Location: Kyoto
Top Things to do in Kyoto
The 10 Best City Tours in Kyoto, Kinki
The shrines and temples of Kyoto offer a rare link between modern life in the city and its very ancient past. The Shimogamo Shrine dates to the 6th century and seems suspended in time, its serenity and spiritual power still palpable. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, then see the life-sized Thousand Armed Kannon statues of Sanjūsangen-dō. Enjoy traditional geisha performances, then savor a tranquil meal at a restaurant overlooking the Kamo River.
Restaurants in Kyoto
1. Short Trip in Kyoto Nishiki Market Walking Tour (Small group)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Nishiki Market is a famous traditional market in Kyoto. But if you go by yourself, you'll just walk 1,000 feet and not find what you want. We will take you to our recommended stores, and show you where to find the best food from a local's perspective. You can learn local culture during this experience. This tour starts at 13:00 pm or 15:30 pm. We'll introduce you to many good foods you can try. You can sample many things without hesitation. And we have a connection with the Japanese lifestyle store -great if you want to buy souvenirs. We'll spend about 1.5 hour in Nishiki Market. Hopefully you will have many shopping bags. At the end, we can tell you about other good spots to visit in Kyoto. We'd like to help you work out an itinerary for enjoying our town.
Inclusions: Local and Professional guide, Pick up sample food
Exclusions: Food (only sample), Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation fee, Other personal expenses
Reviewed By smayne12
This is the perfect tour for anyone who knows nothing about Japan and wants to know more about Kyoto in particular. Haru was very friendly and informative. She tries hard to make it a really fun experience. Okini, Haru-san.
2. Silver Pavilion Ginkaku-ji Temple Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Take a short, fantastic, value-packed trip to the Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji Temple, accompanied by a nationally-licensed, experienced multilingual guide! The history of the Silver Pavilion, or Ginkaku-ji Temple in Japanese, along with its beautiful and unique gardens of moss and dry sand, make it one of Kyoto's most popular tourist destinations. You can learn more about the history of this temple from one of our nationally-licensed and experienced English-speaking guides, while strolling the grounds and admiring the aesthetic beauty of the gardens and buidings. A can't miss stop during your stay in Japan! Note*1: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Inclusions: Licensed Local Guide, Free Photos
Exclusions: All Fees and Taxes
Reviewed By Cwshaman
The flexibility to chose locations that suited our wants and abilities was great. Hiro San was very quick to put together an itinerary that accommodated a family with a stroller-baby (no monkey park due to long unpacked walking paths). Taking in the beautiful temples and view of the Kyoto from the west was breath taking and the guide was able to explain many things we as new Japanese learners could not read or know through cultural knowledge. Overall a great experience, a wonderful and lively guide, and some great memories.
3. Kyoto Private Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized, See the City Unscripted
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Spend time with one of our hosts exploring Kyoto. Half a day is not nearly enough time to see the whole city but with a host by your side you will get a feel for its energy. Explore one of Kyoto's traditional neighborhoods, like Gion. If that’s not your scene, pick a famous attraction like the Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari Shrine or Kiyomizudera. See Kyoto as you would if you were coming to visit a friend who lived here. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.
Inclusions: Private and personalised experience, 4 hours with a host, Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options), Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Tickets to any attractions, Transportation costs, Gratuities (optional)
Reviewed By Dream785864
We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour of Kyoto despite the rain! Our guide Giada took us to three main sites of interest and a great market. Her English was perfect and we ate in a locals place for lunch. Highly recommend.
4. Kyoto Day Trip using Private Car with English Driver
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
This tour package will bring you to see the beautiful temple or shrine in Kyoto with a comfortable private transport. We would recommend itinerary: Arashiyama (Bamboo Forest) -> Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) -> Kiyomizu Temple -> Fushimi Inari Taisha -> Hotel However you can also choose and customize your own itinerary
Inclusions: Private transportation, All toll parking gasoline in Kyoto, Driver fees
Exclusions: Entrance fees if required, Personal expenses
Reviewed By Teah1989
I booked my private transport last minute. Their WhatsApp response was fast and reliable. Highly recommend! The Chinese-speaking driver was friendly, flexible, and provide good spot recommendation. The car was also luxury-feel.
5. Discover Japan Tour: 15-day Small Group
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
See the real Japan and experience its culture beyond the typical tourist sites. You'll walk through busy streets, ride the bullet train, and enjoy local foods. Each tour is customized to fit the preferences of the group.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Dinner, Dinner, Dinner
Exclusions:
Reviewed By 559janies
My 2 friends and I went on the beginners Spring Tour 2019 for our first trip to Japan. We loved it and can't wait to go back! Becky and Shawn are awesome. They were so down to earth, helpful and very knowledgeable. I also really liked that the tour group is small. It allows you to get to know your fellow group members and ensures personal attention from your guides. We saw so many large tour groups at tour sites and they looked a little chaotic, it made me happy we chose a small group. The accommodations were always clean and comfortable and located perfectly. Food was amazing!!! If you are willing to try new things you can have an amazing gourmet experience. The events and locations that Becky and Shawn chose were top notch and we got to experience all different modes of transportation while there.
6. Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Explore Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, accompanied by one of our nationally-licensed, experienced multilingual guides, who will help you efficiently enjoy a six-hour tour, introducing both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient city. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, or anywhere else at your convenience, and will take you to a number of Kyoto's famous spots. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will arrange a tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Inclusions: Free Photos, Hotel Pick up and Drop-off, Licensed Local Guide
Exclusions: Other personal expenses, Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide)
Reviewed By X4119CEgaryc
Had a pleasant tour of older Tokyo near Nezu Shrine. Our guide (Hiroyuki-san) spoke good English and shared much of the history related to sights we visited. He also took us to areas that local Japanese people visited and shopped frequently. Very nice tour - will do again.
7. Seasonal family holiday tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Our guides who are raising children in Kyoto take you some places to experience Japanese culture in a relaxed manner. We have been creating family friendly tours, so your entire family should enjoy themselves! In this tour, you can visit less crowded shrine and temple, then have lunch with local family. You can communicate with local people and moreover your children can make local friends!
Inclusions: You can enjoy Japanese hot pot with local people.
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Anna N
Tea, green tea most especially, has always been a favorite beverage for my family. Imagine being able to visit a tea farm in Japan and indulging in an all encompassing tea experience with your whole family. This is a delightful experience through and through. Kyoto with Kids made this extraordinary experience one for the books for my whole family. The day trip includes activities like green tea ceremonies for both adults and children (separate programs contoured to each group), hands on green tea making, lunch with green tea soba and green tea dessert, visit to a tea house, visit to of a temple dedicated to tea. The Private tour made us deeply connect with the Uji tea village and its people. We got to meet the tea farmers and able to take home their products to enjoy. The adults were able to enjoy fully while the kids were at the safe hands of Kyoto with Kids. Thank you Miho and team at Kyoto with Kids. I hope more people can experience this wonderful offering.
8. Gion night walk tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
I can pick you up at your hotel if the guests are from only your group. Guiding fee is 4000 yen per hour.
Inclusions: Experienced Guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Kbradshaw2011
Having a guide truly made our Kyoto experience amazing! Beyond what I expected. Having a knowledgeable guide took the stress off me and allowed me to really take in every part of the experience! I loved that he took pictures for us too! I rarely get to be in pictures as I’m always the one taking them. What an incredible guide!!
9. Kyoto Foodie Night Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 98 reviews
- 7+ mouth-watering Kyoto-style Japanese food tastings, enough for a full dinner meal, served from locally-owned restaurants (Menu may vary every time based on the fresh ingredients at the market). - Two drinks as we taste local style dinner. You may also choose your drinks (Beer, sake & other drinks). Non-alcoholic beverages are also available. - Explore Kyoto, visiting popular spots as well as hidden gems. Enjoy the unique scenes of Nishiki Market, Pontocho, and Kiyamachi.
Inclusions: 10+ Kyoto style course meal, Sake, beer, whiskey, and soft drinks of your choice
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Voyager616002
I have visited Japan many times and I am quite familiar with Japanese food in general but this was a wonderful experience for me. I sampled familiar and unfamiliar dishes but got an opportunity to see some unique restaurants that I wouldn't have stumbled upon on my own. My guide Moe was friendly and knowledgable. Highly recommend even if you are experienced with japanese food.
10. Kimono and Yukata Experience in Kyoto
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 15 reviews
During this kimono rental or yukata rental experience, you can rent and get dressed in a kimono or yukata (during the summer) in the Gion District of Kyoto. Then have the chance to walk around the city and see the sights in this traditional attire.
Inclusions: Kimono or yukata rental, Kimono fitting by a professional
Exclusions: Other options: Hair styling (JPY1000) Makeup (JPY3000), Gratuities, Guide, Hotel pickup/drop off
Reviewed By PaulMahdib
My wife and daughter rented the kimonos and they looked stunning. My daughter got her hair done (1000¥ extra) and afterwards my wife said she had wished she had her hair done as well. We wandered around the shrines and gardens to the east of the rental shop. This isn't just a cheesy tourist thing as probably about a third of the women (and a tenth of the men) were also dressed in kimonos. Note, they moved their shop but the signage is still on the building in the old location. The old location has signage indicating they are on the 3rd floor. That is the wrong building. Head north from there about 200 meters and they are on the 5th floor with new signage. It was quite confusing and hopefully they remove the signage on the old building soon. (The instructions they send you aren't helpful since the address is in Japanese and addresses aren't obvious to my eyes.)
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