• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Ready for a jam-packed tour, full of history, culture, stories, and sights? Checkmark from your travel bucket list all your must-sees of Kyoto, because if there’s a Withlocals tour that shows you all the city's ins and outs, it’s this complete and personalized tour of Kyoto.

Destination

Kyoto, Japan

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

8 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

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

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack
• Tickets for Nijo Castle
• Tickets for Golden Pavillion
• Tickets for Kiyomzu Dera Temple
• Public Transportation
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to any other attractions than mentioned

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 7 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 JR central exit / Shichijo dori exit - 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. City Highlights

   See Kinkakoji temple, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, and more must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect overview to what makes Kyoto so special

4. Hidden Gems

   long the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists get to experience

5. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

6. More Things to See

   With more time, you’ll have the chance to enter some of the landmarks and attractions your host has planned for you. Get in touch with the host of your choice to hear more about their plan

7. 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

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!

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!

Daniel

(About local Guia)

26 December 2024

Guia was amazing. She knew a lot and was extremely flexible and thoughtful. I highly recommend her and plan on booking more days with her in future when I come back to Japan. Fantastic Day!

Florence🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Maha)

10 November 2024

We’re a group of 3 people and Maha guided us through Kyoto and the must to see sites for a one-day visit. Maha is very friendly, professional and knows very well the town and the Japanese culture. We enjoyed being with her and learning more about Japan. Thus, she gave us advice about our trip and good places where to go eating. We highly recommend her services. We all speak French and Maha speaks perfectly our language. Friendly & professional guide !

Toby🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

3 November 2024

We've had an unforgettable day exploring Kyoto with Eiji as our guide. He designed a custom tour packed with incredible sightseeing and delicious food stops, making our experience truly special. Eiji’s knowledge of the city and its history added so much depth to each place we visited. Over the course of our 8-hour adventure, he often stood in long lines to buy food for us, allowing us time to rest – a thoughtful gesture that really made a difference. Eiji also took photos of us throughout the tour with his own camera and later shared them via Google Drive, giving us beautiful memories to look back on. Beyond being a fantastic guide, Eiji was a friendly and enjoyable person to be around, making the day even better. If you want to experience Kyoto’s culture, sights, and flavors through the eyes of a true local, we highly recommend booking with Eiji!Eiji is Awesome!!!

Mark🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Eiji)

30 October 2024

Eiji provided a really good introduction to the city. We had arrived only the day before, so even something as simple as changing modes of transport as we wound our way around the city, was helpful for the rest of the trip. So too were all the cultural tips, and Eiji went out of his way to find lunch for us in - at our request - a 'proper ramen bar, the sort where working local people go'; we were the only tourists there, and loved it. He also, having learned of my love for Ghibli films, went out of his way to take us to the Ghibli store in the Gion area. We're both extremely well travelled, but Kyoto would be close to the tops of both of our lists, and Eiji's enlivened guidance really helped with this. Great one-day highlights tour of Kyoto

Peter🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Guia)

27 October 2024

Great temples and shrines, well organised, friendly , informative and historic. Good pace and engagement. All round excellent. Excellent day out

Diana🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

20 October 2024

Jessica was great! She showed us so many sites. She was lovely and warm. She also wanted to make sure we were happy. Really great experience!Our day with Jessica

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

19 October 2024

1

Guia was wonderful. She navigated seven adults around Kyoto. We had a perfect afternoon tour. Very knowledgeable and funny as well. Would highly recommend. Would definitely book again and request Guia. Excellent tour!

Bryanna🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

13 October 2024

We had an incredible experience with Guia! She was not only extremely knowledgeable about the city's history and landmarks but also made the entire day feel like we were exploring with a close friend. Her friendly and engaging personality made us feel right at home, and she even took the time to tailor the tour to our interests. It was such a joy to spend the day with her, and their passion for the city truly shone through. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable and personal tour experience!

