Station.
Itinerary
1
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Nijo Castle
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Gion
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Nishiki Market Shopping District
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
6
Kyoto Imperial Palace
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
7
Pontocho
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Higashiyama Ward
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Ginkakuji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
10
Nanzenji Suirokaku
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
11
Tofuku-ji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
12
Toji
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
13
Kinkakuji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
14
Ninna-ji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
15
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
16
Kibune River
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
17
Kurama-dera
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
18
Ryoan-ji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
19
Arashiyama
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
20
Katsura Imperial Villa
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
21
Daikaku-ji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
22
Tenryu-ji Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
23
Yoshimine-dera
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
24
Kennin-ji Temple
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
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
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
- 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 491 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly tour guide. He took us to many interesting places during the six hours as well as off the tourist path to more interesting places. He thoroughly explained everything from a current and historical perspective. Outstanding tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your comment.
It was a good day for the tour because not so hot.
As we visited four must-see destinations and others in 6 hours with taxi, it was a little busy tour.
There were many red lycoris lilies here and there and they were so beautiful.
It was good for you to eat a matcha soft ice cream at Kinkakuji.
Please come to Kyoto again.
There are still many sightseeing places.
Thank you again.
Kazz
Yoshi was truly the warmest and sweetest tour guide, and he made our experience in Japan so memorable. From the moment we met him, he was incredibly kind, welcoming, patient, and easy to be around.
We were traveling with our kids, and one of the things we appreciated most was how wonderful he was with them. He kept them engaged, made them feel included, and was so patient with all of their questions. Traveling with children can sometimes make tours feel stressful, but Yoshi made the entire day feel relaxed, fun, and effortless.
He was also extremely knowledgeable and shared so much about the history, culture, and places we visited without ever making it feel overwhelming. It felt much more personal than a typical tour. He took the time to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and helped create moments we will remember long after this trip is over.
By the end of the day, it honestly felt like we were exploring Japan with a friend rather than just a tour guide. We feel very lucky that Yoshi was part of our trip and would recommend him without hesitation, especially to families traveling with children.
Thank you, Yoshi, for making our time in Japan so special!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your comments about the tour.
I am very happy to hear that you all could feel comfortable during the tour as I am always considering it for my guiding service.
And also I would like to thank you for making me of good memories with your honest and cheerful kids.
Please enjoy your stay in Japan and bring back to your home with lots of good memories.
Regards
Uncle Yoshi
We had a perfect day with Yuji. We received confirmation of our booking and were in direct communication with our tour guide, Yuki, the week before. We expressed our interests and together with his expertise, he crafted an itinerary and shared it with us. I suggested that we change the order due to heat and he was able to rearrange and be flexible. He was attentive, knowledgable, and kind. He asked about lunch locations and took us to an amazing restaurant that was very nice and quick. Our driver was equally professional and warm.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you very much for joining our private tour and for taking the time to write such a lovely review.
It was a great pleasure to welcome you back to Kyoto. Kyoto is truly a wonderful place to visit again and again.
We hope you will come back to Kyoto again someday in the near future!
Yuji
Expertly paced walking tour of 5-6 key spots in Kyoto. Lunch with Mr. Sumo was a special treat as he helped us order and learn about the food. All the best locations and so nice to have a guide willing to take photos of the group so we could all be in them.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for having sent such a nice review for my tour and I really appreciate your kindness and great cooperation with me during the tour. I hope you will arrive at home in peace and come to Japan again in the near future to enjoy our country and culture.
Thank you again,
Kazuo Sumi
Michi was a wonderful host and guide. His knowledge of Kyoto, Japanese history and religious philosophies was impressive. My family truly appreciated his energy and passion. He was thoughtful and proactive. He emailed weeks ahead to schedule the day based on our interests.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your kind message.
I am glad to hear that you could enjoy our Kyoto Tour.
Yes, we had several communications before the tour ,
discussing our tour.
During the tour, it seems to me that you have a wonderful family.
Take care and best regards to your family.
Thanks again for your heart-warming message.
Best Regards, Michi
We had a wonderful experience during our Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide. Our guide, Kazuo, was truly outstanding from start to finish.
He shared an impressive amount of knowledge about Kyoto’s history, culture, temples, and daily life. You can feel how passionate he is about his city, and he explains everything with the calm, precision and kindness so typical of Japanese guides. His English was clear and easy to follow, which made the whole day even more enjoyable.
