• 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

العربية, English, Français, 中文, 日本語

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 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 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

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

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

Tom🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Tiro)

22 May 2025

Awesome tour by Tiro. We mainly strolled down the Nashiki Market, as this was our preference. We tasted many new things, food we might have skipped if Tiro didn't suggest. Really easy going, explaining some of the history and origin of the market and Kyoto along the way. Highly recommend! Good drinks and talks after tour as well. 10/10Awesome tour

p7nm7kdqgq

(About local Guia)

21 May 2025

We had an amazing experience with Guia in Kyoto! From the very first contact, she was incredibly friendly and made sure our tour was perfectly tailored for us. She was punctual, welcoming, and open to all our questions, answering everything in detail. The food tour was absolutely fantastic, with fresh and delicious snacks at every stop. Guia’s passion and knowledge made the experience even more special. We highly recommend her 100%—it was a truly enjoyable and memorable day!Perfect time in Kyoto

Ross🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

20 May 2025

Guia is an outstanding tour guide, the epitome of customer satisfaction and going out of her way for us—pleasant, joyful, and a true professional. She is fun to talk to. Her excellent english communication skills and deep knowledge of Kyoto made every moment of the tour informative and enjoyable. What truly set her apart is her dedication to her customers; she goes above and beyond to ensure her clients have the best possible experience. I asked her, a few weeks before we left for Japan, if she knows of a Ryokan with western style beds, near our tour area that was full service including meals; she, on her own, inspected several and emailed her favorite to us, with the estimated price and the website link. I made the reservation and the stay the the Ryokan she selected for us (no charge by her) was one of the vacation highlights for us - is was perfect. With Guia, you’re not just taking a tour—you’re gaining a memorable, enriching journey led by someone who genuinely cares.Over delivered on every promise

xgd6hp8px9

(About local Shohei)

20 May 2025

If we could give 11 out of 10 we would! My husband and I spend 2 days in Kyoto with Shohei and enjoyed every minute of it. Shohei is a full package: his English is outstanding (he lived in US for many years!), being native of Kyoto he not only shows most amazing places (we kept saying wow!) but also knows the best ways to get there without the crowds, he is an expert on convenient inexpensive places to have very tasty lunch, he is very flexible and understanding and has a great sense of humor, he is just a pleasure to spend time with! If he got availability on the day you are in town - run to book him!Look no further!

Suzanne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

19 May 2025

Guia was knowledgeable and personable, sharing history, and her own experiences to round out a delightful tour.excellent tour guide

Unknown

(About local Guia)

15 May 2025

We really enjoyed the tour of Kyoto’s food market. Guia was an excellent guide, the food was delicious, and we particularly enjoyed learning more about Japanese culture from Guia.Great Tour of the Food Market

Melissa

(About local Tiro)

13 May 2025

Visite intéressante et guide fort sympathique. Tiro s’est adapté à nos souhaits. Top

nina.miller22

(About local Tiro)

12 May 2025

We were recommended Tiro’s tour by some friends and it was by far the best tour we’ve taken so far. Tiro took us the ancient streets of Kyoto, countless Buddhist Temples, Pagodas, Shinto Shrines, as well as amazing restaurants in bars in Pontocho. He was able to gauge what we were interested in learning about and tailor the tour to explore our specific interests (Geisha Culture, Religious Mysticism, Popular local bars and restaurants, etc). His knowledge of Japanese culture, history, food, and religion has completely reshaped the way that we understand Japan and we are so grateful for the entire experience. I only wish we had more time in Kyoto to book Tiro’s tour of the country side. His tours are a 10/10 and I will definitely be recommending them to all of our friends and family back home! The Best Tour of Kyoto Hands Down

Alex🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Shohei)

11 May 2025

Arian🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

9 May 2025

Growing up in the states, Shohei was very easy to understand. He had a very good knowledge about Kyoto and the sights and a fun way of communication. Sometimes he was maybe a little bit toooo sarcastic but that is really just individual preference.Exceptional english skills and knowledge

Brian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tiro)