Victoria🇫🇷 France

(About local Maha)

11 October 2024

Thank you, we spent a lovely afternoon and so much appreciated your patience with our kids. And even for small advice your gave us. Really helpful!Enjoyable afternoon

Dean🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

7 October 2024

I had just one day for a day trip down from Tokyo and Sebastian made it a great experience, tailoring the day to include several sights I wanted to see. He was personable, knowledgeable about all of the many attractions and areas we saw, and also it was very interesting to hear his explanations about modern life in Kyoto and Japan. Highly recommended tour!Great Day in Kyoto

Jennifer 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

24 September 2024

We requested a custom 7 hour e-bike tour of Kyoto with Eiji. He did not disappoint! Eiji paced the day beautifully. We saw a wonderful collection of temples, shrines, parks, and neighborhoods. As a bonus, he took incredible photographs the entire day which he quickly shared with us via WhatsApp. He took us to places which were not over run by tourists, so we could really enjoy the various sites. We had done a tour of Gion the day prior, so he rearranged the day to not be repetitive. For a lunch break, we went to the most special, authentic, unique tofu restaurant. He picked it based on our food preferences. It was the most beautiful lunch I ever ate and the tofu was absolutely delicious. The conversation we had during lunch was so interesting. Throughout the day, Eiji taught us about Japanese history, culture, religions, customs and traditions without over doing it. It was a fairly expensive day. However, I think it was worth every penny to effectively and efficiently see Kyoto with a fabulous guide and overall delightful human being. Seven hours on an e-bike is literally easier than one hour of walking! I highly recommend it as an option for touring Kyoto. Eiji's English is excellent and he is a truly kind and warm individual. If you are lucky enough to get Eiji you will have an unforgettable tour. Happy Travels!Unforgettable day with Eiji!!!

Camilla🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ollie)

22 August 2024

Better late than never! My husband and I had a tour with Ollie in November of last year. Ollie’s tour wasn’t just a tour. It felt like a local living. Ollie rented us bikes and took us what it felt like the whole Town. He showed us these little temple gems and gave us some stories behind them. Then we went for a matcha making tour, which was one of a kind. Overall the whole tour was truly a unique experience. The bike really gave it a special touch. I truly loved it and highly recommend a tour with Ollie. Ollie tookus on an unforgettable adventure

Raffaella🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Eiji)

17 August 2024

Very nice Kyoto’s tour.

Nadne🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Eiji)

28 July 2024

Having too little time to visit Kyoto and to optimize our stay, our family of 4 ( teenagers aged 15 and 12) booked a full day with Eiji and WHAT A DAY IT WAS! Not only did Eiji meet our requests (early departure, personalized route, etc..) but he completely exceeded our expectations! From Fushimi Inari to the magnificent gardens of Kyoto, including the course on how to use chopsticks properly, to the photo shoot by bike in front of the Imperial Palace, not to mention the experience of the 8am train as well as the visit to the best tea shop and a very good udon soup for lunch and so on! All this while capturing the rhythm of my family with a short break in a soothing temple to help us with the planning of the rest of the trip. Finally, we would highly recommend a full day with Eiji which was most amazing, informative and enjoyable ( and this despite 38 degrees!). We will not hesitate to book with you, Eiji, for our second trip to Kyoto! Thank you again. Karl, Nadine, Cid and Nixie fron Québec, CanadaWhat an amazing day with Eiji!

