The 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Kinki, Japan

March 21, 2022 Esmeralda Fenner

The Kansai region (関西地方, Kansai-chihō) or the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō) lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the use of the two terms is interchangeable. The urban region of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto (Keihanshin region) is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area.
Restaurants in Kinki

1. Kyoto private tour from Osaka(Shore excurtion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

Osaka, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Kinki All Star Osaka Walk
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

Visit Japanese beautiful traditional town, Kyoto with a private guide! It's the gem in Japan. As it's a private tour, you can relax and visit sights with your own pace. This tour covers most popular sites like Fushimi Inari shrine, Geisha area, Golden pavilion and Arashiyama bamboo forest.  Tour guide will meet you at your accommodation / Osaka port / Kobe port and start the tour hassle-free. You can choose transportation method depending on your needs. (To be paid separately) Use subways, local trains and taxis like locals riding public transportation or hire a van for door to door convenience or if you are JR Rail Pass holder, maximize the use it. Estimate transportation cost is listed in the exclusion section. Please clarify choice of transportation when booking this tour.

Inclusions: Lunch and 1 soft drink, National licensed guide, Guide meets you at your hotel / port

Exclusions: Transportation fee to be paid on the day: Around 5,000 yen/person using public transportation. , Transportation fee to be paid on the day: Around 65,000 yen/party chartering a private van, Transportation fee to be paid on the day: Around 3,000 yen / person if JR Rail Pass holder, Please clarify type of transportation method at the time of booking, Gratuities

Reviewed By Cheryl S

We loved our Kyoto tour! Our guides Aki and Minako made it so special, the whole tour guide team even came on the call to sing Happy Birthday for my daughter. They also made a lovely personalised video for her birthday. The entire experience was so interesting and enjoyable. Definitely recommend!

2. Gion night walk tour

Gion-Shijo Station, Kawabatacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0076, Japan Hero Tour Japan
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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

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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!!

3. Short Trip in Kyoto Nishiki Market Walking Tour (Small group)

534 Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042, Japan Japan Wonder Travel
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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.

4. Amanohashidate round trip e-ride tour

Hashidate Bay Hotel, 68 Iwataki, Yosano, Yoza District, Kyoto 629-2262, Japan 京都海道 Kyoto Ocean Road
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Amanohashidate has a beautiful view from the top, but a bicycle path is built along the sea like a mirror, and the scenery while running is very beautiful. Amanohashidate, which has been worshiped as a mysterious sacred place of Japanese Shinto since ancient times, has a variety of stories from ancient times to Sengoku and modern times. Many guides will give you a detailed guide to the highlights of Amanohashidate, where most people just stop at the top. This tour uses the latest e-sports bike (electrically-assisted bicycle for sports using the same frame and parts as the road bike). You can experience a model that usually costs nearly 300,000 at a great discount. Please enjoy the addictive ride. As an option, there is also a tour of the Tango Chirimen factory and a deep Amanohashidate experience where craftsmen explain Chirimen and Furoshiki in an elegant Japanese house that also serves as an exhibition hall, and you can take a break with tea and sweets.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, All Fees and Taxes, 1-day e-BIKE rental fee

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5. Kyoto Private Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized, See the City Unscripted

Kyoto, Japan City Unscripted Kyoto
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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.

6. The 10 Tastings of Kyoto With Locals: Private Street Food Tour

600-8008, Japan ►► Withlocals.com - Private Tours by Locals ◄◄
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Eat your way through Kyoto's culinary scene on a private food tour. Go on a delicious journey as you try 10 of the best food items beloved by the locals: from savory to sweet and local drinks; this tour will leave every foodie satisfied! Enjoy tastings typical of the local cuisine and hand-picked by a local guide passionate about food like Gyozas and Japanese pepper ice cream. But that's not it! This tour is more than just food; it's a cultural experience! In between food stops, you'll also find city highlights making this experience a well-rounded tour that will satisfy every foodie. Withlocals The 10 Tastings Private Food Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard

Inclusions: Private Tour, Small group tour option available, Local Guide, 10 Food & Drinks Tastings

Exclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop off, Food and drink not mentioned as inclusion

Reviewed By W3459XHannel

We booked the bike tour to see Kyoto from a different perspective and it was totally worth it! Jonathan is a great guide, he informed us beforehand and made sure we came prepared. During the tour he told us a lot about Kyoto and some historical backgrounds as well. Besides, he gave us some practical tips and recommendations to spend our time in Kyoto. He didn't hurry and took all the time we needed to stop at certain places to give more information or to take some photos. Would definitely recommend him to guide you through Kyoto if you have the chance!

7. Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide

Japan Guide Agency
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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.

8. The right way to know Kyoto

Kyoto Daily Tours
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5.0 based on 59 reviews

We are a small group of people who specializes in private and personalized tours in Kyoto. Our aim is to help our customers to utilize best their precious time in Kyoto by offering specially crafted tours covering Kyoto's top attractions. When it comes to a trip, we know that you have your goals and preferences. We would love to hear about them and help you have a unique an unforgettable Kyoto experience. Postgraduate students with Ph.D. or MA- level scholar graduated from Japanese universities, our guides have vast knowledge about Japanese history and culture because they have been living here for several years and are experts in their fields. Their high academic level makes them proficient not only on everything Kyoto but also on the way of life in Japan and its rich history.

Inclusions: Expert guide

Exclusions: Entrance tickets, Transportation

Reviewed By CBR-TKYO

Our guide Javier was superb. For both tours he covered the main attractions with insight, commanding knowledge of history, and with very good patience in relation to our easily distracted children. But then he also took us off the main tourist thoroughfares for some quiet, exclusive trips down pathways close by. So we saw all the main attractions, but also little shops and paths, and gardens and ponds we would not have discovered but for his knowledge and guidance. Highly recommend! And hope to see Javier again when we next go to Kyoto.

9. The Essence of Nara Cultural Tour: Big Buddha, Bambi and Backstreets

Kintetsu-Nara Station, Japan, 〒630-8215 Nara, Nishimikadochō, 東向中町29 Kyoto Urban Adventures
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5.0 based on 20 reviews

Explore the ancient capital of Japan with us and discover a peaceful city, brimming with dazzling temples, shrines, imperial tombs and machiya houses built in the traditional style. We’ll meet divine deer roaming the streets, grab some tasty street food, chat with locals about living and working here and show you our favourite hidden gems in the alleys of the old city. All this at your own pace, without the hassle or the crowds of a typical day in Kyoto. What are you waiting for?!

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, Entrance fees for all the sites mentioned, Local snacks

Exclusions: Additional food and drink, Gratuities for your guide

Reviewed By Ebayasianf

I booked a virtual tour of Kyoto's traditional Higashiyama neighborhood from Amazon Explore. We had the pleasure and good fortune to have Akemi as our tour guide. She spoke good English and was very accommodating to our requests for pictures, shopping, and information. We truly felt the Japan experience and enjoyed it so much, we want to do more travel explore segments. We had been to Japan but somehow missed this beautiful neighborhood. Akemi engaged the local people and introduced them to us and they would take the time to say hello! We saw geishas and couples getting married. Then Akemi helped us look for souvenirs, which we have already received back in the U.S.! The best part was Akemi writing on a monkey wish souvenir and hanging it at the temple. We are planning a trip to Japan and were so impressed with Akemi, we definitely will try to contact her for tour services and thank her in person for such a wonderful experience.

10. Osaka Backstreet Night Tour

Torigoro, 2 Chome-9 Sennichimae, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0074, Japan Taste Osaka
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4.9 based on 369 reviews

Combine the famous food scene of Osaka with our local knowledge of some of the most unique drinking establishments in town! Enjoy great local food, delicious drinks and boutique bars on a walking tour through the heart of Namba, Shinsaibashi and Amemura. Sample local favourites including fresh sushi, grilled yakitori and a huge range of drinks possibilities as your English speaking guide expertly navigates through the backstreets.

Inclusions: English-speaking guide, Local 'Izakaya' Dinner, 1 alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, Hidden bar introductions, Osaka Pub Passport' with 3000 yen of discounts to continue your night!

Exclusions: Extra drinks (available to purchase), Gratuities

Reviewed By Naji_FizzyCustard

I went on this tour last year and absolutely loved it! Rodney was a fantastic host and took us to places that I would never have been able to find in a million years. I am 100% going to be doing this again the next time I am in Osaka. What also added to the night was the fact that Rodney took photos throughout the night, at the end of it he even sent is a link to download them all which was ace!

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