8 May 2025

Bottom line… Tiro was awesome! Highly recommend him if you are looking for a personalized tour in Kyoto. We had a very short stay in Kyoto (literally 30 hours… tip: 2-3 days minimum!), so we hired Tiro to show us the important parts of Kyoto. He met us at our hotel, right on time, and off we went. He is very knowledgeable of the area and more importantly the history and traditions. We learned so much, and saw so much, in a compressed period of time! We would have never covered that much ground if left to ourselves! Aside from knowledge tour expertise, he was just a cool guy to hang out with! Kyoto was amazing - we should have spent less time in Tokyo and more time in Kyoto! Thanks to Tiro, we squeezed in a good amount of stuff and we will definitely return to Kyoto!Kyoto Tour

Robin 🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Guia)

7 May 2025

We had a fabulous time with Guia! She was very informative, open, friendly and her English was great! She tailored the tour to what we wanted and gave us lots of information throughout! She was very helpful and super nice! Could only recommend!! Wonderful tour through Kyoto!

Francesca

(About local Guia)

3 May 2025

We had a wonderful day with Guia. She shared a lot of information about the sites and most of all about tradition and habits of Japan. She is friendly, happy and energetic and she accommodated all our request. Also my daughter of 13 enjoyed her company and the full day was fantastic! In addition her English is absolutely perfect!! Best day in Japan!

Stephanie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

3 May 2025

Shohei was phenomenal. Knowledge, funny, flexible, and organized. Everything you’d want in a guide. He was truly a highlight from our time in Kyoto. I would recommend him to anyone. Amazing guide!

Sundy

(About local Guia)

2 May 2025

Guia took incredibly good care of us, from completing the booking to completing the tour. She was warm, friendly, efficient, considerate, knowledgeable, and patient with our large group. She helped us find just the right experiences, going above and beyond in some instances. The experience was delightful. We highly recommend her!Delightful

Sundy

(About local Guia)

2 May 2025

Guia took incredible care of us, from completing the booking to completing the tour. She was warm, friendly, efficient, considerate, knowledgeable, and patient with our large group. She helped us find just the right experiences, going above and beyond in some instances. We highly recommend her!Superb Service

Anne🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Shohei)

2 May 2025

Shohei was easy to communicate with, excellent English and very knowledgeable about the Nijo Castle. Very helpful to guide us to our subsequent activity. Nice easy going guide

Marieve

(About local Tiro)

1 May 2025

Highly recommend Tiro!! We had a great time with Tiro between historical/spiritual explanations and fun moments!! Tiro is an amazing guide very knowledgeable! He brought us around shrines, temples and hot spots as we asked him!! Thank you so much for all the tips and tricks!! It really worth having a guide in Kyoto more than in other cities!! Amazing & Deep experience

Neil

(About local Guia)

24 April 2025

What a wonderful day with Guia exploring Kyoto We saw exactly what we wanted to see and Guia ‘s knowledge was fantasticGreat Dsyc

Debbie

(About local Shohei)

24 April 2025

Early walk through old Kyoto which was beautiful & atmospheric. Stunning but peaceful gardens, awesome temples, a way of living at one with nature & your environment. Loved it all. Even got an amazing coffee! Shohei brought great perspectives, charm & fun.Kyoto at its best 👌

Rikard🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Shohei)

23 April 2025

We met this nice guy and had three wonderful hours full with interesting stories about Kyoto’s history combined with modern life in Japan. Shohei is very knowledgeable about history and presented it in a relaxed way. Thanks for a memorable afternoon AoRInteresting and relaxed

Bonnie

(About local Guia)

22 April 2025

We had a wonderful culture tour of the Gion area with Guia. Guia is very knowledgeable about the maiko/geisha training, culture and history. She also shared great insights into Japanese culture and life in Japan. Thanks!Insightful

Naomi

(About local Shohei)

21 April 2025

We were a group of adults and teenage boys. Before we left for Japan I was in touch with Shohei about the tour. He always responded promptly and was flexible about what the tour was going to cover. Shohei was knowledgeable and fun. He was able to enagage both the teenagers and adults. As well as the tour he gave useful advice about other things we might want to do in Kyoto, given our interests. They all proved to be spot on. We planned to do a day trip from Kyoto. He gave us advice about how to navigate the trains and buses. We couldn't have done the day trip without his help!