Bradley🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

10 July 2024

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a day tour in Kyoto with Sebastian, and it was exceptional. His deep knowledge of Kyoto's history and culture truly enhanced the experience as we visited iconic sites like Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Nijo Castle (Shogun's residence), and the beautiful town of Uji. Sebastian's storytelling brought each location to life, sharing fascinating insights and personal connections that made the tour both educational and engaging. His ability to connect and answer questions in Spanish was especially appreciated by our family visiting from Uruguay. Sebastian went above and beyond by renting a van and driving us around, which was super convenient and much appreciated, especially given that we had a family member in a wheelchair. He was very considerate and made the tour accessible, ensuring that everyone could fully enjoy the experience. Overall, Sebastian's expertise, personable approach, and thoughtful accommodations made this tour a highlight of our trip to Kyoto. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the cultural and historical richness of Kyoto with an excellent guide. Fab Tour Guide! Knowledgeable, Bilingual

Kathryn🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Guia)

8 July 2024

Guia was great! She got us around easily and we saw more sites that we would have on our own. She even helped us find a Japanese-made guitar strap and Japanese rum!Great way to get introduced ro Kyoto!

Ivan Scott🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

31 May 2024

A very interesting and informative guide. Excellent English speaker and musician, which is why I selected him.Shohei Rocks

Michael🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

24 May 2024

Jessica went above and beyond with us. Her English was perfect. Very personable and easy to talk to. My partner asked a million questions and she never got annoyed. She knew the exact places to go to avoid crowds, she was extremely knowledgeable about all of the places we visited and effortlessly navigated us through the Kyoto public transit system. Would not hesitate to recommend her. What a great day. The highlight of our trip to Kyoto would rate higher than 10 if possible. Amazing day in Kyoto

Lausanne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

30 March 2024

Eiji did wonderful keeping track of all 8 in my family from 9-78 years old. He took us to awesome highlights in Kyoto and easily changed our itinerary on the day based on what we wanted to do. He was easy to communicate with and came up with a personalized itinerary. Wonderful time in Kyoto

Rami

(About local Maha)

21 March 2024

Maha was a perfect guide. Her knowledge of history combined with her caring a warm nature made it a perfect day for us. She is efficient, agile, patient, and positive. The day went fast and we loved the experience. Certainly highly recommend. RamiExcellent guide

Kristina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

30 December 2023

We spent two wonderful days with Ted exploring much of Kyoto’s historical sites as well as a delicious food tour of Nishiki Market. Ted was communicative and helpful in planning the tours and thoughtful and purposeful in his execution. Ted has a wealth of knowledge about each location you visit, speaks beautiful English and is generous in answering questions and sharing insights. He went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, welcomed and we can’t recommend him enough. Thank you, Ted! Outstanding, informative experience

thomas.e.howell

(About local Eiji)

2 December 2023

I cannot say enough positive things about our day with Eiji! Eiji is not only an incredible companion in getting to know and experience Kyoto, but simply a great person to spend a day with. He is extremely knowledgeable about the city and its history, attentive to the sensibilities and preferences of his guests, creative in his customization of his tours, and caring in all parts of the experience, from exquisite meal choices to joyous photo opportunities. For us, getting to know Kyoto—and Japanese culture more broadly—with Eiji was a standout experience in a trip filled with highlights. Any visitor would be fortunate to have him guide their experience. Thank you Eiji!

ally🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

10 August 2023

Ted did an absolutely fantastic job! In one day, we saw four of the major landmarks in Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kizomizu-dera, and Nijo-jo Castle. Ted provided excellent and detailed background information on each of the sites and walked us through the highlights. His English was excellent and his knowledge of the city was impressive. We used public transportation for the tour which certainly was more efficient that going on a tour bus or car (in Japan, public transportation is almost always faster than going by private vehicle). Plus, by riding the buses and subways through the city we got a close view of the locals and the community. The tour does involve quite a bit of walking so be prepared accordingly. There is absolutely no way we could have seen all four sites in one day without Ted (in retrospect, we should have devoted more of our trip to Kyoto). In the future, we plan to book Ted for two full days to see the other beautiful highlights of Kyoto, but only two sites per day to let us take in the full beauty of everything Kyoto has to offer. Great way to explore Kyoto!

