Private Kyoto Tour: Explore Highlights, Hidden Gems with a Local

Unleash your inner explorer in Kyoto with a private tour. Visit iconic sites, explore hidden gems, and create a flexible itinerary with a like-minded local host.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Pontocho District - Please note: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be personalized by you and your host based on your interests and preferences. Pontocho Alley is a stunning gem in Kyoto, often hailed as the city’s most beautiful street. With its charming traditional…
What's Included
  • Choose from 2, 3, 5, 7, or 8 hours
  • Pick your preferred duration when you book
  • Hotel meet-up for central locations available on request
  • Private and personalized walking experience with a passionate local
What's Not Included
  • Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
  • Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information

Experience Kyoto like a local with a private, customized walking tour designed just for you. Explore iconic spots like Kyoto Tower, Togetsu-kyō Bridge, and Ginkaku-ji Temple, along with hidden gems tailored to your interests.
Your guide will craft an itinerary based on your passions, offering insider tips and uncovering the city’s top attractions and…

Location
Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Sanjo-ohashi Bridge
Your host will be waiting in front of Starbucks Coffee. After booking, you can adjust the meeting point in your questionnaire to fit your preferences and our Experience Planners will be in touch to confirm.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(1147 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Q6116pzcarolinew
Nov 6, 2024
Perfect first morning in Kyoto - Mia was a wonderful guide! We fit in many temples over five hours, and she explained many details I would have found difficult to notice myself without extensive research. The tunnel under Kiyomizu-dera for example was a highlight, and she explained the importance of the many smaller shrines that typically go unnoticed by tourists like me. She also gave wonderful recommendations for izakaya and other things to do on my own after the tour. I felt like I not just like I saw some wonderful sights, but overall have become more confident to explore Kyoto on my own. If you're looking for an introduction to the city rooted in your own preferences, this is a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
851sabrinah
Nov 4, 2024
Great experience - We booked a 3 hour walking tour in Kyoto Japan. It was just the right length of time, and Andy was a great tour guide and host. He took us to all the places we wanted to see, and got in touch with us beforehand to discuss the itinerary. We would recommend to others!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z7279iumarkh
Nov 4, 2024
A personal experience of kyoto - After we booked the tour, Mia texted us to see where we wanted to go. She started off suggesting some of the major tourist landmarks and we asked if we could go to some places off the beaten trail. Mia was excellent in suggesting some places where there would not be that many tourists and we got there at an amazing time to take some twilight pictures of kyoto. Mia had a deep knowledge of the areas we visited,answered our questions and we had a great conversation going on the Geisha district. I would highly recommend Mia to anyone wanting not just a tour of Kyoto's history but something that feels personal and special just for you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tylerm895
Nov 3, 2024
Great introduction to Kyoto and Japan - CiCi was a great tour guide in Kyoto! We discussed the unique aspects of Japanese culture that you wouldn't learn just by walking around the city. We learned a lot from CiCi and the tour was a great way to start our time in Kyoto. We highly recommend this tour company and CiCi!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bok945
Nov 3, 2024
Central Kyoto with Kenya - We were very happy with our guide, Kenya. He was knowledgeable and proactive. In addition to sharing information about the sites we visited, he was also very generous, answering a lot of questions about life in Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X5170gwlukeg
Nov 3, 2024
Great trip with guide Mia. - Great tour with Mia she has a great personality and very knowable with the local attractions. 10/10 would book again - keep with the great Mia we had a ball. Luke, Lizzie, Olive :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adelaide5152
Nov 2, 2024
Ryuki gave us the eyes to see the wonder and depth of Kyoto - Ryuki was a first class guide. He customised our tour to complement what we had already seen. His English proficiency was excellent and knowledge of the culture, history and contemporary living was communicated clearly. He was willing to engage in detailed conversation which gave us a deeper understanding of all aspects of Kyoto. We really felt that this was our special tour. The choice of lunch restaurant was first class. Thank you Ryuki for a very special experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andreavd4781xp
Nov 2, 2024
Waking day tour at Kyoto - Great walking tour around the best and most important spots of Kyoto, getting to know their history and the background of Japanese culture was great. Special thanks to Milo, our tour guide, since even the weather was bad, he was very patient and kind with us helping us have a great experience at the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melanie_j
Nov 2, 2024
A Must Do in Kyoto!!! - What an amazing tour!!! Milo took us to beautiful temples, gardens and spots in Kyoto that aren’t the busy tourist stops. His knowledge of the city’s history and his love of the area were so evident. This is a must do if you want to experience the history of Kyoto and the places that make the history come to life. Milo was also very helpful with recommendations for local food/drink favorites and overall info to help us as American visitors!!
Review provided by Viator
Lakshmiraghavans2024
Nov 4, 2024
Complete waste of money paying Toga San for normal tourist destinations. - I had requested for a tour and ended up paying a hefty amount to someone who ended up reading the placards kept at the respective sites. We had to also pay for tickets at every place, even paying for the guide, Toga San. It was a complete waste of money for us to have tried to use this tour to take us to places we wanted to visit. The only saving grace was the Zen temple that he took us to, which we may, otherwise not have visited. He didn't even know how to plan the itinerary, which places to go first to and which ones later. We had to even do that planning and he simply accompanied us to all locations. Complete waste of money, this was the most expensive of all tours i booked on Viator and I am totally disappointed. Would not recommend going with Toga San for any custom tours that includes normal tourist spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $54
up to 8 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).