Heather

(About local Guia)

20 April 2025

Guia gave us a wonderful tour in Kyoto - she was warm and personable. She was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. The kids are still bringing up things they learned from Guia today on the tour. Guia was deft at giving a tour that met the needs of an age range of 11 yrs old to 54 years old. Guia is the perfect tour guide

Laura🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ahmed)

19 April 2025

We had booked our full day tour with Ahmed, but he was ill and offered a replacement guide instead. It was a little confusing, I wasn't sure who would show up or what the new guide's name was, but Manabu turned out to be fantastic and we had a great day. It was actually serendipitous, he was a former novice monk, so he had a lot to teach us about Shinto/Buddhism, the temples, the omamori, and even looked up our individual Buddhas. He knew a lot of places to go where the crowds were less intense, but being high season, the crowds were still intense. Ahmed had advised us to hire a driver for USD $500+ for the day to avoid packed public transit, but that wasn't in our budget after paying $700+ for the tour itself (for 3 people). We ended up using taxis instead, which was much more cost effective and much easier. We never had a problem finding a taxi, and it was not expensive. I'd recommend that for anyone, it was very convenient and the best of all worlds. We were able to see more and do more without time wasted on buses and trams, and it was nice to get a break from the crowds. The eight hours flew by, we had a wonderful day despite being jetlagged. Really glad we chose the full day tour, and wish we had more time to explore in Kyoto with what we learned! I think Manabu is not normally a Withlocals guide, but if I could choose him again, I would. A last minute substitution, but excellent

Elena🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

19 April 2025

Shohei is a wonderful person and guide. He is is positive and knowledgeable person. We spend nice . It was really interesting to listen his stories. Highly recommended!Amazing

Unknown

(About local Shohei)

16 April 2025

Had an amazing experience with Shohei, learnt a lot from him. It was a fun & engaging tour. Highly recommended

Samantha

(About local Shohei)

15 April 2025

We loved the tour with Shohei. He was knowledgeable, interesting and humorous. Would highly recommend him as a guide. Great tour in Kyoto

Unknown

(About local Ahmed)

13 April 2025

We really enjoyed our walking tour with Ahmed. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared a lot of great information with us.Very knowledgeable guide

Joost🇹🇭 Thailand

(About local Maha)

12 April 2025

Maha took us for a night walk in Gion. She explained about architecture, history and culture. It was very interesting for us, the adults, as well as our kids. It was also fun, the kids really enjoyed it. It was a special experience that we will always remember. Thank you Maha. An amazing night walk in Kyoto

2mrggd2c79

(About local Shohei)

9 April 2025

My son and I spent a great morning with Shohei, who knowledgeably showed us around Kyoto with humor and energy. Shohei has a young , contemporary sensibility which we found engaging and interesting. He was particularly informative on the history and politics of Shinto religious practices. He showed us a great deal in a few short hours. Thank you, Shohei!Flexible and informative

Maria Claudia🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

9 April 2025

**Kyoto** Shohei was very knowledgeable about Kyoto’s history and was an excellent guide. He adapted to our rhythm and interest and showed us some fantastic hidden gems!! He was fantastic company and his tour was definitely the highlight our trip to Kyoto. Perfect guide for Kyoto

Bianca 🇬🇺 Guam

(About local Guia)

6 April 2025

Firstly Guias English is excellent and I mean truly excellent. She also has such a warm and friendly personality and instantly welcoming to all of us. She adapted the tour on the spot based on tastes of what we liked and every single food tour spot was a hit. In fact we went back to some of them another day Along the way she had plenty of information about the area, the history of the food and really made the experience a highlight of the trip. We looked to book another tour with her before we left kyoto but she was already booked up, unsupringly so. Definitely a fantastic hostess!

