Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour & Geisha Culture
Description
This tour is typically conducted in a small group of up to about 10 people. Why don’t we accept many guests? Because we believe that if there are too many participants, the guide won’t be able to give everyone proper attention. Starting from the landmark Minamiza Theater in Gion, we first head to Hanamikoji, known as the geisha district. In this area, you will not only enjoy the traditional streets, but also learn the mysterious rules and trivia of geisha culture from your guide. If you’re lucky, you may spot a real Geisha. Also this tour offers more than just a glimpse into Geisha culture. Next, you will see a shrine for matchmaking and a beautiful Buddhist pagoda outside Geisha district, which is illuminated at night, creating an even more stunning sight. This tour is a great way to gain a better understanding of Kyoto's traditional streets and local culture. Let us help you make wonderful memories in Kyoto!
Tour Options
Itinerary
It is one of the most famous streets in Kyoto. You may see a Maiko or Geiko if lucky. If you see a Maiko or Geiko, greet them with a smile and say "Konnichiwa."
It is a shrine that helps men and women meet each other and cut off bad relationships. In the case of a married couple or a couple, the bond will be stronger.
This road leads near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This road also has a beautiful traditional Kyoto townscape, and Yasaka-no-to (Yasaka Pagoda) is especially popular.
It was built in 1955 to pray for the repose of the souls of the victims of World War II. There is a very large statue of Kannon.
It was built about 400 years ago by the wife of a shogun to mourn the death of her husband. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful garden, the 400-year-old tea ceremony house, and the bamboo grove. Also, this place is not as crowded as Kiyomizu-dera Temple and is a perfect temple to feel the calm atmosphere of Kyoto. Caution: Daytime only Closing time is 5 pm.
Yasaka Shrine is the head shrine of approximately 2,300 related shrines throughout Japan. Yasaka Shrine is known as "Gion-san" for its blessings to ward off bad luck, bring good luck, and promote beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to slopes and stairs, this tour is not recommended for those who are not comfortable with walking.
Reviews(172)
Me and my husband really enjoyed the excursion with Will. He was ready to answer all our questions and we learned a lot about Geisha culture. Will showed us all the main places of interest in Kyoto, taught us how to pray and we even got small gifts from him at the end of excursion which was very sweet of him. Highly recommend this experience with Will!
Dalil was wonderful and informative. We enjoyed the walking tour and learned a lot. We would ask for tour with Dalil again next time we visit
The tour was fun and informative! The guide, Raj, spent time explaining and answering questions along the way. Raj was energetic and it’s clear that she loves her job of guiding tourists through Gion Geiko district and the areas shrine and temples. I learned a lot and I highly recommend this tour with Raj!
Yoshi was a fantastic guide, couldn’t be better. Learned lots about the area and saw some wonderful shrines. Thank you for doing a brilliant job!
This was an excellent tour, we had a lovely guide Raj, she has so much knowledge and can answer all questions asked, she also has a bags of tricks with her to make the tour extra awesome! Thank you for a fantastic evening :)
Great tour. Yuma was very knowledgeable about the Gion district, geiko culture as well as Buddhism and Shinto practices. Exploring the area at night was amazing. Seeing the temples and shrines lit up was beautiful.
Raj has been amazing - very knowledgeable and friendly on the tour. Would ask her for her again definitely!
Raj was a great guide. She pointed out places that would otherwise have been missed and helped to bring the geisha scene to life. The tour moved at a great pace and visited a lot of interesting places. Thanks Raj!
Dalil was a fantastic guide for our first night in Kyoto! He was so knowledgeable about everything and clearly wanted us to love Kyoto as much as he does. He took time to explain in detail each stop of the tour, took answered every question, and acted as our photographer at some points. Would recommend him to anyone who needs a good start to their time in Kyoto!
A fascinating, varied and fun walk through Kyoto, focusing on geisha culture, temples and shrines. Pam was a warm and helpful guide.
