Kyoto Stationin front of the central ticket gates of the JR lines on the ground floor.They are on the north side of the station where Kyoto Tower is located.
Description
Kyoto is the most famous tourist destination in Japan. There are plenty of wonderful sites, but it is always bustling with tourists from all over the world, so it’s hard to enjoy Kyoto's natural beauty quietly and in depth.
Here we offer a luxurious tour that enables you to visit three of the most famous tourist attractions in Kyoto with fewer people in half a day till noon. After this tour there is time for you to spend on other activities.
This tour is a walking tour. Let us remind you that you'll take about 15,000 steps through this tour.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
6:45 AM, 7:30 AM, and 8:00 AM
Next available
Wed, Oct 14
Adult (ages 6–80)
$103
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Kyoto Early Bird Tour
Itinerary
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
60 min
The beautiful tunnel of thousands of vermilion torii gates is so famous and picturesque. These torii gates are offered by worshippers in appreciation for the good fortune they received from the deity enshrined here. Why don’t you, too, offer a prayer and change your luck?
Kinkakuji Temple
Admission not included60 min
This famous Zen temple is an icon of Samurai culture. You enter this venerated temple right after it opens in the morning, when few people visit. At this hour it is possible to get a good look at the gilded building and its beautiful appearance reflected in the pond and to take pictures at your own pace.
Arashiyama
60 min
In the fresh early morning air, we walk through the renowned bamboo forest before the site gets busy. The beauty of the bamboo grove in the morning sun is exceptional. Let's stop and close our eyes. We can hear the bamboo trunks and leaves touch each other in the morning breeze and making sounds that heal our heart tenderly.
What's included
Included
Guide fee
Not included
Food and Drink
Public Transportation fare
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
390 reviews
5
377
4
9
3
2
2
1
1
1
How it compares in Kyoto
Starting price $103 is 15% below the typical $121 for tours of similar length in Kyoto
Excurgo comparison of 1,623 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Wheelchair accessible
Accessible for those with limited eye sight
Accessible for those with limited mobility
Animals or pets allowed
Infant seats unavailable
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Not wheelchair accessible
comfortable shoes for walking; quite a bit of walking required
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour take?
Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour lasts about 5h 15min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $103 per person for this Kyoto experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:45 AM, 7:30 AM, and 8:00 AM.
Can I cancel Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Kyoto Station. in front of the central ticket gates of the JR lines on the ground floor. They are on the north side of the station where Kyoto Tower is located. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 8 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infant seats unavailable
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Accessible for those with limited eye sight Accessible for those with limited mobility
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 390 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by KAMNAVI Tours.
Reviews(390)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Ahsan_S
September 16, 2026 · via Viator
We had such an enjoyable...
We had such an enjoyable morning with Satomi! Visiting three different areas of Kyoto in one tour could have been difficult to navigate on our own with the combination of buses and trains, so having Satomi guide us made the day much easier and more enjoyable. She was active, friendly and easy to talk to throughout the tour. We ended up having some really interesting conversations about life, including ikigai, her time living in Illinois and California, and her experiences in Japan. It felt like we got to know our guide while also getting to see three major Kyoto destinations efficiently. A really fun and worthwhile morning!
M
Michael_P
August 26, 2026 · via Viator
Worth getting out early to beat the crowds and heat
We had the pleasure of meeting Satomi-san on our Kyoto walking tour today and couldn’t have asked for a better guide. She has such a bright and wonderful personality that makes getting up early worth it. Satomi-san was extremely knowledgeable about all of our stops, took excellent pictures for us, and knew all the fastest routes between stops. This tour with Satomi-san is a must to see the highlights of Kyoto while learning all of the history along the way. You won’t be disappointed!!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto walking tour with Satomi. We’re especially happy that her knowledge, cheerful personality, and photography helped make your experience memorable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her!
We hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Japan!
E
edward_o
August 21, 2026 · via Viator
A great tour with an even better guide.
An excellent tour and an even better guide. Our guide Kaki was outstanding, super knowledgeable and super friendly. We enjoyed the many stops and his in-depth knowledge about both the places we visited in the history of Kyoto. He took tons of pictures and four of them all to us on the same day of the tour. Super enjoyable highly recommended.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review and recommendation! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an enjoyable time on our Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour with Kaki.
We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Japan someday!
M
Matt_K
July 20, 2026 · via Viator
Great to have a guide to show the way
We were very grateful for guidance in getting to each of these locations. It made the morning smooth and enjoyable. One less thing to worry about with someone to help us find the way.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that having our guide with you made it easier to navigate each locations and enjoy a smooth morning. We’re glad you had a great time exploring the area with us, and we hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Japan!
H
Henry_D
July 5, 2026 · via Viator
Great experience. Tons of...
Great experience. Tons of walking. Lots of history. Our guide Koichi was amazing. Tons of history. Learned our names in Japanese. Great tour.
You will need a pasmo or suica card. Long awesome day
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review!
We are very excited that you learned a lot about Japanese culture and even your names in Japanese. We’ll tell Koichi that you had a good time with him and hope you didn’t walk too much :)
S
Silvia_V
July 4, 2026 · via Viator
Beautiful tour with Toru
The earlier the better. You get to the sites before the crowds start coming. Our guide Toru was extremely knowledgeable and wonderful to be experiencing these sites with him. Toru knows all the sites well and explains the history and meaning. Beautiful tour with Toru.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the early start and were able to experience the sites before the crowds arrived. It's especially rewarding to know that Toru's knowledge, passion, and thoughtful explanations of the history and cultural significance made your tour so memorable.
We'll be sure to share your kind words with Toru. Thank you again for choosing to tour with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future!
E
Emily_B
June 22, 2026 · via Viator
Great tour
This was a great tour. Our guide was lovely and very informative. It’s a bit long due to distance to travel between sites but plenty of opportunities to rest, get snacks, etc.
Operator response
We are very grateful for your taking the time to write a review! Wonderful to know that your tour was informative.
Sites are a bit far apart, and the public transportation in Kyoto is not too efficient, but we’re happy you were able to make use of the time between the sites as well.
J
JoAnne_S
June 10, 2026 · via Viator
A great day out!
Wonderful experience, great guide. Going early was the best move, and we saw and learned so much! I highly recommend.
Operator response
We’re absolutely delighted that you had such a good time and learned a lot!
Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review.
A
Amy_H
May 23, 2026 · via Viator
Great early morning tour.
Tomoko was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable of Kyoto. She made the whole day very easy.
We really enjoyed it.
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!
We are delighted to hear that you had a good time in Kyoto with Tomoko.
S
Sven_W
April 13, 2026 · via Viator
Highlights of Kyoto in half a day
Highlights of Kyoto in half a day, but without any hectic. Excellent guidance with lots of interesting information about the visited sights. We now even understand the difference between a temple and a shrine :-) Thanks to our fantastic guide Miho.
Operator response
We are delighted to receive your kind review and very happy to know that you had an insightful and enjoyable morning with Miho in Kyoto.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts.
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