• Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Experience a unique glimpse into Japan’s heritage, typically inaccessible to regular tourists, after the tour. This brief excursion offers an exceptional and valuable way to explore Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine!

Discover new insights with us, as Fushimi Inari Shrine is much more than its renowned tunnels of vermillion-red torii gates. While many are content with its scenic beauty, the shrine holds numerous stories that connect to Japan’s history and culture, which your guide will delve into. Learn about the intriguing origin of the shrine dedicated to the god of grains, “Inari.” This is why fox statues, known as “Kitsune,” are present around the shrine, serving as Inari’s messengers. These clever creatures are seen as guides in the challenging business world, and you might find yourself wanting them on your side after this tour.

• Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Explore one of Kyoto’s most beloved temples—Kiyomizu-dera Temple—on a comprehensive 1-hour guided tour. With a guide, you can learn about Japan’s history and culture while exploring this magnificent structure. Enjoy insights from your English-speaking guide, ensuring you don’t miss any key features.
• Nijo Castle - Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was constructed in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867).
• Gion - Navigating the narrow alleyways of Kyoto’s Geisha District—Gion—can be challenging for newcomers. A guided tour eliminates the risk of getting lost and offers a chance to discover hidden gems cherished by locals, while learning about Kyoto’s ancient history. Highlights include insights into Geisha culture and rituals, and visits to Gion, Pontocho, and Miyagawacho.
• Nishiki Market Shopping District - Nishiki Market (錦市場, Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five-block-long shopping street lined with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this vibrant market specializes in food-related items, such as fresh seafood, produce, knives, and cookware. It’s an excellent place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, including Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi.

Nishiki Market offers a lively yet welcoming atmosphere, perfect for those eager to explore Kyoto’s culinary delights. The market features a range of store sizes, from small stalls to larger two-story shops, with most specializing in a specific type of food. Nearly everything sold is locally produced and sourced.

• Kyoto Imperial Palace - The Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho) was the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is situated in the expansive Kyoto Imperial Park (京都御苑, Kyōto Gyoen), a beautiful park in the city center that also includes the Sento Imperial Palace and other attractions.
• Pontocho - Pontocho (先斗町, Pontochō) is one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric dining areas. This narrow alley runs from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamogawa River. The alley is filled with restaurants on both sides, offering a wide range of dining options from affordable yakitori to traditional and modern Kyoto cuisine, international dishes, and exclusive establishments requiring connections and a generous budget.

Business hours and closing days vary by establishment, but most places are open from around 17:00 to 23:00, with some also open for lunch. An increasing number of venues offer English menus.

• Higashiyama Ward - The Higashiyama District (東山) along the lower slopes of Kyoto’s eastern mountains is one of the city’s best-preserved historic areas. It’s an excellent place to experience traditional old Kyoto, especially between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine, where narrow lanes, wooden buildings, and traditional merchant shops evoke the old capital’s charm. Recent renovations, including removing telephone poles and repaving streets, have enhanced the district’s traditional ambiance.
• Ginkakuji Temple - Ginkakuji (銀閣寺, Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today’s temple, modeling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather’s retirement villa at the base of Kyoto’s northern mountains (Kitayama). The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa’s death in 1490.

As the retirement villa of an art-obsessed shogun, Ginkakuji became a center of contemporary culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture, contrasting with the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather’s era. Unlike the Kitayama Culture, which remained confined to Kyoto’s aristocratic circles, the Higashiyama Culture had a widespread impact across the country. The arts developed and refined during this time include the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh theater, poetry, garden design, and architecture.

• Nanzenji Suirokaku - Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺), located at the base of Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama mountains, is one of Japan’s most significant Zen temples. It serves as the head temple of one of the schools within the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism and includes multiple subtemples, expanding the already large complex of temple buildings.

Nanzenji’s history dates back to the mid-13th century when Emperor Kameyama built his retirement villa at the temple’s current location, later converting it into a Zen temple. After its founding, Nanzenji grew steadily, but its buildings were destroyed during the civil wars of the late Muromachi Period (1333-1573). The oldest of the current buildings were constructed after that period.