Marta🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Eiji)

7 August 2023

Eiji’s comprehensive Kyoto tour is highly recommended particularly if one is short of time in Kyoto. He managed to hit all the highlights and squeeze in a mini food tour of the Nikishi market at lunchtime! Great comprehensive Kyoto tour

Marcel🇫🇷 France

(About local Maha)

18 July 2023

The day we spent with Maha was interesting. However, due to the excessive walking time in the heat, and some bus delays, we were quite uncomfortable, and finally missed a part of the program. The price of your services is extremely high. We could have rented an air conditionned car with an English speaking chauffeur for 10 hours, costing less than 550€, and would have had a 100% more comfortable day for a total cost of far less than the nearly 750€ you charged even including entrance fees and an ice cream. Evaluation of a day in Kyoto

Nate🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mako)

26 June 2023

This was our third tour in Japan and my kids said that Mako was their favorite guide. She was very nice and knowledgeable. She let us customize the tour to our energy levels and we still got to see so much! We highly recommend her.We had the best time!

Kelly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

15 June 2023

We had such a great time with Eiji (pronounced A.G.). He was SO HELPFUL prior to our trip as I had questions on which locations to stay, how to take the train, and in designing our full day. He gave me several options and ideas on sites to visit and he was always super responsive. We really enjoyed having him as our guide!! Bonus, he took pictures for us and knew the best picture spots to stop. This was a family vacation with our 16 and 17 year olds. Eiji kept us engaged the whole time and his English is very good!! Exploring Kyoto witg Eiji

Ritchie🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Eiji)

2 June 2023

If you require someone who is a 10/10 for below, pick this gentleman: - Personable - Welcoming - Knowledgeable - Flexible - Patient I can guarantee that you won’t go wrong.Highly recommended by picky traveller

Luke🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Ollie)

23 May 2023

We had a great day with Ollie as he expertly guided us through Kyoto and served up the main temple highlights as well as some hidden gems that made our day even more special. We were able to tailor the 8 hours we had with Ollie perfectly and the pace was spot on. Highly recommend!Great Experience with Ollie

Amanda🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ollie)

13 May 2023

Ollie was an outstanding tour guide especially as it rained all day.Full day Tour of Kyoto

Paul🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Ollie)

14 April 2023

Thank you very much Ollie. Good Experience with hidden gems. Easy to communicate with you. All the best for a wonderfull future Thanks Ineke and PaulOllie was great

chris🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ollie)

11 April 2023

Despite teaming rain we enjoyed a wonderful exploration of Kyoto with Ollie . Ollie gauged our interests and took us to some amazing temples ,shrines and gardens , even an amazing , hidden shrine with beautiful moss covered stones . He was very informative providing us with little gems of information about the sites we visited . Lunch was enjoyed at a great restaurant overlooking the old part of Kyoto . Would highly recommend Ollie for any excursions around Kyoto . Thanks Ollie

Theo🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ollie)

14 October 2022

We spent a lovely day with Ollie showing us around Kyoto. Highly recommended Friendly and knowledgeable guide

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ahmed)

10 March 2020

It was a good trip Ahmed was knowledgeable about each of the areas we visited. And even adjusted the schedule on the fly as he found we moved through each of the planned areas quicker then average. (There were very few tourist that day).A relaxing trip around tokyo

Viator🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Ahmed)

27 February 2020

My teenage daughter and myself had just two days to stop in Kyoto, and we concluded we need a time-efficient strategy to explore Kyoto's most significant sights. Our guide was an international medical student, with excellent knowledge of Kyoto. He planned the day according to our wishes. This included several famous temples and shrines, on all sides of Kyoto (West/North/South/East/Center). He knew everything we needed about each place visited. We also ha a lunch together, and numerous discussions about Kyoto, Japan and own experiences. I would highly recommend this way of exploring new cities .highly recommend

