• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Did you know that the Kyoto tour of your dreams exists? Yes, and it’s 100% personalized and created by your local host around your interests. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classic landmarks to neighborhood walks - your wishes are our command!

Destination

Kyoto, Japan

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, 日本語, العربية, Français, 中文

Included

• Private guide
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

Excluded

• Entrance tickets
• Tastings
• Transport
• All the above can be arranged with your local host through a personalised offer

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 In front of Yamanekoken Café - 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. This Experience is YOURS!

   See the landmarks and places in Kyoto that you pick on a 100% personalized tour. Make this a one-of-a-kind experience that will satisfy your curiosity with the help of a local. All you have to do is tell them your preferences and interests

4. See THE Main Attractions

   What’s on your bucket list? Hop from landmark to landmark admiring them from the outside, and get recommendations from your local host on what’s the best way to enjoy them to the fullest

5. Off the Beaten Path

   What if there’s a way to see the city’s main attraction from a different angle? All of this while avoiding the touristy crowds? It’s possible with a local by your side!

6. Neighborhood Exploring

   Spend some time deep-diving into the neighborhoods of Kyoto; there’s plenty of treasures to discover! From history, architecture, and local hangout spots, what area would you like to visit?

7. Amazing City Views

   Find the best lookout places in the city where you can spot your favorite landmarks as well as enjoy breathtaking views of the city - a picture-perfect personalized tour

8. All of Kyoto

   Go on a full-day tour to see the highlights of the city. Pick the places, duration and let a local take you on a journey where you’ll cross the must-sees from Kyoto off your list

9. 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

Penelope

(About local Shohei)

19 July 2025

Great tour, highly recommended!

Natasja🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Guia)

27 May 2025

We had a fantastic time exploring Kyoto with our Guia! She was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything clearly, bringing the history and culture of the city to life. She made sure we saw everything on our list and even added a few extra spots that made the experience even more special. Her easygoing and funny personality made the day even more enjoyable. We highly recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Kyoto—she’s a wonderful guide and a pleasure to spend time with!Great experience

Whadzen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

11 May 2025

Thank you Guia for such a wonderful experience! So personable and knowledgeable. Your insights made our tour so much fun. We learned a lot and enjoyed our time together. Highly recommend Guia to anyone looking into having a tour in Kyoto! Our first withlocals experience was 10/10So much fun!

Jana🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

18 April 2025

Guia was an amazing guide to have for my family during our time in Kyoto! We went on two tours with Guia, and she was so kind and helpful! We had some truly great experiences with Guia. She was able to share some stories and history behind what we were seeing-which really makes so much more of an impact, and she did so great with our three kids! She really made our time so much more meaningful. So glad we booked two tours with Guia. Thank you!Amazing guide and experience!

justin🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ahmed)

13 January 2025

We are a family of two adults and two teens and we did the 3hr tour of Kyoto with Ahmed. We would highly recommend it. Ahmed met us at the station and took us on a tour through shrines, alleyways and local neighbourhoods. Ahmed was very friendly and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed hearing his insight of the local Kyoto sights as well as discussing Japan more generally. highly recommend

jameselliotlawrence1975

(About local Yoshihiro)

26 July 2025

We had a fantastic morning with Yoshihiro (Ted) at Shimogamo water festival. Ted has really considered our brief, 'off the tourist trail, with some fun for the kids', he hit the brief spot on. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Ted, his english is great and so is his patience and most importantly he has a wealth of knowledge. If/when I return to Kyoto i would happily spend some more time with TedAuthentic tour with a great guide

Damiano🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Yoshihiro)

23 July 2025

Best guide everTed simply the best

Paula🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Yoshihiro)

21 July 2025

We had the best time with Yoshihiro who was very communicative before our tour which made is feel very welcome. He was incredibly flexible and gave is three good optional tours on the day which was specifically nice because it was so warm so we adjusted the original plan. We visited SO many spots that we would never have seen, food we never would have tried if it wasnt for Yoshihiro. Hils english is great and he is incredibly helpful with all kinds of other tips for after the tour. Can highly recommend! Charming knowledgable guide

Michael🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Shohei)

21 July 2025

Anna🇮🇱 Israel

(About local Yoshihiro)

19 July 2025

We had a fantastic tour with Ted in the center of Kyoto! It was engaging and full of interesting information. Ted patiently answered all of our questions and even recommended a great restaurant and other places based on our interests. We definitely recommend taking a walk with Ted!Great Experience

Bernie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tiro)