Kazuo was also extremely friendly, attentive and careful. He always made sure we were comfortable, took the time to answer all our questions, adapted the pace of the tour, and anticipated our needs without us even asking. Travelling by car made the experience smooth and relaxing, allowing us to see more places without rushing.
We felt very well taken care of throughout the day, and we learned so much thanks to him.
We highly recommend Kazuo to anyone looking for a personalized, insightful and stress‑free discovery of Kyoto.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your having sent me such a nice review and comments on our tour. I really appreciate your kindness and great cooperation with me during the tour. I hope you will enjoy working and visit our country again in the near future.
Thank you again,
Kazuo Sumi
We really enjoyed our tour with Ken because he was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, gracious, and thoughtful. His depth of knowledge about Kyoto’s history, culture, and traditions was truly impressive, and he shared it in a way that was engaging and easy to understand. Our time in Kyoto was so limited and precious, and Ken went above and beyond to make the most of every moment. Thanks to his thoughtful planning and expertise, we were able to see and appreciate far more than we ever could have on our own. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. 10 out of 10!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for giving me a favorable review and considerate positive comments. Wishing to see your family again soon.
Ken
Etsuko was so knowledgeable and as sweet as she could be! And they were very flexible about what we wanted to accomplish during the day. Our driver was excellent and also knowledgeable….. these might be the most polite two people I’ve ever met.😍
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear guest,
Thank you ver very much for joining the tour and I appreciate your sweet words.
We visited Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, and Nijo Castle.
We enjoyed some local foods in Nishiki Market.
I really enjoyed the time with you two. I hope your memories will stay with you forever.
There are more attractive places to visit in Japan. I hope I can see you again in the near future.
Etsuko
Highly recommended if looking for a comfortable tour of kyoto. Our guide and driver were amazing. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained everything with great details as we toured around.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind comments. It was a very hot day, but I am glad everyone stayed well and enjoyed the tour. I am truly grateful for the wonderful time I spent touring with such a lovely family. Please do come back to Kyoto again; I look forward to welcoming you. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
Harumi
We really enjoyed our experience on this tour. Take-San was our tour guide. He was really amazing. He took the time to share information about every stop and was thoughtful and flexible around scheduling the day. The best part was that he actually would walk with us to the destinations. Not only was that great because he got to share information about the sights, but he was also available to take great pictures of our family too. I highly highly recommend this tour… we had a great time!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I had such a great time with your family as well.
To be honest, I was a little worried about whether your family members were enjoying the tour, so I'm really happy to hear that they had a good time.
It was incredibly hot that day, so I hope everyone was okay and feeling well afterward. I also wish I had taken more photos of your family with my camera. I regret not doing that a little.
The next time you come to Japan, I'd love to show you around again—not just as your guide, but as your Japanese friend. I'm already looking forward to seeing all of you again someday.
Have a wonderful rest of your trip in Japan!
Take☺
Nara is a magical place with awe-inspiring temples and countless bowing deer. Amazing experience and Haruka was a cheerful and fun guide.
Harumi and our driver were amazing! We worked together to develop the itinerary, and when she suggested we divert to a different Temple because some of our family members couldn’t walk so far, we trusted her completely and were so happy with her choice. They went out of their way to find accessible entrances for us too. Plus she made a wonderful lunch recommendation- the sushi conveyor belt restaurant had food for everyone and provided us with lots of giggles. Wouldn’t change a thing!
Our tour guide Kazu was very knowledgeable in terms of the history and explaining many of the wonderful ancient sites around Kyoto. Definitely a must! Otherwise, I think it would be difficult to tourists to understand on their own.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hearing that you felt it was worthwhile to have me as your guide, and knowing that you would share such kind words in your review, truly makes me feel privileged as a guide. Thank you so much. With tons of wonderful memories in Kyoto, please give my best regards to your family members with my Kamehameha fires! - Kazu Akiyama
Harumi is an amazing guide. Knows everything about the sites she takes you to. She is excellent with kids and even brought them oregami and treats. The heat was a bit oppressive and we were so glad we paid for the driver with a large and clean air conditioned van. Harumi, the guide, was a true professional. She devised a very good itinerary and was also flexible when the kids were hungry, etc. Would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words. Your family is truly delightful and close-knit—an unforgettable family. I am very grateful for the review. It brings me great joy to know that you leave with a positive impression of Japan. Please do come visit again; next time, I would love to show you a different side of Kyoto.
