Things to do in Kyoto

In this tour, we start early to beat the crowds. Temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies. The traditions of ancient Japan are still alive and well in the old capitol, Kyoto. Walking around this beautiful city can feel like you are in a time machine as its architecture has been preserved for centuries. There is much history in this city that you don’t want to miss so book our Government Licensed and Experienced English-speaking guides for a walking tour of Kyoto!

Once your reservation is made, a guide will be in touch to plan your personalized tour. Choose 2 to 3 spots that you wish to visit and your guide will plan a personalized itinerary. If you do not know where to visit, ask the guide to send you their recommended itinerary based on your interests. Whether you are a history buff, love the beauty of old Japanese architecture, or just want to enjoy a green tea parfait, Kyoto has something for you!

Come join this walking tour where you can walk around Kyoto famous hot spots in a day. Your guide will pick you up from the hotel and from there take you to Kyoto's must-see spots.

Experience Kyoto like a local with a private, customized walking tour designed just for you. This is more than just a tour—this is an intimate, immersive Kyoto experience crafted around you. Explore iconic spots like Kyoto Tower, Togetsu-kyō Bridge, and Ginkaku-ji Temple, along with hidden gems tailored to your interests.

Your guide will craft an itinerary based on your passions, offering insider tips and uncovering the city's top attractions and cultural secrets. Discover sacred sites like Fushimi Inari Taisha, explore the cultural richness of Gion, or venture into historic neighborhoods off the beaten path. Let your guide reveal Kyoto's true essence and charm.

Within 24 hours of booking, you'll receive a questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, we'll assign a like-minded host who will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary and ensure your experience is flexible and tailored to your preferences.

Learn about Kyoto's food and culture on this tour! Maybe try some of Kyoto's pickled veggies!

- Discover Kyoto's special streets with their quaint atmosphere, as if you had time-slipped into ancient times.
Kiyomizuzaka is the name of an area that is composed of several streets with a traditional feel of Kyoto. In the area, we also take you to the most colorful temple in Kyoto called Yasakakoshindo.

- A variety of local street foods will take you to Kiyomizu-Dera
After that, we'll enjoy local snacks and foods there! We'll then visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. We'll also visit Otowa Waterfall, which brings you good luck. Let's try the Japanese way of worshipping together.

- Lead yourself into a world of an elegant and peaceful Tea Ceremony
Enjoy traditional-style tea ceremony with Japanese sweets in a sophisticated room surrounded by tea utensils.

Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

A Day Trip to Shiga; Miho Museum and Shigaraki Pottery Tour

Enjoy two days of private 6 hours tours with one of our guides in Kyoto! Our guides are licensed, experienced, and speak English! By choosing this tour course, you will have the same guide for both days.

Temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies. The traditions of ancient Japan are still alive and well in the old capitol, Kyoto. Walking around this beautiful city can feel like you are in a time machine as its architecture has been preserved for centuries. Kiyomizu Temple towers over the historical Gion district, famous for its rich history of geisha. There is much history in this city that you don’t want to miss so book our Government Licensed and Experienced English-speaking guides for a walking tour of Kyoto!

Note*1: The booking is for two consecutive days only.

Note*2: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. You can choose 3 to 4 sites from the list on each day. You can also mix and match the lists.

A 4hr walking tour with a Samurai Lesson & Show!

This 6 hr walking tour includes 90 minutes of Ramen making at Ramen Factory in Kyoto. Ramen Factory is a unique restaurant where you can make original ramen by hand and enjoy its deliciousness. In this experience, you will learn noodle making from scratch and homemade char siu making under the guidance of an English-speaking instructor. Before your experience, you will go on a walking tour with our licensed guide! Your guide will drop you off at Ramen Factory after a 4-hour walking tour.

Please craft your itinerary by choosing 2 to 3 spots on the ‘what to expect’ or ‘itinerary’ list.

Start time: Your start time for the experience may vary. The estimated time for the experience will be about 4 hours from the start of the tour.

Explore 23 of Kyoto's most significant cultural treasures through our meticulously researched audio guide. Perfect for independent travelers seeking deep insights into Japanese culture, architecture, and spirituality.

Discover Kyoto at your own pace with Nihon Adventures! Book our hassle-free, budget-friendly tours with an English-speaking driver and enjoy the freedom to explore Kyoto’s iconic sights like Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, and Arashiyama without the stress of navigating public transport. Perfect for self-guided lovers, our tours let you set the pace while we handle the ride. Prices are tailored to your group size, starting from just 2 people up to 7—no need to pay more if you’re a smaller group! Experience Kyoto with ease and comfort—your adventure, your way. Whether you're a duo or a small group, enjoy personalized service and flexibility without breaking the bank. Let us take you where you want to go, so you can focus on creating unforgettable memories in Kyoto.

Explore the Fushimi Inari Shrine with the in-app audio tour.Discover legendary foxes - Inari's sacred messengers.Wander through the Senbon Torii - the path of thousands of gates.Hike up the steps and feel nature tranquility at the pond.

You’ll join one of our Kyoto hosts to taste the city’s most delicious meals and street food. Kyoto is a city rich in cultural heritage, and this has directly influenced its culinary tradition.

Keep things moving with a quick trip to a 100-yen sushi bar and have a draft beer in an intimate izakaya. At this small local bar, you’ll share small plates of local specialties your local Host will be happy to introduce you to.
And for a uniquely Kyoto experience shared with your local insider, enjoy a steaming bowl of Nishin-soba and a cold drink as the sun sets over the Kamo River.

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 local host who will get in touch with the best food recommendations to create a bespoke itinerary to your taste and requests.

Join one of our local Hosts to get yourself comfortable in Kyoto. You’ll feel like you’re being welcomed into the city by a friend who can’t wait to show you all its highlights, as well as hidden gems. They could take you to see some famous attractions like The Golden Pavilion or Fushimi Inari Shrine, or you could explore the area where you’re staying and receive plenty of recommendations on where to eat, drink and explore!

You’ll explore Kyoto with the guidance of a local Host, experiencing a taste of what makes it so unmissable. Walk through its enchanting, historic streets and marvel at the traditional wooden architecture. Discover iconic attractions like the Golden Pavilion, or immerse yourself in the lush greenery of Arashiyama bamboo grove.

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 who will suggest a personalized itinerary to your personality and interests.

Travel to Japan’s 8th century capital and immerse yourself in Nara’s ancient heritage and leafy green surroundings. With one of our hosts by your side, you will make the short journey from Kyoto to this city, which plays home to some of the most significant Zen temples and Shinto shrines in all of Japan. When lunch rolls around (which it inevitably does), you can enjoy authentic Kansai cuisine at a tranquil spot.

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.

Join one of our hosts to explore Kyoto after dark. Amble through the wooden alleyways of historic Gion and see the picturesque streets of old Pontocho. Discover sacred shrines hidden in cosmopolitan shopping areas and share small dishes and beers with your host in a traditional izakaya or tachinomiya (standing bar). Kyoto after dark is more a feeling than a place, and with your host by your side, you’ll tap right into that.

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.

Visit of Gion, Kyoto traditionnal district

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, and 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.

You’ll spend the night bar hopping through the historic Gion district with one of our hosts. This neighborhood has been entertaining locals for centuries, so you can imagine they’ve perfected the craft. There’s no more authentic way to experience Kyoto’s nightlife than by visiting a few traditional izakaya (bars)! With paper lanterns and quaint wooden houses to set the scene, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another time (or maybe that’s the sake talking).

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.