Things to Do in Kyoto
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a famous bamboo forest, and iconic temples await on this best of Kyoto tour with tickets and an English-speaking guide.
• Enjoy flexibility with 3 routes and 14 carefully chosen stops across Kyoto. Buses run every 40 minutes, so you can savor each location to your heart's content.
• Climb aboard open-top buses and enjoy audio commentary in 7 languages. Watch Kyoto's captivating streetscapes unfold before your eyes as you tour the city.
• Journey through time at the UNESCO site Nijo Castle, the 18th-century Imperial Palace, and along the enchanting Kamo River.
Step into the World of the Shogun with a Local Guide at Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle is more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is the stage upon which some of Japan’s most dramatic history unfolded. Built as the lavish Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, the castle embodies power, politics, and refined elegance in every detail.
With your local guide, you will uncover the secrets hidden behind its grand gates. Walk through the Ninomaru Palace and experience the famous “nightingale floors,” designed to chirp underfoot to warn of intruders. Admire the dazzling gold-leaf screens painted with tigers and pine trees, and hear fascinating stories of shoguns, samurai, and the imperial court. Stroll through tranquil gardens once designed to impress both allies and rivals, and gain insights you would never discover on your own.
This is not just a sightseeing stop, but a journey into Kyoto’s samurai past—brought vividly to life by a guide who knows the history, legends, and hidden details that make Nijo Castle truly unforgettable.
Entrance admission fee: JPY 1,300 per adult. ※Please note that admission tickets for Nijo Castle must be purchased individually by each guest.
• Learn the meaning behind the Maiko’s attire, makeup, gestures, and movements from an English-speaking cultural host.
• Enjoy a respectful close-stage interaction with one of Kyoto’s few active Maiko apprentices in an engaging small-group setting.
• Capture photos and videos during designated moments, making it easy to preserve memories of this rare cultural encounter.
• Upgrade your experience with tea and Japanese snacks, a Kitano Tenmangu Shrine visit, or a theater show in Gion at MUTEKI.
Small group, Real stories, no tourist script.
I live here — not just in Kyoto, but in Arashiyama.
Before the bamboo fills with cameras, this place moves differently. Slower. Softer. More honest.
This is not a checklist tour. It’s a walk through history, poetry, and quiet corners most visitors pass without noticing.
This is a small group experience.
No microphones.
No rushing.
At the end, you decide what the experience was worth to you.
*There is a short hike of about 10 minutes to a viewpoint overlooking Kyoto city and the Arashiyama river. If you have any knee concerns, please consider whether this route is suitable for you.
*Strollers are welcome, but please make sure they can be easily folded when using stairs. I can help carry one stroller if needed, but may not be able to assist if there are multiple.
Experience the Enchanting World of the Geisha on Our Kyoto Night Walking Tour
Step into the magical realm of the Geisha on our captivating night walking tour in Kyoto. With our local expert guides, you'll be immersed in a world of elegance and grace, discovering the hidden stories that make this culture so fascinating.
Delve into the truth behind the captivating figures of the Geisha, going beyond the fictionalized portrayals from "Memoirs of a Geisha." Hear firsthand accounts that debunk myths and provide an authentic glimpse into their lives.
Make this unforgettable experience a highlight of your Japanese adventure. Don't miss the chance to learn about this iconic aspect of Japanese culture before you leave!
Join us for an enchanting evening—we can't wait to share this unique experience with you!
• Take part as a guest in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony, not just a demonstration.
• Learn the proper etiquette, gestures, and flow of the ceremony inside a traditional tatami room.
• Prepare and whisk matcha using traditional tea utensils.
• Upgrade your experience with a kimono dressing option (minimum 2 guests required).
What can you get from this tour?
💁🏻This is a small group tour,
with a maximum of 6 people.
You can expect fluent English, detailed explanations,
personal conversation with the guide,
and recommendations for nearby cafés and restaurants after the tour.
（Also, since I study fashion design, if you are a fashion lover too, I have a long list of fashion spots nearby for you to explore, including places related to clothing, vintage shops, textiles, and local style.🥳）
What are we going to talk about in this tour?
In this tour,
we will mainly focus on
geisha culture, local religion, Japanese Shintoism, and Buddhism.
🍵🍡🌸👘
In the first half of the tour, we will walk through Pontocho Alley and Gion, two of Kyoto’s most famous historical districts, and talk about geisha culture.
“When you think of geisha in Kyoto, what is the first image that comes to mind?”
Perhaps it is the pure white makeup,
the beautiful manners, the refined Japanese dance and music,
and an atmosphere of elegance, mystery, and tenderness.
But behind this beautiful image,
the effort, discipline, and personal cost required from these girls are far beyond what most people can imagine.
When modern feminism, the Me Too movement, and Japanese geisha culture meet each other, what kind of powerful vibration will be created?
Behind the beautiful districts that have existed for hundreds of years, these girls also have their own voices.
Whether you have heard about geisha culture before,
or know almost nothing about it,
you are very welcome to join this tour as long as you are curious about these women and about Japanese culture.
Here, we will begin from the historical roots of geisha culture,
and gradually look at the whole picture of this world.
We will spend some time removing the layers of mystery around them, so that you can understand not only the beautiful mask,
but also the challenges and struggles faced by the women behind it, as living human beings.
