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Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Badge of ExcellenceKyoto, Japan
From USD 143.86
Price varies by group size
Select Date and Travellers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Kyoto Tours
Attractions
- 6 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Discover both modern and traditional sides of history-rich Kyoto during this full-day private tour. Travel like a local by public transportation as you tick off the city’s most celebrated sights, from UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle to the well-preserved neighborhood of Higashiyama and streets of Gion, otherwise known as Kyoto’s Geisha district.
- A full-day private guided tour of Kyoto
- Cover the city’s top attractions in a single day of sightseeing
- Get an insider’s view of the city as you travel by public transportation
- Enjoy plenty of time to ask questions with your own personal tour guide
What's Included
- Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
- Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list
- Guide will meet you on foot for pick up
- Food and Drink (for yourself)
- Entrance fees where applicable (for yourself)
- Transportation fees (for yourself)
Meeting And Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs. If you wish to arrange for a private vehicle, please book our Private Kyoto Tour with Government-Licensed Guide and Vehicle (Max 7 persons).
What To Expect
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Nijo Castle
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Gion
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Nishiki Market Shopping District
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Kyoto Imperial Palace
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Pontocho
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Higashiyama Ward
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Ginkakuji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Nanzenji Suirokaku
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Tofuku-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Toji
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Kinkakuji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Ninna-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Kibune River
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Kurama-dera
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Ryoanji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Arashiyama
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Kokedera Suzumusidera
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Katsura Imperial Villa
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Daikaku-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Tenryuji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Yoshimine-dera
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Togetsukyo Bridge (Pass By)
Bamboo Forest Street (Pass By)
Okochi Sanso Garden
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Monkey Park Iwatayama
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Jojakkoji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Nisonin
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Gio-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Daitoku-ji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Myoshinji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Eikando Zenrinji Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Sanjusangendo Temple
1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travellers can participate
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pick up & Drop Off is on foot
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.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveller Photos
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Reviews
5.0
346 reviews
Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 346 reviews
An impressive and enriching tour in Japan’s cultural capital - highly recommended!
Naama_T, Sept 2023
Attentive to our interests, Kazuo Sumi's meticulous planning, extensive knowledge, and life experience provided us with unique insights into Japan’s history and culture. Kazuo acquainted us with Japanese traditions and customs. He also expanded our understanding of the cultural changes Japan has experienced over the years. We highly recommend him.
Planning a full day tour in a city known as Japan’s cultural capital with its 1,600 temples and 400 shrines located all over the city is a challenging task. Following an exchange of several informative emails from Kazuo who promptly reached out to us via email as soon as we signed up for the tour, we made the choice of accommodation and the landmarks to visit: Fushimi Inari Shrine, GInkakuji, Nanzennji Suiroukaku, and Kiyomizu Dera—>HIgiashiyama area, all of which we found immensely impressive.
Thanks to Kazuo's guidance, we found a stylish accommodation in Gion District, which was most conveniently located for touring the city.
Last but not least, his recommendations for further exploration of the city the rest of our stay in Kyoto complemented our tour and enhanced our visit in Kyoto—Fushii Inari, Mount Inari, Nara, and the Golden Temple.
Making himself available for an early start, we were able to avoid the hottest hours of the day, and the crowds. Indeed, the early bird gets the worm!
After the tour, we had lunch at an excellent tiny vegan restaurant, thanks to Kazuo who foresaw the need to make a reservation in advance and made one on our behalf.
Professional, knowledgable, organized, and kind, Kazuo has rendered our stay in Kyoto a wonderful one.
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you so much for your nice review for me. I appreciate your kindness and cooperation during the tour. No other people can praise me as much as you.
Surprisingly, both of you walked much and quick. I am very glad to hear you could enjoy some other parts of Kyoto and Nara on your own. I hope this tour will be a wonderful memory in your life. I wish you could come to Japan and Kyoto again to enjoy our culture in the near future.
Thank you again,
Kazuo Sumi
Fantastic Time
Mathilde_W, Sept 2023
Emi was fantastic, she shared all the background information and context we were looking for while walking around and visiting the hot spots we had on our itinerary in Kyoto. Thank you again, Emi! Take care 😃
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you for your message! I really enjoyed your company. Hope you enjoyed your activity in the bamboo forest later (you were blessed with weather in that morning, right?) Safe travels!
Emi
Great custom tour experience
Anonymous, Sept 2023
Shoko was a great tour guide. She kept us on schedule and went out of her way to help us find souvenirs. This tour was a great way to see all the sights we wanted to see in a short amount of time.
