• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Imagine this: a scenic road trip from Kyoto to explore Arashiyama with stops along the way to discover viewpoints, villages, incredible nature, and cultural gems. Sounds like a dream? No, it’s possible on a Withlocals day trip with a local host leading the way!

Destination

Kyoto, Japan

Category

Day Trips

Duration

6 hours

Transport mode

Public Transport

Available languages

English, Español, Indonesian, 日本語, العربية, Français

Included

• Private Guide
• Public Transportation
• 1 Local Tasting
• Tickets for Iwatayama Monkey Park; Okochi Sanso Villa and Tenryuji temple
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance for other attractions than mentioned
• Lunch (on guest expenses)

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Kyoto station - at the Central Exit in front of Porta Dining and 7 Eleven - Kyoto to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Station Meeting Point

   Meet and greet your local host at an agreed station and get an introduction to your full-day trip and what to expect

4. Scenic Trip

   This full-day trip is arranged for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the sights as your host takes you through Arashiyama while telling you incredible stories and insight

5. Only You & Your Host!

   Forget about cramped touristy buses, on this private day trip, you’ll have all of your host’s attention. Get the chance to speak 1-1 and get all of your questions answered for a personal experience that will make this trip more memorable

6. What’s in Store for You

   Check out from viewpoints, nature, and cultural gems such as Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji Temple and Monkey Park Iwatayama plus other stops your local host has prepared for you along the way

7. Optional Lunch

   Along the way, your local host will recommend you typical and local places where you can stop to have lunch and catch a break. Lunch is not included in the price

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Gabriel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

28 November 2024

Great experience!! Sebastian is the best guide of Kyoto!! My wife and myself went with him to all the best places, including all the temples and a tea ceremony. Ask for Sebastian if you are in Kyoto, Thank you!!!The Best of Kyoto with Sebastian!!

Camilla🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

21 August 2024

Better late than never! Teddy-san was amazing. He was very responsive and more than willing to modify our tour to include a location we requested. He also recommended some temple night illumination events, and we’re so glad we followed his advice. The experience was absolutely beautiful! We also lost a souvenir we had bought for our niece and described to him where we had purchased it, but we couldn’t remember how to get back there. At the end of the tour, Teddy went out of his way to take us to the place he thought matched our description. It was such a kind and thoughtful gesture. We highly recommend Teddy—he’s sociable, very nice, and a fantastic guide.Teddy is sweet and kind!

Candy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

19 August 2024

We had an amazing experience with Guia as our guide in the bamboo forest and Arashiyama! Her deep knowledge of the area’s history added so much value to our visit. Guia was incredibly patient and flexible, seamlessly adjusting the itinerary to suit our needs. As a family with varying ages, we were especially grateful for how well she connected with everyone, making sure each person felt engaged and included. Her warmth and attentiveness made this tour truly special. Highly recommend Guia for anyone looking to explore this beautiful area with an expert guide!Guia’s Tour was Arashiyama-zing

Darcy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mako)

10 June 2023

Mako completed our day in Kyoto wirh her charm and grace. She knew so much about the city and highlights, (local short cuts also) our day was flawless. I would highly recommend Mako for your day in Kyoto.Japanese hospitality and Charm

Katrin🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Ollie)

9 April 2023

Olli was a very nice and courteous guide. he adapted the route to my wishes and was even able to show me a few hidden corners and paths that weren't so crowded. so we had a little more peace. At the end he showed me a very nice café and gave me a few addresses and tips for the coming days. it was very nice excursion and I recommend itRecommend Olli and the Tour

Birgit🇳🇴 Norway

(About local Ollie)

1 April 2023

I was travelling on my own and only had a short days stop in Kyoto. I booked Ollie so that I could see as much as possible when I was there. The chat service is great, then I could make wishes and it was easy to communicate. He met me at the train station and we visited several places, by train, taxi and bike. And we had a great meal together. Ollie had picked the best places and it made me want to come back. He is a very relaxed person, and although we did a lot in short time the tour was never stressed. He had lots of information, and since we share a passion for hiking he gave me lots of tips for future trips. I highly recommend Ollie, I had a great day hanging out with him!Custom made day with Ollie

Colleen 🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Eiji)

24 February 2023

Eiji is a lovely guide, taking us to Arashyiyama and then to two wonderful temples. Eiji is well informed and was eager to meet our needs for both sights and restaurants and to see things at a pace that allowed us to appreciate everything. Thank you for a memorable day.Wonderful day trip

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

7 March 2025

We had such a wonderful time with Sebastian. He had so much knowledge about each stop and created the best schedule to avoid the crowds and make the best use of the time. The meals we had were really special and highlighted local ingredients for super reasonable prices. I would highly recommend him as a guide. Amazing day!