Thank you once again for your warm comments.
Harumi
Great tour! Yoshi was a fun friendly tour guide. He had so much knowledge of Japanese history and great information about the places we toured.
We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel. Yoshi contacted me ahead of time to decide on places of interest and an itinerary for the day. In 6 hours we had plenty of time to see Arashiyama, Tenryiji Garden, Kinkajou. Fushima Inari Taisha, and Kiyomizu. Would definitely recommend!!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the comment!
I was so happy to guide you in Kyoto and share the time together with your family.
Hoping you got safe trip back to your home with lots of memories in Japan.
Yoshi
Our tour guide was exceptional! She went out of her way to customize the day for our family so it was an action packed adventure combining history with a bit of fun for the kids. It was the perfect first day in Kyoto. We saw so much in 6 hours and learned a lot of history. Harumi (our guide) was friendly and went the extra mile to make us feel special. She took many photos of us that were amazing! Thank you for exceeding our expectations.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind comments.
I learned so much from your family, and I was also lucky enough to have a wonderful time on the tour. I am very happy that I was able to guide you on your first day in Japan. It is my pleasure to have been able to help make your trip to Japan enjoyable.
Thank you very much everything.
Harumi
We had a very nice tour around Kyoto’s highlights with our very knowledgeable guide. He was very accommodating to our diverse age group’s needs and requirements to stop for food and bathrooms :) We really enjoyed the history we learned along the way. Despite it being hot and sunny, we were able to enjoy the stops and see a lot in one day. I also liked that we could pick the stops we’d like to see and customize to our group’s preferences. We decided to see Nijo-Jo Castle as our last stop, and so glad we did. Great tour overall.
What an incredible experience! Our guide, Kazu, was so knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Our tour was customizable, and Kazu provided excellent recommendations. We visited the most amazing sites, and Kazu provided education, adding a lot of history and depth to what we were viewing. His expertise helped us bypass crowds, and spend our time efficiently. I cannot say enough good about this trip, I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto.
Kazu gave an excellent tour of Kyoto. We visited numerous locations of great interest as well as all of my requested locations. It was a great tour and I learned a lot about Kyoto and its history. Kazu was extremely knowledgeable. Thanks again Kazu!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your having sent me such a nice review for my tour. I really appreciate your kindness and great cooperation with me during the tour. I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as your family member.
Thank you again,
Kazuo Sumi
Wow! What a great experience! Yuka was wonderful. She was patient, knowledgeable, and kind... All the great attributes of a perfect tour guide. She also communicated with me months in advance to plan the perfect itinerary for my family.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi! Thank you for your beautiful comments!
I'm really happy to know that you enjoyed the tour with me. I imagine you must have been surprised at how much Kyoto has changed since your last visit 15 years ago.
But I believe all your family enjoyed Kyoto and will visit us again! Hope see you again with your angel!
YUKA
Our tour guide, Etsuko, was wonderful. The driver was very experienced and competent. The communication pre-tour with Etsuko was excellent and allowed us to custom make our tour to include the sights we were most interested in. Etsuko was very knowledgeable about each site and was very prepared to provide that information. She was kind and cheerful and enthusiastic about sharing her country's history with us. She kept us on track and on time (all six of us) and navigated the crowded venues ensuring that we had quality time at the most important locations. Very professional, but still personal. She even took some great photos of our family! We ended our tour at a great restaurant that she recommended that accommodated our food preferences. Overall, just a great experience and we highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear guests,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review.
I am very grateful and honored to receive your kind words.
I truly enjoyed the time with you, visiting beautiful sites such as Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle , Kinkakuji, Ryoanji and Kiyomizu.
The nice and wonderful memories we made together will l stay with me forever.
I am also glad that you liked the Halal restaurant .
please feel free to drop me a line whenever Japan comes to mind.
JOY/Etsuko
An amazing tour so knowledgeable and kind. Tailored exactly to what we wanted to see. Knew the answer to every question we had. 10/10
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I also enjoyed spending time with both of you, as you shared your deep insights into Japanese culture and history. In addition, the research you had done beforehand gave us the opportunity to visit some fascinating temples and reflect on the importance of peace and beauty.
I hope you will have another opportunity to return to Kyoto in a different season.