19 July 2025

We met Tiro right on time at the designated spot and hit it off right away. He was fun and really good at and excited to be a guide. He was full of little and big facts and tied in the history of what we were seeing as well as giving great tips about current Kyoto. Tiro kept things moving, we walked and talked a lot but still took time for a break or 2. Felt like an old friend by the time we left for our hotel Had a Fantastic Tour with Tiro

Bill🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

16 July 2025

Guia started our Kyoto food tour in a small teppanayaki-style restaurant, the kind with a hot griddle in the middle of each table. Among the items she ordered for the four of us to try was yakisoba, a delicious noodle dish that I couldn’t stop eating. Luckily Guia knew exactly how to make it and wrote the recipe for it in my phone. From there we went on to the Nishiki Market where we sampled a lot of food from an unending number of stalls. One of the next best stops was to briefly sit at a counter to be served the famous Wagyu beef. Yum. Guia never rushed us through the market and was so patient as we quizzed her about all the packages of food that were new to us and written in Japanese. Having grown up in the Philippines , she is a native English speaker, always a welcome help.Fantastic food tour of Kyoto

Nicole🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

15 July 2025

A nice tour with a good overview of some of the sights. Definitely wouldn't have gotten as much out of it on our own. Nice tour

Wu🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

15 July 2025

We loved spending time touring Gion and Nishiki market with Ted! He is very knowledgeable about the history of Kyoto, and he recommended amazing food for us at Nishiki market! Definitely recommend Ted, he is a fantastic guide and he was very accommodating. Learned a lot about the Culture of Maiko/Geiko, as well as Kabuki history. Ted even sent us food recommendations for our next destination which was Osaka. Superb!A great tour with Ted

Penelope

(About local Shohei)

10 July 2025

Khatera

(About local Tiro)

8 July 2025

Tiro was the best guide! He was very knowledgable and interactive with our kids, kept everyone engaged, yet learning tons of information about Kyoto and Japan. Highly recommend Tiro!!!!Fantastic guide!

Raf🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Yoshihiro)

6 July 2025

Yoshihiro took al the time to give us a fantastic experience. He also gave us extra advice through whatsapp, also about OsakaGreat knowledge and service

Julie

(About local Guia)

5 July 2025

My 16 yr old son and I took a tour of Arishiyama Bamboo Forest, a villa, and the town area with Guia. My son was dead set against a tour at first, and afterward he raved about what a wonderful time it was and how he is “now sold on tours”! Guia was knowledgable and a great guide who knew how to pivot when some places were closed due to our need for a late start. We highly recommend a tour with her!Wonderful Afternoon with Guia

Vanessa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 July 2025

The day we had our private tour with yoshihiro it was raining very hard in Kyoto, and even so we had an amazing time! We learned so much we would not have learned about geishas and its history. He also made sure to give us recommendations that accommodated it us it was a wonderful time and we highly recommend!!!!Wonderful knowledgeable experience

Nell🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

4 July 2025

Naoki was outgoing, engaging, spoke excellent English and has great information about Japanese foods and life in Osaka. I highly recommend him. He took very good care of us. Fantastic guide

rsilverberg25

(About local Yoshihiro)

4 July 2025

Ted was awesome . Highly recommend him in Kyoto. Knew his stuff and was very accommodating to our group was above and beyond what we expected . Enjoy …Ted was an amazing guide in Kyoto

Steven🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Guia)

1 July 2025

Guia was a lovely lady who had a wealth of knowledge and a happy friendly personality. She expertly guided us around Kyoto and a smooth and effective pace, taking into consideration the heat that particular day. I would highly recommend her and will miss her smiley face.Fun and informative

David and Susan🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

30 June 2025

Yoshihiro was most accommodating and came to our hotel to meet us. He is very friendly and clearly knowledgeable on all Kyoto has to offer. He gave detailed historical information with insights on why this beautiful city came to be and encouraged us to see the Silver Temple and its gardens which was the highlight of our visit. Meeting Yoshihiro

Stephen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

29 June 2025

What makes Shohei great is that he's a native English speaker and equally versed in all things Kyoto. That combined with his ability to adapt to harsh rain storms and changing needs made him an ideal guide for my family of four.Adaptive, Agile and Knowledgable!