Unknown

(About local Jessica)

6 March 2025

We really loved our time with Jessica. She did a great job explaining everything to us and really had the food scene down. That was our main interest. She was specially good at pivoting around our interests. Highly recommend her!Great Guide!

Alex

(About local Yoshihiro)

6 March 2025

Ted was great in showing us (family with two boys of 11 and 14) around in Kyoto. Great inside tour of Kyoto

Sereni

(About local Jessica)

6 March 2025

It was the arrival day of our trip to Japan & the Osaka evening walking tour with Jessica was a great start! She shared with us some useful tips & insights about Japanese manners, typical foods of Osaka and restaurant suggestions. Jessica spoke perfect English and she was quick to respond to change of the meeting time. Informative & kind

Bonnie

(About local Eiji)

28 February 2025

Eiji came highly recommended and we were very pleased. He gave interesting information without overwhelming us.A pleasant and knowledgeable tour guide

Henry

(About local Yoshihiro)

26 February 2025

We cannot recommend Ted highly enough. His knowledge and enthusiasm was ever-present throughout our tour. He had clearly given much thought to the structure and content of the tour and was also very eager to know what we wanted out of the morning, and our time in Kyoto more generally. 10/10Fantastic morning in Kyoto

E

(About local Yoshihiro)

24 February 2025

Yoshi was very knowledgeable about both authentic Japanese culture, how it related to modern culture (both theater and movies), and gave great recommendations for local restaurants and shops that were both authentic and a good value. We love to support locals, during travels, and this was a great experience! Would highly recommend to anybody who comes to Japan.Amazing local experience

Danielle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

24 February 2025

Eiji was so nice and knowledgeable. He gave us delicious food we wouldn't have thought to get at Nishiki Market. You should definitely be adventurous and try his top choices, even though he said he would try to accommodate any dietary preferences or restrictions. (Just bear in mind it might be hard to do so!) Eiji took over 75 pictures during the tour, which allowed us to be in the moment and enjoy all the amazing food. At the end of the tour, he took us to the Gion district for sight-seeing. I highly recommend choosing Eiji for your food tour!Eiji is great!

elysawalk

(About local Jessica)

23 February 2025

Jessica was a great guide. She was so accommodating to my elderly mother and very helpful. She was totally flexible with what we wanted to do as well.Amazing!

Janne

(About local Yoshihiro)

23 February 2025

We had a lovely day with Ted! He showed us different shrines in Kyoto and could tell us a lot about the cultural and historical significance. We were a bit jetlagged from the flight, but Ted managed to keep us awake and tell us lots of interesting facts. Thank you!Great stroll through the city!

margie🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

22 February 2025

We had a great morning with Ted in the Nishiki markets - myself and my two daughters. We had been there before on our own, and had not discovered half of the things Ted showed us - from puffer fish sashimi, to wagyu beef sushi to soy milk donuts and deep fried ice-cream, plus all sorts of spices and Japanese flavourings, and tempura tuna with sake in a crowded, popular bar. He was very generous and kind, and amusing...I would highly recommend this experience. The price you pay includes all the food you eat - Ted handles the cash, and the negotiations!"Ted" Yoshihiro broadened our palates!

Nick

(About local Eiji)

17 February 2025

The Nara tour was booked for my mother and her friend (60s). Here are the messages I received from them: "We are having a very good time ☺️Eiji is a wonderful tour guide." "We had an amazing tour, on our way back to the hotel now, my battery is at 10%🤣" [so many photos and videos] "What a great tour. The deer bit Eiji’s bottom, Jan’s bottom and tried to eat my tags on the wheelchair! Such a fun day 💕💕💕" It's been their favourite part of Japan so far - which is quite a high recommendation. If you're looking for a tour in Kyoto, Eiji-san is your man!Laughs, bites, and photographs

Reid🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

16 February 2025

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.Great Experience with Ted

Matt

(About local Yoshihiro)

7 February 2025

Yoshihiro was very knowledgeable and fun to spend the day with. He listened to what we were interested in and put together a great itinerary. Communication was easy and we all learned so much. Highly recommended!Outstanding walking tour in Kyoto