Maya
My guide, Takeshi, was very helpful in communicating with me to set up the tour. Although it was raining, we marched on and finished the tour. Take-san was so helpful in explaining everything and going out of their way to show me more. It wasn't cheap, but money well spent!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review, Kisoo!
It was a pleasure spending the day with you in Kyoto.
I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and felt it was worth it.
I hope you had a wonderful rest of your trip in Japan, and I would be delighted to see you again whenever you return.
Best wishes! またお会いできる日を楽しみにしています☺
Take
Absolutely perfect for getting the most out of a single day in Kyoto. Masaki-san is an excellent tour guide. He communicated well by WhatsApp to set up our plans so we could see everything we wanted. He kindly adjusted our start time after our travel plans were delayed. He figured out the best way to adjust our tour when we spent too long admiring a few places! And he took us to the most amazing local type place for lunch. Overall it was beyond our expectations and we truly are grateful and thankful to Masaki-San for our truly perfect day!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your warm words of appreciation. I feel happy to learn how much you enjoyed the tour on the day. It was a great day and time for me as I enjoyed conversations with you on various topics. I hope it became one of lovely memories during your long journey. Great to meet you !
Masaki
Our tour guide was Harumi and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour with her. She was on time at hotel to meet us. We loved the tour and all the information Harumi had to offer at each site. She also gave us time to explore on our own a bit. She was a lot of fun to be with as well as being professional. Harumi chose a great sushi place for lunch that was delicious and fun. Harumi had several suggestions for us as well for our remaining time in Kyoto. Our driver for the day was very friendly and did a wonderful job of getting us around the sites. This is a tour I would recommend and also Harumi as a tour guide was exceptional. We communicated before the tour as to exactly what sites we wanted to see and she insured that we did.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind comments. It was a very enjoyable tour, and I felt like I was part of your group. It was a truly memorable tour. I'm glad everyone enjoyed the conveyor belt sushi, as it seemed to be everyone's first time. Please come to Japan again. I'll be planning a different lunch for next time.
Thank you again for your warm comments.
- Harumi
Ken was a fantastic guide, providing background on the history of Japan and how the sights we visited fit in. He designed our day tour based on our preferences and recommended an amazing restaurant for lunch. We loved seeing Kyoto highlights further from the city center with a guide and driver. It simplified our day. And we loved the conversations with Ken as we drove, walked, and explored. Highly recommend this experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for giving me a favorable review. Guests are so curious about everything. I enjoyed answering to those questions and related conversations. Wishing to see you again soon.
- Ken
We had a private guide and driver in Kyto. She tailored the tour and adapted to our needs. Excellent guide.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear my guest
Thank you for joinning the tour and writing a positive review.
I am very happy to read it.
I hope that you enjoyed fishing experience other day in Japan.
I hope that you are always well.
Best regards
Mizu
Hiro was our tour guide. She did a great job with communicating with us before the tour. She picked us up at the station platform which alleviated any stress. She did a great job accommodating our group of 5
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for making the time for the feedback during your busy schedule.
I’m looking forward to seeing you again.
Hiro
Umi was absolutely wonderful. She worked with us on a customized plan that included adapting for a member of our family that uses a wheelchair. The sites she recommended were perfect and gave us a nice touch of Kyoto. We particularly loved the final temple and the experience we had there. The lunch spot we ended up choosing was an excellent Japanese meal. She was extremely knowledgable about the sites, Kyoto in general, Japan's history, and more. You could tell she loves what she does.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review. I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour. It was a real pleasure spending the day with your wonderful family, and I truly enjoyed guiding you as well. Please come visit my beloved Kyoto again someday. I hope to see you again in the future.
Umi
We had a lovely time touring Kyoto with our English speaking guide Yasu. He arrived early to pick us up at our hotel and we were off to our first site, Fushimi Inari Taisha, followed by Kiyomizu-era and then Nijo Castle. He shared his extensive knowledge of Japanese history, even coming equipped with a book to add color and additional illustrations to give us a fuller picture of what we were touring. Yasu was extremely kind and helped with my elderly parents, one of whom tends to be very curious and wander off occasionally. We also really enjoyed shopping on the road he took us on that had many pottery shops. We would definitely recommend Yasu to anyone who visits Kyoto.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sending a wonderful message. Appreciated a lot. It was an honor for me to guide you. Please kindly keep your safe journey and I am looking forward to seeing you next time. Again, thank you very much.
Yasu
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