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

April 8, 2022 Brandee Mangan

Kyoto Prefecture (京都府, Kyōto-fu) is a prefecture of Japan in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.
Restaurants in Kyoto Prefecture

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

Osaka, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Kinki All Star Osaka Walk
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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

534 Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042, Japan Japan Wonder Travel
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
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.

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

Kyoto, Japan City Unscripted Kyoto
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
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. Private Tour - Have You Ever Tried? Experience the Skill to Make a Kimono.

Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan otomo travel
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

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

Reviewed By muhammadkamranalinak

Very good ???? experience I really enjoyed it fully fantastic I never forget it weather no pollution everything is perfect and appreciated.

5. Dark Kyoto Tour

Yasaka Shrine, 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan Atticus Sims
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

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:

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

Japan Guide Agency
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
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. Discover Kyoto's Geisha District of Gion!

McDonald's Shijo Ohashi, 105-1 Hashimotochō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8011, Japan Kyoto Fun
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

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:

Reviewed By W8605JSalexm

So much fun! This was one of our favorite tours in Kyoto, we biked for about 3 hours all over the outskirts of Kyoto and saw a lot of unique sites and shops off the beaten path. Would definitely do it again next time we go to Japan!

8. 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
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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

Exclusions:

9. Private Geisha district tour "Explore Gion, the Geisha world"

Gion-Shijō Station, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan Ken’s Tours Kyoto
Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 154 reviews

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

Reviewed By Jscardona

It was an amazing experience to be able to interact with a true geisha apprentice (maiko) in a relaxed setting having a cup of tea. Gets you immersed in the real Japanese culture. A Once in a lifetime experience indeed Ken is very knowledgeable about geisha culture and also extremely dedicated to his customers, doing his job in a very friendly way. Ken is also very knowledgeable about other things to do while in Kyoto, he recommended other great places (restaurants, tours, etc) Overall a great tour with a great guide. You won't get a lot of tours with such dedication and friendliness. Must do in Kyoto.

10. Kyoto Virtual Tour

Kinkaku-ji, 1 Kinkakujichō, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan All Star Osaka Walk
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 50 reviews

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

Reviewed By doart4fun

I love the interactive nature of Minako's virtual tours! She takes the time to connect with each of her guests, and her quizzes make the tour extra fun and engaging! Take the Kyoto tour, too!

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.