Sara

(About local Ahmed)

6 April 2025

Ilhan🇹🇷 Turkey

(About local Guia)

5 April 2025

We recently had the pleasure of taking a guided tour in Kyoto, and I cannot recommend our guide enough! With years of experience under her belt, she truly brought the city to life with her deep knowledge of its rich history and cultural nuances. Our day was wonderfully organized and flowed smoothly from start to finish, thanks to her meticulous planning. She was incredibly helpful, answering all our questions and providing insightful recommendations that enhanced our experience. From exploring beautiful temples to tasting local delicacies, every moment was memorable. Overall, our day in Kyoto surpassed our expectations, and we are grateful to our guide for making it so special. If you're considering a tour in Kyoto, definitely seek out her expertise for an unforgettable experience!Wonderful Day Trip

Cathy🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Guia)

4 April 2025

Guia was very knowledgeable and took us to some interesting places in Gion with full descriptions about traditions including Geishas. I had asked for a tasting of food during the tour but this did not eventuate. The tour was 2 hours not 2.5 hours.Comprehensive tour

Lindi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

1 April 2025

First of all pick Guia for the Kyoto food tour!! She was absolutely incredible, not only does she know all the best spots but she basically knows all the vendors even having inside jokes which was so cute! I’m literally still thinking about those tofu donuts she got us. She’s also fantastic at catering with what you like to eat and don’t as well as can’t eat, my friend has a seafood allergy and was great at finding optionsSo delicious

Unknown

(About local Guia)

31 March 2025

If you’re looking for a magical evening filled with delicious bites and Kyoto charm, Gia’s food tour is everything! From the moment we met her, she made us feel so welcome—like an old friend showing us her favorite hidden spots. We wandered through the beautiful streets of Gion, learning little secrets about the area’s history (Gia knows so much!), and then came the best part—the food! Every dish was a little work of art, bursting with flavors I never knew existed. And Gia explained everything in such a fun and engaging way that made us appreciate each bite even more. By the end of the night, our hearts (and bellies) were so full! If you’re ever in Kyoto and want an experience that feels both special and personal, this is the tour to book. Gia is an absolute gem, and this tour is a memory I’ll treasure forever!A Magical Night in Kyoto with Gia!

John

(About local Shohei)

27 March 2025

We spent a wonderful afternoon with Shohei in historic Kyoto. He was very conscious of our mobility issues and found easy paths, steps and stairs for us to navigate. Although he has a deep knowledge of the city and the sites we visited he was able to keep his presentation at an easily understood level. Altogether, a perfect host.

Stacey🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

27 March 2025

We had a very enjoyable morning touring the historic area of Kyoto. Shohei tailored our tour to our group of five - my husband and I and our three adult sons. He peppered our tour with so much interesting history and alerted us to hidden details all throughout the tour. He also shared his recommendations of where we should go after the tour (restaurants, coffee places etc) We highly recommend him to English-speaking groups. Shohei hit it out of the park!

Matt🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

26 March 2025

Shohei was a great tour guide and was extremely knowledgeable on the history of the temples we saw. His knowledge is the exact reason you would book a tour like this. It’s one thing to walk an area or temple and look around, it’s another thing to listen to the history or how and why they exist. I’d highly recommend booking with Shohei. Fantastic tour

nonasdavis

(About local Shohei)

26 March 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our day tour with Shohei. We packed a lot in but never felt rushed. If we had explored all of the sites in our own, we would have missed a lot of great background info and detail. Shohei made the day educational yet fun for our family. Highly recommend! Great day in Kyoto

Pam

(About local Shohei)

25 March 2025

Our tour with Shohei was wonderful. We learned so much about the history and culture of the city and really appreciated his guidance through the temples and shrines of the area. He also gave us some great tips on things to check out on our own!Beautiful day in Kyoto

Louise

(About local Ahmed)

23 March 2025

A massive thank you to Ahmed, you were such a great tour guide. Very knowledgable, and we loved your flash cards. You took us to some some great spots off the hidden track which made the tour so memorable. Thanks again Great tour of Gion