• Tofuku-ji Temple - Tofukuji (東福寺, Tōfukuji) is a large Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto, renowned for its stunning autumn colors. The temple was founded in 1236 at the request of the influential Fujiwara clan. Its name combines the names of two great temples in Nara, also associated with the Fujiwara: Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple. Tofukuji has historically been one of Kyoto’s principal Zen temples and is a head temple of one of the Rinzai sect’s schools of Zen Buddhism.

In autumn, visitors from all over Japan come to see Tofukuji’s vibrant autumn colors. The most popular view is from the Tsutenkyo Bridge, which spans a valley of lush maple trees. The view from the bridge is equally spectacular, and the 100-meter-long covered walkway becomes extremely crowded when the colors peak, usually around mid to late November.

• Toji - Toji Temple (東寺, Tōji), meaning “East Temple,” was established at the start of the Heian Period, shortly after the capital moved to Kyoto in the late 700s. The large temple, along with its now-defunct sister temple Saiji (“West Temple”), flanked the city’s south entrance and served as the capital’s guardian temples. Toji Temple is one of Kyoto’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites.

About thirty years after the temple’s founding, Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, was appointed head priest of Toji, making it one of the most important Shingon temples besides the sect’s headquarters on Mount Koya. Kobo Daishi also added many of the large wooden buildings that stand on the grounds today.

• Kinkakuji Temple - Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, with its top two floors entirely covered in gold leaf. Officially known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will, it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji inspired the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the opposite side of the city a few decades later.

Kinkakuji is an impressive structure overlooking a large pond and is the only remaining building of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down several times throughout its history, including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that devastated much of Kyoto, and once more recently in 1950 when a fanatic monk set it on fire. The current structure was rebuilt in 1955.

• Ninna-ji Temple - Ninnaji (仁和寺) is one of Kyoto’s many great temples listed as World Heritage Sites. It is the head temple of the Omuro School of the Shingon sect of Buddhism and was founded in 888 by the reigning emperor. For many centuries, a member of the Imperial Family served as Ninnaji’s head priest, and the temple was also known as Omuro Imperial Palace.

Due to the numerous wars and fires that ravaged Kyoto throughout its history, none of the buildings from the temple’s foundation in the 9th century survive. The oldest buildings date back to the early Edo Period in the early 1600s, including the main hall (Kondo), the Kannon Hall, the Niomon front gate, the Chumon inner gate, and the five-storied pagoda.

• Shugakuin Imperial Villa - Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮, Shugakuin Rikyū) was constructed in the 17th century by Emperor Gomizuno and is now managed by the Imperial Household Agency. It comprises the Upper, Middle, and Lower Villa areas, each featuring gardens and buildings of the traditional imperial style.

Shugakuin’s name originates from a former temple built on the same site in the tenth century. The Imperial Villa was constructed between 1655 and 1659, with a palace for Gomizuno’s daughter added ten years later. More recently, in 1964, the surrounding farmlands were purchased by the Imperial Household Agency and are leased to local farmers who continue to cultivate the fields.

• Kibune River - Kibune (貴船) is a small town nestled in a forested valley in the northern mountains of Kyoto City, developed around Kifune Shrine. According to legend, a goddess traveled by boat from Osaka up the river into the mountains north of Kyoto, and Kifune Shrine was built at the site where her journey ended.

Kifune Shrine is dedicated to the god of water and rain and is believed to protect those at sea. Here, visitors can obtain a unique type of fortune written on paper slips (omikuji) that reveal their messages when dipped in water. Okunomiya, the inner sanctum and original site of Kifune Shrine, lies about one kilometer further up the valley. It features a large rock, known as the boat stone, said to be where the goddess’ yellow boat is buried.

• Kurama-dera - Kurama (鞍馬) is a rural town in the northern mountains of Kyoto City, less than an hour from the city center. Kurama is best known for its temple Kurama-dera and its hot spring, one of the most accessible hot springs from Kyoto.

Outdoor and indoor baths can be enjoyed at Kurama Onsen, a ryokan located at the upper end of Kurama town. It can be reached in a 10-minute walk from the train station along the town’s only road or a nature trail following the river. Staying guests can use the baths for free, while day-trippers pay 2500 yen to use all the baths or 1000 yen for just the outdoor bath (rotemburo).