Mojca🇸🇮 Slovenia

(About local Tiro)

28 June 2025

This was a special experience to have a guide all by yourself and with so much flexibility. Tiro guided us around so smoothly, so all we did was enjoy the area without looking at the map or reading the guide book. He told us most interesting facts and stories, which we enjoyed very very much. During the tour we had a deliciouis snack. Three hours passed soo quickly, but without any further dues Tiro showed us all what he planned. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and we loved the seven rule quize. We keep it in mind as we go, especially the last one :) We are very greatful for this experience and we highly recommend Tiro for the tour. Afterwards ( and even before we arrived to Kyoto), he gave us further recommendations on food, which turned out to be delicious. Last, but not last, during the tour we got lucky to see maiko on the street. Excellent experience

Steve🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

26 June 2025

Shohei was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic sharing the Japan experience with us. 10

Brandon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

25 June 2025

Naoki is an amazing tour guide for Osaka. It started even before the trip where we wanted to know more about the family. Naoki has grown up in Osaka and showed us an amazing time. Not only did he explain the history of each stop, but also talked about some his past experiences. Each restaurant we stopped at was amazing. From Takoyaki to Gyoza and more, each one was delicious. What my family found most impressive was his attentiveness. It happened to be hot and Naoki catered the tour to make sure we didn't get too hot. Even though it was a a tasting tour, my family really loved how he shared Shinto and Buddhism beliefs in Japan. I highly recommend Naoki for an amazing experience in Osaka. Tastings of Osaka for Family from US

nicole🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

22 June 2025

Come hungry for fascinating and fun tour of Kyoto food. Ted-san guided us through both Nishiki market and the Gion area (NB: 2 tours) and kept our distractable teenagers engaged and fascinated. We all learned a lot and feel a new connection and appreciation for Kyoto and Japan. Very worthwhile (& delicious) tour!Ted-san is warm, informed local “uncle”

nicole🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

22 June 2025

Ted-san was our charming tour guide for 5.5 hrs (2 tours) and our easily-distracted teenagers were engaged and happy the whole time. We covered the Gion area history, both general and secret, including shrines, daily life, and samurai and geisha cultures. Ted-san was an expert and warm “local uncle “ who made our introduction to Japan a joy. Ted-san is amazing!

Barbara

(About local Shohei)

20 June 2025

This was a wonderful tour! You won’t be disappointed with Shohei! He was on time for our tour, very informative about where we went and what we saw, and fun to be around. He also took us to the best Raman place for lunch. You can’t go wrong with Shohei!!Shohei was awesome!!

Sara🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

17 June 2025

Great day with Ted. Very informative and great food choices. Highly highly recommend!Amazing tour!

Unknown

(About local Yoshihiro)

15 June 2025

He was great, and super accommodating. Even customized the tour to make it better for our 9yoGreat!

Craig🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

14 June 2025

If there is one thing we know for sure we will be doing next time we are back in Kyoto, it’s booking another tour with Shohei. The experience he provided was the perfect mix of history, culture, hidden gems, a tasty treat, and he’s very funny! Just what we asked for. We really felt like we got an inside view of Kyoto. He answered our many questions and customized the tour to our liking. He even gave us plenty of recommendations for other places to check out after the tour. Our only regret is that we didn’t book the full day tour and opted for the half day. Thank you for an amazing time, Shohei!The Best Time!

Katie

(About local Yoshihiro)

13 June 2025

Our private tour of Kyoto was an unforgettable experience that perfectly blending history, culture, and hidden local gems. Our guide, Ted, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. From serene temples to bustling markets, every stop felt thoughtfully chosen. It was the perfect way to explore Kyoto at our own pace and truly connect with the city’s spirit.Excellent Tour!

Unknown

(About local Yoshihiro)

12 June 2025

What an amazing experience. We did the Nishiki market food tour with Ted (Yoshihiro) and were immediately put at ease once we begun. The market is a massive, 300+ vendor single walkway that can be easily overwhelming. Navigating with a local guide as experienced as Ted is the recipe for success. If we went it alone, we would have easily spent time and money at the vendors he recommended to avoid! The pricetag was on the more expensive end for what we were looking for but the combination of local expertise with high quality food items included justified the expense. Plus, Ted is a warm, friendly, and respectful man and we would book the experience again if only to hang with him for another few hours!

Nolan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ahmed)

10 June 2025

We had a great time with Ahmed, and was a great source of knowledge for us. Tour was well paced, and he was happy to take our pictures at various spots along the tour. Additionally, he gave us recommendations for the other sights we should see after the tour was finished.Great source of knowledge!