🎎📿🏯🎋
In the second half of the tour, we will walk through Yasaka Shrine and Chion in, and talk about Japanese Shintoism and Buddhism.
For many people,
Japanese shrines and temples may seem extremely solemn, sacred, and majestic.
They can make visitors feel respect, awe, sometimes even distance.
But on the other side of these places, which were once symbols of faith and political power, Japanese religion also hides many surprisingly funny and charming stories.
The relationship between Shintoism and Buddhism is also deeply tangled, almost like the relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and the monster he created. They are connected, complicated, inseparable, and not so easy to explain in one simple sentence.
In this tour, we will deconstruct these grand symbols almost like taking apart a Lego toy, piece by piece.
By doing so, you will be able to see the simple, lovely, and very human sense of faith hidden underneath these historical remains built up over centuries.
This is a tour about learning how to read the city, through its streets, women, gods, temples, stories, and quiet contradictions.
• Watch train models run along replica tracks and admire the railway system in action
• Find out what it’s like to be a professional train conductor with a training simulator
• This museum displays 53 retired trains, from steam locomotives to more recent electric trains
• You may even observe the inner workings of a retired freight locomotive
• Tip: The museum’s restaurant is on the second floor and offers striking views of trains passing by
• This ticket is valid for 30 days from the date of purchase, offering maximum flexibility
Discover one of the cities where dreams come true, where great industries like Nintendo were born, and be part of a grand adventure filled with colorful landscapes, geishas, samurais, temples, and much more.
Itinerary:
The tour begins at the SANJO-OHASHI bridge station, where we will take a brief walk along the KAMOGAWA river, and you will hear stories of how Kyoto became the capital of Japan and one of its most important cities.
Later on, we will encounter the most beautiful place in Kyoto, the Geisha District (GION), where you can observe an atmosphere of ancient architecture known as Machi-Ya, traditional wooden houses over 150 years old, a memorable place to keep in our memories.
The next stop will be at CHION-IN SAMON, one of the most prestigious temples in Japan, where we will explain how the Japanese introduced Buddhism as a religion and why Christianity was a complete failure.
During the tour, we will delve into HISASHI-YAMA, one of the most historic areas of Kyoto, where you will be delighted with fascinating stories of ancient emperors and samurai warriors (Shoguns).
Finally, we will visit the Koshindo monkey temple and see the gigantic Yasaka pagoda built in the 7th century by Prince Shotoku.
Kyoto is an interesting city, it will fill you not only with history and temples but also with a wide variety of gastronomy. Once the tour is finished, we will give you recommendations for restaurants and activities to do.
• See a giant 10-yen coin replica featuring Byodoin Temple’s Phoenix Hall and 4K digital townscape displays.
• Grind tea leaves into matcha powder using a traditional stone mill in a hands-on workshop.
• Brew and drink your own matcha under the guidance of a Japanese tea instructor.
While the crowds gather under the bright lights of Gion, a different world breathes in the silence of the backstreets. This experience is an invitation to step behind the curtain.
For over a millennium, Kyoto has balanced on the thin line between life, death, and duty.
To truly understand the beauty of Kyoto, one must face its shadows. We will cross the "veil" to explore the duality of the Old Capital—where honor and mystery are two sides of the same coin.
This is not a generic tour; it is a deep-dive research tour.
⚠️ 12+ Advisory: Mature social contexts and historical justice. Explicit stories and images; parental discretion advised.
We will trace the historical map that once separated the world of the living from the shadows. Our journey stays off the beaten path, connecting the dots of the city’s best-kept secrets:
- The Edge of Law: Where the past echoes with the tales of rebels and outcasts.
- The Edge of the Beyond: Thresholds to the spirits that refused to leave.
- The Edge of Identity: The hidden lives within the pleasure quarters and the espionage whispered behind paper walls.
On this tour of Nara, we'll see the famous sika deer park and historic shrines like Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha. We'll also visit Uji, home of matcha!
• Learn the art of making perfect matcha from an English-speaking instructor using locally produced green tea and seasonal wagashi (Japanese sweets).
• Discover the meaning behind every detail — from the utensils and gestures to the tranquil layout of the tatami room.
• Choose between shared or private sessions for a more personalised experience. Upgrade to include an all-day kimono rental for a touch of traditional elegance.
We’re excited to bring our highly rated tour — with over 3,000 reviews and a 4.9 out of 5 rating on a world-renowned travel site — to GuruWalk!
This is a free tour, but unlike many larger free tours, we limit each group to just 10 guests to ensure a more personal and comfortable experience.
Starting from Minamiza Theater as known as landmark in Gion, we will first head to a geisha district.
In this area, you will not only enjoy the traditional streets, but also learn the mysterious rules and trivia of geisha culture from your guide.
Next, you will also have a chance to see a shrine for matchmaking and a beautiful Buddhist pagoda.
Your guide will take your picture there if you want.
You will then continue to explore hidden spots and pathways, and end the tour with a visit to a shrine that is over 1000 years old.
This tour is a great way to gain a better understanding of Kyoto's traditional streets and local culture.
Let us help you make wonderful memories in Kyoto!
Feel free to send me a message if you need more slots!