Amanda

(About local Guia)

7 February 2025

Guia took us on a wonderful tour and found lots of tasty items for us. We had a great time. Thank you so much!Wonderful time

Synnove

(About local Yoshihiro)

4 February 2025

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 more interesting places in Kyoto. Thank you Ted!Kyoto insights

Rod🇯🇵 Japan

(About local Guia)

3 February 2025

Great tour with Guia - she adapted her tour to our mobility needs, and took us to some food outlets that stretched our culinary experience! Nothing was too much trouble, and we had interesting conversations about not just food - Japanese culture and life. Great food tour

Marjon🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Eiji)

31 January 2025

Eiji took us to places where tourists are rare and was helpfull to answer our questions. We enjoyed the tour very much. Off beaten tracks

Kelly

(About local Eiji)

27 January 2025

Very insightful- very kind and showed us around the city at night. Took great photos as well of us as another perk!! Wonderful tour!Wonderful tour!!

Phillip

(About local Yoshihiro)

27 January 2025

I had an excellent informative tour with Ted!Great tour!

Jessica🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

20 January 2025

Guia is so warm and friendly and has immense knowledge of food history and culture. We had a great time walking the market stalls with her and talking about life in the different places we’ve lived. She took some great photos of us as well enjoying the food, and seemed to know all the vendors personally! We got pretty fantastic bites to try that was catered to each of my family members tastes and preferences. Overall, I’ve been on food tours on nearly every continent, and this one ranks as one of the best because of its diverse foods, cultural beauty, excellent conversations with our guide, and opportunity to buy a few extra things with her expertise. Book this, you won’t regret it. We had a blast with Guia!

Thomas🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

12 January 2025

We spent a beautiful day in Osaka with Jessica. We covered a lot of ground. From the Shitennoji Temple to the Shin Sekai neighborhood to the the Osaka Castle. Jessica is very knowledgeable about Japan's history and culture. She is extremely personable and has a great sense of humor. We enjoyed our visit very much!Great Day in Osaka!

MaryAnne🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

12 January 2025

Yoshihiro (Ted) changed our meeting point closer to our hotel which was very kind. We learnt a lot about how to get around and some local history in our 1.5hr tour. Ted even went out of his way to get us to the markets at the end of our tour. A friendly local guide. Great start to Kyoto

Julia🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

11 January 2025

We had a wonderful tour with Ted. He is very friendly, easy to communicate with and very knowledgeable about the history of Kyoto. Ted was also very flexible changing our itinerary to start later due to heavy snow and also to change the route to experience a local festival. The tasting part of the tour was delicious and Ted helped us buy lots of delicious things to try and to take back home. We would highly recommend you book this tour if you are visiting Kyoto. Wonderful Kyoto guide

Cameron

(About local Eiji)

9 January 2025

Eiji was an excellent guide and provided a great tour of Kyoto. He very knowledgeable and helpful. We did this tour on the first day of our stay in Kyoto which was a great way to see the city & get our bearings. Thank you for looking after my family Eiji.

Sarah

(About local Yoshihiro)

8 January 2025

We had an awesome few hours exploring Kyoto and learning about Japanese culture. Ted was very kind and flexible with plans depending on how we were feeling, and we learned so much! If you’re looking for the best guide in Kyoto, you’ve found him :) We loved our tour with Ted!

Mathilde

(About local Maha)

6 January 2025

Nous avons passé une super après-midi avec Maha, qui nous a fait découvrir Kyoto et qui a adapté la visite à nos enfants (4 ans et 7 ans). Super expérience avec une guide enthousiaste et qui connait très bien la ville et la culture japonaise.Super visite de Kyoto avec nos enfants

Jill🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 January 2025

We had an amazing experience with Ted as our guide exploring the unique street food scene in Kyoto. His knowledge of the local cuisine and culture added so much depth to the tour. Ted was not only interesting and engaging but also incredibly patient, ensuring everyone in our group felt included and comfortable. His passion for Kyoto’s food and history truly shone through, making this a memorable experience. Highly recommend Ted for anyone looking to explore Kyoto in a fun, flavourful, and informative way! He has also been soo great at helping us find restaurants while we are here in the city.A must do a Kyoto!

cn66hs7gjb🇶🇦 Qatar

(About local Sebastian)

5 January 2025

This is the second time we booked Sebastian. He is funny, kind , knowledgeable and flexible. Personalized the tour to suit us and really felt like walking with a friend, not a formal tour guide ! He is great, highly recommend him Booked Sebastian again!

