Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Kyoto Private Tour
Description
This is not just another city tour; this is the best of Kyoto from a unique perspective! Get to know Kyoto on a city tour that gives you the perfect overview, with city highlights, hidden gems, storytelling, and a local treat - this tour has it all! Forget about big touristy groups and the crowds; it's time to see Kyoto at its best but from the eyes of a local. Check out main landmarks like Gion Area, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka-Jinja Shrine and uncover hidden gems and city secrets with the help of a knowledgeable local guide. And the cherry on top, a local treat is included. Withlocals Highlights & Hidden Gems Private City 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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pass by the Zoo and get to see this neighborhood, which preserves the look and feel of feudal-era Japan in a wood-built historic quarter of narrow lanes lined with traditional pottery stores, tea houses, and restaurants for multi-course kaiseki meals.
Hokanji temple was built in the Asuka period (538 - 710)
Learn more about the folk faith, which says that to have a wish granted, you must sacrifice one desire.
Over 1200 years have passed since the foundation of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Halfway up Mt. Otowa, one of the peaks in Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range stands the temple
Before getting to see another shrine, you will have a coffee. This is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago
Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district
Another unmissable place in Kyoto is Kamo-gawa river. This is probably the most famous and arguably the most popular river in Kyoto.
Explore a 400-year-old market, sample local Japanese goodies and shop for souvenirs
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Private tour: only you & your local guide
- CO2 Neutral: all tours carbon emissions are offset
Reviews(122)
Great start and introduction to Kyoto. You walk your way through multiple neighborhoods and experience the culture, flavor and history of Kyoto and see how is has repurposed older estate homes and properties into modern day retail spaces. The highly for sure is Ryōzen Kannon Temple and the surrounding property. Truly beautiful and you can tell how each season must bring a different color scheme and beauty. Our guide Sebastian gave us the true insider scoop on all aspects.
David was an awesome guide - fun, informative and interesting! He gave us a fantastic tour and took us through some of the less visited parts of Gion that we would not have ecperienced on our own. Would highly recommend this tour!!
We had an absolutely wonderful experience on our tour in Kyoto with our guide, Guia. She was incredibly kind and attentive to my children, making the day enjoyable and engaging for the whole family. Guia shared so many fascinating facts and stories about Kyoto’s history, culture, and hidden gem…it truly brought the city to life for us. Her warmth and enthusiasm made the tour feel personal and memorable. I could not recommend this tour more highly. A perfect way to experience
This tour includes very good sites. The tour guide Tiro is excellent - knowledgeable, pleasant and very thorough in his description and explanation…
Ted was punctual and very good at communicating prior to our tour. He gave us detailed information on the tour about Kyoto and the history and cultural events. Plus, he felt like a friend and was so kind and courteous and went above and beyond to help us figure out some plans for that evening and the next day.
Eiji came highly recommended and we were very pleased. He is a very nice man and he gave interesting information without overwhelming us.
Yoshihiro (or Ted to us Americans) is an excellent and knowledgable guide. He gave us a comprehensive view of Buddhist, Shinto, and secular traditions in Kyoto, has wide ranging knowledge of the city's art and history, and showed us the culture on a deeper level than most guides. He's also a very pleasant and fun guy. He also led us to an great tempura restaurant after and gave us some nice recommendations for other parts of our trip. I would highly recommend Ted to anyone visiting Kyoto.
Ted took us through the artistically startup journey led by the female with a sword - he gave insightful story telling linked to the Geisha neighborhood. The guiding towards temples and shrines gave us a good basis for continuing to visit interesting places in Kyoto. Thank you Ted!
We had the pleasure of joining a guided tour in Kyoto with Guia, and it was an unforgettable experience. Guia was incredibly friendly, funny, and entertaining, making us feel comfortable and engaged from the start. Her deep knowledge of Kyoto’s rich history and culture was impressive, and she shared it in a way that was both informative and captivating. She took us to the most beautiful and iconic spots in the city, as well as a few hidden gems we would have never discovered on our own. The time flew by, and by the end of the tour, we all felt like we had not only learned a lot but also gained a genuine appreciation for Kyoto. If you’re looking for an amazing guide who can bring the city to life, Guia is the one to choose. Highly recommended!
Shohei was right on top of communication with us in the days leading up to our tour, and he was responsive and flexible when our plans changed, which reduced our stress greatly. Shohei provided a great overview of Kyoto history and Buddhist practices, and this was greatly appreciated as we wanted to be sure we were respectful of customs. We really enjoyed our time with Shohei and recommend him highly.