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Dear guests,
Thank you very much for giving me a precious chance to be your guide, and
for making a wonderful comment about me.
I will cherish your comment as my treasure, and will do my best to be a better guide.
If you have another opportunity, please come back again.
Your guide in Kyoto,
Shoko
Amazing
Michael_M, Sept 2023
Our guide Yoshi was the best, very knowledgeable and entertaining. He took us all over Kyoto and showed us the best sites.
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you very much for taking your time to write review comments. I deeply appreciate it. And thank you for coming to Kyoto and giving me an opportunity to share our culture with you.It was a great pleasure to discuss a lot of things with you guys. Please let me visit your beautiful country someday. Till then.
Yoshi
Fantastic-Tour of Kyoto
scott_V, Sept 2023
We had an amazing tour today . It was insightful and we saw many sights . Great walking tour very friendly and helpful tour guide …. He was awesome!
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you very much for your kind review.
That day, we visited
- Fushimi Inari (Shrine)
- Kiyomizu-dera (Temple)
- Gion (‘Geisya’ Town)
- Nijo-jyo (Castle)
- Nishiki Market (Fish Market)
Great amount of experiences all packed in six hours.
At first, I was afraid it was a little too much packed, but was relieved seein
g you were really enjoying. I was also happy guiding you and answering your qu
estions. I’m sure you had a great lunch time at Nishiki Market.
Ichiro
Day Tour With Wonderful Companion
Adam_F, Aug 2023
The most memorable part of our day tour was our guide Kaz, who is not only a knowledgeable tour guide, but a wonderful companion. For people who value not only thorough accurate information but great conversation and company Kaz is an exemplary guide and host.
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you for joining the tour and kindly taking time to post your review!
I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and was a great opportunity for me too, to explore some great aspects of Kyoto with you. I wish you all well and hope to see you again!
Kaz
Great guide. Had fun at...
Jennifer_E, Aug 2023
Great guide. Had fun at the 4 sites he suggested. Fantastic day overall. Highly recommend. Nijojo palace was particularly interesting.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thanks for giving me a favorable review. Discussions on Chinese characters and Japan's Kanji was fun and meaningful. Ancient Japan studied Buddhism via Chinese characters. Modern terminologies of Kanji i.e. economy, democracy, etc. are coined by Japan about 150 years ago. A courtecy has been returned.
Thank you for coming to Japan. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Ken
Great, fascinating, relaxed, interesting
Leszek_K, Aug 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the historical sites in Kyoto, all thanks to Ichiro. His dedicated guidance and insightful explanations truly enhanced our experience, helping us understand the profound significance of each location. Without a doubt, we wholeheartedly recommend Ichiro as an exceptional tour guide for anyone exploring Kyoto.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for your great review. I was truly delighted to read it.
That day we toured from Fushimi-inari (Shrine), Sanjyusangen-do (Temple), Nijy
o-jyo (Castle) to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (Nature). All Kyoto's supreme attra
ctions. And you followed me with great interest about Japan's culture and hist
ory. I was happy answering your various questions. (Though I could answer not
all of them.)
Thank you again. I felt my work really rewarded.
Ichiro
Kyoto full day private tour
yuliagodin, Aug 2023
Ken is amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable and caring person. We had the best experience. Kyoto is beautiful and Ken showed us best parts of the city. We would definitely recommend the tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thanks for giving me a favorable review. Meeting and talking with a scholar and gentleman was very meaningful to me. Although Japan is frequently viewed and judged from superficial things, this time we had discussions on ancient as well as today's Japan in deepened manner. Thank you for coming to Japan. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Ken
Excellent Kyoto Tour
Aaron_A, Aug 2023
My brother and I loved our full day private tour with Kazz. Kazz is very knowledgeable about each of the sites we visited, including each site’s cultural history, vegetation, and best places to photograph. Tangentially, he is a skilled photographer himself, and took many stunning pictures with his own camera that he shared with us after the tour. We visited all of the places that were of interest to us, including Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkakuji, and Ginkakuji. Kazz was even able to add an additional destination, Ryoan-ji, which was quite special. In addition, the restaurant that he recommended for lunch was one of my favorite meals while visiting Japan. My brother and I were fortunate to have had Kazz as our tour guide, and we’re grateful to have met him. We highly recommend both Kazz and the 6 hour tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for your comment. We not only visited tourist destinations but also enjoyed various attractions such as “Light or Heavy Stone” and ringing a big bell. The Lotus flower was so beautiful. And I was interested in your hobby of music.
Please come again to see Sakura in spring or autumn leaves in autumn. Thank you again. Kazz
...
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Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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