Henning🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

31 January 2020

I passed a very relaxed and informative day with local guide Shohei. He's a very easy-to-get-along with guy and speaks perfect english. Our tour covered 4 of the main attractions in Kyoto. We had a nice meal and a coffee break in between visiting sites and time flew by. So if anyone is looking for a cool, diverse and interesting tour in Kyoto the Shohei is the man ! Henning M. (Switzerland)A happy tour with Shohei

Angelo🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ahmed)

31 January 2020

Ahmed was a great guide for what we needed out of our trip through Kyoto. He was quick with us because he realized we wanted to move fast and try and see a lot in one day. He had great historical knowledge on the shrines and temples visited which is nicer to hear while walking through the space more so than stopping to read plaques and walls. Nice random pop-quiz sometimes too which kept you on your toes. His humor worked well with ours which was refreshing from the strict discipline we had experienced with the Japanese culture thus far on our trip. He's flexible and will adhere to what you want to do within the time limits. Overall, a great and educated guide! Thanks!Adventure with Ahmed

Alyssandra🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 January 2020

Ted was such an incredible tour guide! He met us at our hotel and helped us craft the perfect day despite the fact that we had an early train to catch out of Kyoto. He was informative, kind and extremely helpful throughout the entire day! He showed us the most beautiful temples and delicious food spots - everything to create a perfect last day in Kyoto. We will definitely be booking another tour with Ted the next time we visit Kyoto! Ted rocks!

Lauren🇺🇸 United States

(About local Justus)

1 January 2020

Justus gave us a great tour around Kyoto. His knowledge of the sites and culture is invaluable. Thank you Justus! Great tour!

Poonam🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Shohei)

30 December 2019

Hi

Karen🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Justus)

28 December 2019

We met our guide, Justus, as agreed at Kyoto station and after a discussion about our priorities we set off on the local bus. Justus was very knowledgeable about local history and was very accommodating for the weather conditions (cold and wet). He took the time to discuss our interests with us and made sure we had a fantastic day. We can’t recommend him highly enough!!!Awesome Tour of Kyoto with Justus

Alastair🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Justus)

26 December 2019

We had a great Xmas day tour of Kyoto with Justus. He was very patient with my wife’s incessant photo taking and very flexible with what we wanted to do. It was really good to hear his opinions on Japanese culture, society, history and future from an outsider with 6 years experience living, studying and working in Japan. We learnt so much and had had such a great dayKyoto highlights

Elias🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Ahmed)

17 December 2019

I had only one day to explore Kyoto, and i chose Ahmed, and it was a great choice! Ahmed is extremely friendly, very knowledgeable, and he made sure to customize the tour according to my needs and my tastes. He is very kind, and thanks to him i got to see the best places and hidden gems in tokyo while enjoying his great company. I highly recommend him! My day with Ahmed

Sabrina🇵🇭 Philippines

(About local Justus)

5 December 2019

Justus is very kind and accommodating. We highly recommend him!

Paula🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

29 November 2019

Shohei is articulate, knowledgeable, congenial and flexible. I did not think so much could be done on an 8 hour tour. We even had time for a lovely tempura lunch that was fantastic! I loved the entire tour. Thank you very much.Best Tour of Keyoto

Kevin🇵🇭 Philippines

(About local Justus)

28 November 2019

Justus looks like a very quiet guy but once you get to know him, he actually initiates all the conversation and talks a lot (in a good way). All review are accurate. He is very knowledgeable. Very fluent in Japanese. He held my niece's hand while walking a lot. He truly is very friendly and family oriented.Kyoto with Justus

Allen🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Shohei)

3 November 2019

Shohei is a great guy and we thoroughly enjoyed our day with him. We would not hesitate to recommend him. Great day !

Chloe🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Justus)

23 October 2019

It was an excellent and jam packed day with Justus, he is a lovely gentle guy with a wealth of knowledge. There is lots of things along the way too, lots of lovely shops and food. It was so nice to let someone else navigate and tell you stories all day 🙏🙏 thank you Justus!! Great day full of history and so many interesting facts 💜💜