Guy🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Guia)

4 January 2025

We loved our tour with Guia. She showed us the main shrine and the surrounding markets and explained the role of geisha and the training involved. Whilst we didn’t see any geisha on their day off, she provided us with the details for a geisha performance and also arranged for us to attend a tea ceremony. Would definitely use her again, if we’re in Kyoto againAwesome tour with great guide

Serene🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Eiji)

2 January 2025

My family of ten with wide ranging tastes and age group had a great time learning about the best local food in Kyoto. We would not have been able to find and enjoy the experience without Eiji's guidance. He was extremely patient and kind with our requests. We had a great time and experience tasting all the interesting and delicious 'best of Kyoto' food! Highly recommended.Best Food Experience!

Francesca🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

2 January 2025

We are a family of 3 visiting from San Francisco and Eiji was our guide for a food tour of Nishiki market and Gion. Eiji was excellent—friendly, knowledgeable and playful with a good sense of humor. We immediately felt at ease with him. With Eiji deftly navigating the crowds, we ate food at Nishiki that we would never have found ourselves and were steered away from the stalls that were not specific to Kyoto. Our walking tour of nearby Gion was informative and fun—not just an extended photo opportunity. We highly recommend Eiji as your guide and would happily spent time with him again. Thank you Eiji!!We wholeheartedly recommend Eiji!!

Natan

(About local Yoshihiro)

1 January 2025

It’s amazing when teenaged children who generally hate listening to tour guides pronounce someone “chill” and express the wish to have spent a longer time with them. Verbatim quote: “I’d go places with Ted.” Our two hours with Ted in Gion (all he had available—the man is in demand!) were indeed interesting and engaging, especially his accounta of the history of the Geisha/maiko institution and various local temples and shrines. He’s someone our whole family of six (including two 17 year olds and two college students) would look forward to meeting again when we return to Kyoto. Magical introduction to Kyoto!

J.🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

1 January 2025

Jessica nailed it with us. 100% exactly what we wanted and adapted on the fly to things we asked for or expresses interest. Her knowledge and insights made our tour the most memorable of our trip to Japan! Absolutely perfect

J.🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

1 January 2025

I CANNOT say now awesome Jessica was to me and my daughters. She knew the city, where to get the best food, and engaged so well with my teens. She went out of her way to make sure we had the best experience in Osaka! Only regret is too little time!

J.🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

1 January 2025

It was fine, but it wasn't awesome. Some of the narrative felt phoned in and he unfortunately had only a little insight to the depth of Osaka's rich cultural history. Wasn't a great match for us unfortunately. Delivered but ok

Anne-Laure

(About local Yoshihiro)

31 December 2024

Visite intéressante et stimulante du quartier des Geishas avec Ted qui partage tout son savoir au gré de notre ballade. Super intéressant car Ted est une mine d’informations ! Un must piur la visite de Kyoto

Stacy🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Yoshihiro)

31 December 2024

Yoshihiro in Kyoto was awesome! He was knowledgeable, interesting, and flexible. Highly recommended! Yoshihiro in Kyoto was awesome!

Ralph🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Guia)

31 December 2024

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!Great time, great city, great guide

John

(About local Guia)

30 December 2024

She’s a great person and a great guide and really knows her stuff. I’m really glad that I spent the time with her and it was a short tour, but I got a lot out of it!Local soulful knowledgeable!

cn66hs7gjb🇶🇦 Qatar

(About local Sebastian)

30 December 2024

I really enjoyed the tour, Sebastian knew a lot of information about Japanese history and culture, he was flexible and personalized the trip to suit us. We had a train to catch so wanted to finish the tour near our hotel and he planned it that way! He was kind & funny Enjoyed the tour

leo🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Sebastian)

29 December 2024

Sebestian was an amazing guide, he took care of my Aging mums leg issue and plan the trip so well and even arrange a lift service for her. And he is such a history geek that he shares interesting stories of Japan. Would be looking forward to plan another trip with him in a few months time SUCH AN AMAZING GUIDE

Jamie

(About local Guia)

29 December 2024

My wife and I booked a half day walking tour of Kyoto with Guia. She was an excellent guide and produced a steady stream of fascinating information about Kyoto, its culture, traditions and landmarks which was just what we, as first time visitors to Kyoto, needed to start our visit here. Guia - you were a star. Thanks so much. Kyoto Tour with Guia