• Ryoanji Temple - Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺, Ryōanji) is home to Japan’s most famous rock garden, attracting hundreds of visitors daily. Originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, the site was converted into a Zen temple in 1450 and belongs to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, whose head temple is just a kilometer to the south.

The history of Ryoanji’s renowned rock garden is less certain. The garden’s construction date is unknown, and there are various speculations about its designer. The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls, with 15 rocks arranged in small groups on patches of moss. An intriguing feature of the garden’s design is that from any vantage point, at least one rock is always hidden from view.

• Arashiyama - Arashiyama (嵐山) is a charming, tourist-friendly district in Kyoto’s western outskirts. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles enjoyed its natural beauty. Arashiyama is especially popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons.

The Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama’s iconic central landmark. Many small shops, restaurants, and other attractions are nearby, including Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, and pleasure boats available for rent on the river.

• Katsura Imperial Villa - Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮, Katsura Rikyū) is one of the finest examples of Japanese architecture and garden design. The villa and garden in their present form were completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan’s Imperial Family.

Visiting Katsura Imperial Villa requires joining a tour. The tour follows the garden’s circular walking trail around the central pond. Palace buildings can be viewed only from the outside, and photography is allowed only from designated spots. Tours in English are available.

• Daikaku-ji Temple - Daikakuji (大覚寺) is a large temple in the northern part of Kyoto’s Sagano district. It was originally built in the early 800s as the detached palace of Emperor Saga, who enjoyed spending time in this tranquil area on Kyoto’s outskirts. Thirty years after the emperor’s death, the palace was converted into a temple and has since been one of the highest-ranked temples of Shingon Buddhism.

Daikakuji has played a role in several significant historical events. A succession of retired emperors reigned from here, and in the 12th century, the temple hosted peace talks that reunited the Northern and Southern Imperial Courts after 50 years of civil war. Daikakuji is also featured in the Tale of Genji, the first novel in Japanese literature. Today, the temple is one of the best places to experience the ancient court atmosphere described in the novel and is often used for filming historical dramas.

• Tenryuji Temple - Tenryuji (天龍寺, Tenryūji) is the most important temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district. It was ranked first among the city’s five great Zen temples and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tenryuji is the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai Zen sect of Japanese Buddhism.

Tenryuji was built in 1339 by the ruling shogun Ashikaga Takauji. Takauji dedicated the temple to Emperor Go-Daigo, who had recently passed away. The two historic figures were once allies until Takauji turned against the emperor in a struggle for supremacy over Japan. By building the temple, Takauji aimed to appease the former emperor’s spirit.

• Yoshimine-dera - Yoshiminedera (吉峰寺) is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism located in Kyoto’s western mountains. Similar to Kiyomizudera on the opposite side of town, Yoshiminedera is built along the mountainside and overlooks Kyoto. The temple grounds are spacious, with many buildings distributed up the mountainside.

A priest from Enryakuji, named Gesan, established Yoshiminedera as a personal retreat in 1029. In 1467, the temple was destroyed in the Onin War but was rebuilt in 1621. The temple’s main objects of worship are a Kannon statue carved by Gesan and a Kannon statue given to the temple by Emperor Gosuzaku in 1042.

