Things to do in Kyoto, Kinki: The Best Cultural Tours

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

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

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)

There are still many kimono shops in Kyoto and high-quality kimonos are made there. There are a lot of kimono related shops in a small area in Kyoto because kimono consists of many parts such as cloth, kimono ties, and accessories. You will visit facilities where you can make a kimono cloth yourself on this tour! There are much more techniques in making a cloth than you think like dying. You can experience such techniques originated in Kyoto at specialized shops! Choose your favorite shape, color, and pattern and make your own one of a kind cloth! Don’t forget to book your tour to make your own kimono cloth, with your otomo guide!

Inclusions: Private Tour, Tour Guide, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

The yang of the bright and beautiful side of the city's 1200 year history is paralleled by the yin of the macabre, the bizarre and the bloody aspects of the story of Japan's old capital. Starting at Yasaka Shrine we will weave our way south through the back streets of Gion to Kiyomizu Temple, then descending through the Toribeno cemetery, one of the oldest and largest burial grounds dating back to the founding of the city. We pass through the shrine for cutting off bad relationships, stop by a 500 year old haunted candy shop, peek at the well that is said to have been used as a portal to the underworld by a famed Japanese sorcerer, and visit 'the hill of ears' monument. Although the 'dark' will be highlighted in this experience, I also aim to impart an understanding of Japanese religious and cultural beliefs, and you will end the day with a more intimate understanding of Kyoto and a more balanced and realistic view of one of the world’s most fascinating cultures.

Inclusions: Tour Guide

Exclusions:

No trip to Kyoto is complete without a trip to the old preserved district of Gion, and it's no surprise why it's such a popular place to visit. It is one of the only places in the world where you can see a real-life "geisha" walking along the beautiful alleyways. Join our Gion Night Walk and we can tell you all about the mysterious lives of the geisha as we walk along these charming cobblestoned streets all lit up with lantern light. Let these places some to life with a fun and friendly guide to tell you what happens behind the closed doors of Gion.

Inclusions: Tour Guide

Exclusions:

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)

Kyoto is famed for its shrines and temples, which are full of countless unique stories that will astonish you, making you fall in love with and connect yourself to their ancient history. I am deeply fascinated by the tales and traditions hidden among the streets and behind the sliding doors of Gion. The mysterious world of Geisha can seem exclusive and challenging to discover, so on my tour I will reveal the history, rituals, and nuances of the art-form as well as the entertainers who adhere to this traditional lifestyle, while simultaneously providing other interesting facts and a deeper understanding of Kyoto through the secret or small details that are often hard to notice for visitors and locals alike.

Inclusions: Local guide

Exclusions: Lunch(optional), Transportation to/from attractions

This is a virtual tour using Zoom, online conference system. This unique 1h tour brings you to one of the most beautiful and historical cities in Japan, Kyoto. The friendly host will make your experience more interactive. We use not only photos or videos but also handmade materials or actual goods from guides' living room, that makes you feel livelier. You can ask them anything about Japan, Kyoto and other popular tourists spots by chat or by talk session after the tour. This tour will provide helpful hints for your future trip to Japan. PLEASE NOTE the tour time is Japan standard time. Make adjustment to your time when booking. We'll send you Zoom URL invitation when you book the tour.

Inclusions: National Licensed English speaking local tour guide, Interactive communication with local guides , Fun quizzes and giveaway

Exclusions: Internet equipment, environment and charges

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