Patrik🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Shohei)

9 June 2025

We got to have a great time with Shohei. The tour have is a good overview of Kyotos eastern parts and great stories about the history of both the city, shinto, Buddha and Japan. Great tour with great guy

Dr Bruce🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

9 June 2025

She was very informative and she knew a lot of hidden secrets about Kyoto. Also went to really cool Japanese sword shop. Had food a great restaurant and walked a lot and enjoyed every minute.8 hour City tour

Zee🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Yoshihiro)

9 June 2025

Ted-san is thoughtful, kind and funny, so it was a joy to spend 3 hours with him exploring Gion. He is full of wonderful stories and information about the past and present of Kyoto. After the tour he offered tips on where to eat, what time of day/week to visit popular attractions etc. We really enjoyed our time together and hope we have the pleasure of seeing Ted-san again! A wonderful enriching time!

Ray🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Tiro)

7 June 2025

As soon as you meet Tiro you can see he is a nice person, very comfortable in his role as guide. He also has huge passion for Japanese history and culture. We had a great afternoon and learned so much. It is a wonderful thing to do and you can see that there is such a difference between a personalised tour versus ambling around yourself Wonderful tour in Kyoto

Leslie

(About local Guia)

6 June 2025

We enjoyed walking and talking with Guia and learned so much. We appreciated her generous candor, discussing topics of the day. Time with Guia is time well spent. Grateful

Nisa🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Naoki)

5 June 2025

The best guide I could wish for! Naoki-san is a true local with so much knowledge about traditions and culture, and besides he is such a kind and welcoming person :)

Donatas🇱🇹 Lithuania

(About local Naoki)

2 June 2025

We have tested 5 guides in Japan an I can say Naoki was the best in terms of how good his english, knowledge about jaban and how easy it was to communicate with him. Alao very helpful - helped us on our journey to find lost phone :) Thank you fluent english and friendly

Ambika🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Yoshihiro)

2 June 2025

Yoshihiro was an amazing guide for us! We took him on day 2 of our time in Kyoto (day 1 for my friend) and we were quite jet lagged so a bit confused about where to go and what to do! He suggested we do a tour of the palace together instead of the 1.5 hour intro tour because it would be a duplicate of something else we were already on that evening! Extremely helpful, worked with us to ensure we got to see a different part of Kyoto while explaining it's rich heritage and history to us. He even sent me additional info and things to do for the rest of the days. The sanjusangendo temple and seeing the fushimi inari at night were amazing suggestions which we really appreciated when we went there! Would highly recommend Yoshihiro San to anyone looking for an introduction to Kyoto ! Wish we had more time with Yoshihiro

Gail🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Naoki)

30 May 2025

We would recommend a tour with Naoki to anyone visiting Osaka, not just for the excellent food but for the insight into Japan, its culture, history and traditions. We learnt so much, and enjoyed trying all the dishes in authentic restaurants….. the best gyoza we had in Japan. To Naoki…. “ We enjoyed our conversation”, it was a wonderful evening, a pleasure to meet you and thank you again. Excellent tour with the best guide

Craig🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

29 May 2025

We had a great tour. Guia gave us the highlights filled with a ton of cultural info. We got a real sense of history and place! She was super friendly and even gave us many restaurant recommendations which we loved!Friendly, Helpful, knowledgeable!

Mitch and Melissa, Ryan and Paige🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Shohei)

28 May 2025

We had one and a half days together and it was worth it. Shohei was a great guide. He was super friendly and made the learning fun and chill. Spoke excellent English as he has lived in the US only recently returning to Japan in 2019. I think for touring in Kyoto with all the many sights spread out all over the city it is well worth the splurge! He took us to a great local Ramen restaurant for lunch and we really enjoyed his company and expertise. Thank you Shohei!Great exprerience

Irina

(About local Naoki)

27 May 2025

We had the most wonderful tour with Naoki. He is incredibly knowledgeable about Osaka food scene, the city, its culture and history. The food was delicious and was accompanied by Naoki's stories about Osaka, its culinary history, and very helpful tips that made our stay so much more enjoyable. Naoki's English is impeccable. We highly recommend this tour. In fact, we cannot wait to be back in Osaka and meet with Naoki again. Amazing Tour

Madison

(About local Yoshihiro)

27 May 2025

This was our first time using With Locals and Ted was a joy of a tour guide. Funny, informative, and helped us avoid the crowds. After the tour, he sent us more information to help with our itinerary. He was a great! 10/10! We loved Ted!

Debbie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

24 May 2025

Our City Kick-Starter 90 minute tour with Yoshihiro/Ted was a great way to get our bearings on our first day in Kyoto. We toured the Gion area and shopping district, visited a temple, and learned so much about the Geisha history and lifestyle. Great experience! Great overview of Kyoto’s Gion area