Private Kyoto Customizable Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
Description
Experience the best of Kyoto on this immersive tour. In Kyoto, explore iconic sites like the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates, and the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), a stunning Zen temple covered in gold leaf. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an unforgettable journey through Japan’s ancient capitals.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Arashiyama, located in western Kyoto, Japan, is a picturesque district renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is best known for the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where visitors can walk through a mesmerizing pathway lined with towering bamboo stalks. The area is also home to the historic Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning gardens, and the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Arashiyama’s charm is especially captivating during the cherry blossom season in spring and the vibrant autumn foliage, making it a popular destination year-round.
Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a famous Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is renowned for its stunning golden exterior, which reflects beautifully on the surrounding pond. Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was later converted into a temple. The top two floors are covered in gold leaf, symbolizing purity and spiritual harmony. Kinkaku-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage site and attracts visitors year-round, especially during autumn and winter when the scenery becomes even more breathtaking.
Nishiki Market (錦市場), often called “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” is a bustling, covered shopping street in downtown Kyoto running about 400 m between Takakura and Teramachi streets along Nishikikoji. With over 100–130 stalls, it offers a fantastic array of local produce, seafood, pickles, sweets, tofu/yuba, kitchenware, knives, ceramics, and street snacks
Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
One of Japan's most well-known temples is Kiyomizudera, which translates to "Pure Water Temple". It got its name from the pristine waters of the Otowa Waterfall, which is located on the forested hillsides east of Kyoto, where it was established in 780. The temple established the Kita Hosso sect in 1965 after first being connected to the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools of Japanese Buddhism. The temple was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The most notable feature of Kiyomizudera is its wooden stage, which protrudes 13 meters over the surrounding hillside from the main hall. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant view of the many cherry and maple trees below, which burst into a sea of color, from the stage.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a famous Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, Japan, dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice, prosperity, and business. It is best known for its iconic Senbon Torii, a path lined with thousands of vibrant red torii gates that wind up the sacred Mount Inari. Founded in the 8th century, the shrine attracts visitors seeking blessings for success and good fortune. The scenic hiking trails, fox statues (Inari’s messengers), and panoramic views from the mountain make Fushimi Inari a popular and spiritually significant destination.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick up you at 8:30 AM. Due to traffic, we may be up to 30 minutes late. The total duration of the tour is 8 to 10 hours.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(20)
Shan and Malik were terrific guides. They took us to every site we requested and were patient with our slow group. They were very knowledgeable about each location and helped us with shortcuts. We all enjoyed the tour immensely. I recommend the tour very highly.
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Was great. Malik was amazing guide, with lot og knowledge. He was very kind , polite and showed us all the places as planned. We had a wonderfull day.
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Malik was on time picking us up. His vehicle was clean with air conditioning. He was very patient as my daughter and I like to shop! Thank you Malik for a great time in Kyoto. You can PayPal him a tip . FYI 🙏😊
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Malik was very patient with us (family with two young kids) and helped us with things like our stroller and finding bathrooms on the way. He gave us some great history overviews and made sure that we were comfortable along the way. Thank you, Malik!
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
We stayed as a family during a round trip in Kyoto. We booked this day tour with Malik to get to the main sights in an uncomplicated way. Malik was a reliable local guide. He was able to provide information on all hotspots. We would book again! P.S. The vehicle was in impeccable condition and we were able to photograph from the car as well. Therefore, we cannot understand previous assessments in this regard.
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
We took a tour with Malik of Kyoto downtown area. I was quite demanding as we had a tour booked the next day that covered a lot of the sites he usually visits. It was heavy rain as well but we had an amazing time. He showed us the Higashiyama area before the other tourists arrived, The Emperor's Palace, and the stunning Sanjusangen Buddist temple. We had lunch in the market and then went onto The Gion Geisha area. He was knowledgeable and patient answering all of our questions about the Japanese culture. Thanks Malik for a great day.
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Our tour was awesome! Malik made our day really good. He was very accommodating to us and our daughter. The trip was really nice in his vehicle and planned out perfectly. The highlights we saw were really really spectacular. Would repeat with him again..
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Malik was great! Took us to Kyoto tour. Able to find us our required dietary restriction restaurant.
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Malik, our guide did a phenomenal job! Very knowledgeable and provided us enough space to do our thing. Lots of crowds during the Cherry Blossom time. but Malik made it a great day, Highly recommend him. 10 Stars
Thank you so much for your generous five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
Good way to visit important sights in a short time. Unfortunately, the car was equipped with blacked-out windows, which greatly impaired lateral visibility. On such a tour you also want to perceive the surroundings.
Thank you so much for your generous four-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to share your experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and inspires our team to continue delivering exceptional service. We would be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Kyoto. If friends or family are planning a trip to Japan, we would be grateful if you shared your experience with them. The timeless beauty of Kyoto’s temples, peaceful gardens, and cultural heritage await their discovery. Thank you once again for your support — it truly encourages us to keep doing our best for every guest.