• Togetsukyo Bridge - The Togetsukyo Bridge (lit. “Moon Crossing Bridge”) is Arashiyama’s most iconic landmark. Originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185), it was most recently reconstructed in the 1930s. The bridge is particularly attractive with the forested mountainside in the background. A riverside park with dozens of cherry trees is located adjacent to the bridge.
• Bamboo Forest Street - The walking paths through the bamboo groves offer a pleasant walk or bicycle ride. The groves are especially beautiful when a light breeze causes the tall bamboo stalks to sway gently. For centuries, the bamboo has been used to create various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, and mats at local workshops.
• Okochi Sanso Garden - This is the former villa of the popular actor Okochi Denjiro (1896-1962), located in the back of Arashiyama’s bamboo groves. Okochi Sanso consists of several different gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses, and gates. The buildings can only be viewed from the outside.
• Tenryuji Temple - Ranked among Kyoto’s five great Zen temples, Tenryuji is the largest and most impressive temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 at the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1338-1573), the temple is one of Kyoto’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to its temple buildings, there are attractive gardens with walking paths.
• Daikaku-ji Temple - Daikakuji is a temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. Formerly the residence of an emperor, the buildings were converted into a temple in 876. Throughout its history, the temple traditionally had members of the imperial family serve as the head priest. Beside the main temple buildings, there is a large pond and a pagoda.
• Jojakkoji Temple - This mountainside temple was founded in 1596. With small, attractive buildings and gates, the temple has a quiet and understated atmosphere. Maple trees and moss are located just beside the paths and stairs that lead across the temple grounds. From several spots, visitors can enjoy views over Kyoto.
• Nisonin - Similar to Jojakkoji, Nisonin Temple is a hillside temple with slightly larger and more imposing buildings. The generally understated atmosphere on the temple grounds is partly due to the overhanging trees along the approach. Founded in the mid-9th century, Nisonin is a temple of the Tendai sect. There are views over the city from the upper grounds.
• Gio-ji Temple - Gioji is even more nestled into the forest than Jojakkoji and Nisonin. It is known for its moss garden, punctuated with tall maple trees. The temple’s entrance gate and small main hall have thatched roofs. The latter has an attractive round window looking into the gardens.
• Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Adashino Nenbutsuji is located at the end of the Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street. The temple was founded in the early 9th century when the famous monk Kobo Daishi placed stone statues for the souls of the dead here. Today, the temple grounds are covered by hundreds of such stone statues. In the back of the temple, a short path leads through a bamboo forest.
• Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Another ten-minute walk north of the similarly named Adashino Nenbutsuji, the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple is famous for its 1200 stone statues of rakan, devoted followers of Buddhism, each with a different facial expression. Created relatively recently in the 1980s and early 1990s, the many statues stand across the temple grounds, which cover part of a forested mountain slope.
• Katsura Imperial Villa - Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮, Katsura Rikyū) is one of the finest examples of Japanese architecture and garden design. The villa and garden in their present form were completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan’s Imperial Family.

Visiting Katsura Imperial Villa requires joining a tour. The tour follows the garden’s circular walking trail around the central pond. Palace buildings can be viewed only from the outside, and photography is allowed only from designated spots. Tours in English are available.

• Shugakuin Imperial Villa - Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮, Shugakuin Rikyū) was built in the 17th century by Emperor Gomizuno and is now managed by the Imperial Household Agency. It consists of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Villa areas, each featuring gardens and buildings of the traditional imperial style.

Shugakuin’s name comes from a former temple built on the same site in the tenth century. The Imperial Villa was constructed between 1655 and 1659, with a palace for Gomizuno’s daughter added ten years later. More recently, in 1964, the surrounding farmlands were purchased by the Imperial Household Agency and are leased to local farmers who continue to cultivate the fields.

• Kennin-ji Temple - Kenninji Temple (建仁寺) is located very close to the bustling Hanamikoji and Shijo streets. The grounds of Kenninji Temple are expansive and pleasant to walk, and the two karesansui (dry landscape gardens) here offer visitors an oasis of tranquility. It is considered the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Osaka
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private Vehicle
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

The old capital of Japan, Kyoto, is a living testament to the nation’s ancient customs. With temples, shrines, and tea rituals, it’s as though you’ve stepped back in time while meandering its classical layout. The revered Kiyomizu Temple punctuates the skyline of the historical Gion district, notable for its long-established geisha culture. Seize the chance to delve into this deep history with our certified, experienced English-speaking tour guides on a walkabout of Kyoto!

Upon booking, one of our guides will contact you to curate a bespoke tour. Select 4 to 5 desired locations to visit, and the guide will piece together a personalized itinerary. Unsure of where to go? No problem! Guides can also provide recommended schedules tailored to your proclivities. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of traditional Japanese architecture, or just after a delightful green tea parfait, there’s a slice of Kyoto tailored for you!

• This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.