Kyoto

Kyoto Private Night Tour: From Gion District To Old Pontocho, 100% Personalized

Kyoto, Japan
KYOTO THE MAGIC AFTER DARK

From USD 99.12

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travellers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Kyoto Tours
All Kyoto Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
Unique Experiences
  • 4 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Stroll the back alleys of Kyoto, missed by many visitors, as dusk falls and they are at their most atmospheric on this private guided tour. In the company of just a guide and your party, see how ancient tradition blends with contemporary culture as you explore the enchanting wooden alleyways lit with traditional paper lanterns in the historic Gion district and the picturesque streets of old Pontocho, where, with luck, you might spot a geisha or two.
  • Private tour exclusively for your party
  • Explore hidden corners of historic neighborhoods as dusk falls
  • Get insights into local life and culture from your guide
  • Flexibility to customize the tour to your preferences

What's Included

  • Private and personalized experience
  • 4 hours with a host
  • Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
  • Food and drinks
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Starbucks Coffee - Keihan Gion-Shijo Station
    Japan, 605-0076 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Kawabatachō, １０３区画 「京阪祇園四条駅」構内 四条大橋東詰

    After booking, you can adjust the meeting point to fit your preferences with the help of our Experience Planners.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Yasaka Shrine (Pass By)

Gion (Pass By)

Hanamikoji Street (Pass By)

Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine (Pass By)

Gion Shimbashi Bridge (Pass By)

Pontocho District (Pass By)

Kamogawa River (Pass By)

Kiyamachi　Street (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • We’ll be in touch within 24 hours after booking to find out more about your personality, tastes and interests so we can assign a like-minded Local who can create a bespoke experience for you.
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travellers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

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Reviews

4.5
18 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 18 reviews
Worth the time and effort!
Alfred_H, Aug 2023
I had a great time at the Fushimi Inari shrine! The guide showed a genuine interest in providing a great experience.
One of the highlights of our trip!
cposgay, Aug 2023
We had mentioned that we wanted to try Okonomiyaki and Kenya did not rest until he found a spot that served it. He also introduced us to Sparkling Sake which we really enjoyed. He is a knowledgeable and personable guide and we all really enjoyed our evening with him.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Hi! I am so happy to hear that Kenya did it again! He is a great host and always tries his very best to personalize the experience for our guests. Your review has brightened our day. Your support means the world!
We saw geisha’s with Chai!
Bobbi_F, June 2023
Chai was a wonderful guide. She made it fun and engaging, and she has an amazing ability to capture the perfect picture in the night of Gion. Her knowledge of the city, areas and history is exceptional. Her personality is warm and friendly. The night flew by as we felt we were in the company of a long time friend. I highly recommend Chai.
Incredibly insightful and enjoyable tour - a must do experience!
Courtney_C, June 2023
Highly recommend and thoroughly enjoyed our private tour. We ventured into areas we wouldn’t have seen otherwise and our guide was absolutely fantastic!
This is not a proper tour, super disappointed.
Christine_C, June 2023
It pains me to write a bad review but this tour was an entire waste of $255 so I would like to save another family this money and tell them to do another tour through a licensed company like ToursbyLocals. We thought this would be a cool night tour walking through Gion District and learning about the history as well as stopping at some fun places for food and drinks. In my survey request, I asked for history, culture, place for great coffee or cocktails and then taste local fare. This was not the case. We went to visit a Shrine (that was fine although the history could have been better described) but then after that we just walked around a highly dense area with little information given. We ended up at a cheesy Ice Cream shop and a mediocre dinner. We spent 4 hours with our guide and it felt more like, "walk around, get your steps in and bring a stranger to dinner". Our guide wasn't local and his level of knowledge of Kyoto was not of a true guide. We took other amazing tours in Kyoto through TourswithLocals with a licensed Japanese guide and learned so much. This was not the case on this tour although I am hard pressed to call this a tour. Everyone was so greatly disappointed.
Do This Tour For An Amazing Nightlife Experience in Kyoto!
NICOLE_T, May 2023
Axel was the absolute best! I took my nephew to Japan as his college graduate gift and before we took our tour, we were sent a questionnaire so Axel could tailor our experience to our desires. He also communicated with us prior to the tour to make sure we would be comfortable and assured we were in his great hands. Highly recommend Axel as a tour guide and this tour, in particular. We got to see a side of Kyoto nightlife that we would have never have been able to discover on our own. From the most delicious gyoza at a 7-seat restaurant down a hidden alley to the neighborhood bars where we had the pleasure of meeting and making friends with several super friendly and fun locals, to the bits of history & local info sprinkled in along the way. By far, our best experience in Japan thus far! Axel even followed up with us the next day to give us suggestions on sites and ramen restaurants we had asked about it. Wish we could take Axel to Osaka with us which is our last stop in Japan before heading back to the US! Axel, thank you, thank you for your hospitality and the best night of our trip!!!
Great tour of Gion!
Charlotte_K, Apr 2023
Our guide knew the best spots to see cherry blossom still in bloom and where to spot Geisha in the evening. We saw quite a few in the deserted streets going between appointments. He was able to answer all of our questions and planned a lovely route taking in all the shrines and temples as well as little shopping streets and food stalls. A great mix of cultural experiences!
Fantastic!!!
Megan_B, Apr 2023
Justin was a fantastic guide! He was very knowledgeable and had lots of insider information and recommendations for us! Thank you so much 💓
We had a great time and enjoyed to...
Juha_H, May 2018
We had a great time and enjoyed to see more of the Kyoto after dark. A big thank you for Taibi our local guide who was very knowledgeable and informative.
Absolut empfehlenswert
Claudia_T, Apr 2023
Die ausführlichen Informationen von Brenda über die traditionelle Geishakultur und die tolle Atmosphäre des Bezirks am Abend.

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