Exclusive Kyoto Essentials Tour with Professional Photography

Embark on an unforgettable half-day adventure through Kyoto’s cultural heart, exploring iconic landmarks while creating personalized visual stories. Book your professional photography tour now!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - We will guide you up the mountain, with interesting stories of the history, making several stops and taking the most pictures near the halfway point where the crowd has died down. There will be walking but we will not be making the full 2.5 hour to 3 hour trip (which is unnecessary). Travel will be made to and from this location with the train and is included in travel time.
  • Sannenzaka Ninenzaka - We generally recommend taking a taxi to this next location, which will run about 1200 yen per taxi. Upon arriving to Ninenzaka, we will explore the streets of Higashiyama, take some pictures, such as by Hokan-ji, and give you a chance to do some shopping. Our host will give you various recommendations on souvenirs and street food.
  • Kiyomizu-Zaka Street - On the way up to Kiyomizu Temple, you’ll have the chance to do more shopping for souvenirs and snacks!
  • Kiyomizu-dera Temple - We will explore the many different areas of this temple and do more photography here. Learn about the interesting history here and a enjoy few hidden experiences. Admission is 400 yen per person that you should bring in cash. Your host will then escort you to the closest station/bus stop/taxi stand you’d like to use to continue on your day.
What's Included
  • Just enough history and fun facts
  • Professional photos along the tour (and fast return time)
  • Totally private tour–just you and the host
What's Not Included
  • Train Fare: 380 yen
  • Kiyomizu-dera Entry Ticket: 400 yen
  • Souvenirs (Bring as much cash as you think you may need!)
  • Taxi Fare: 1000-2500 yen per group (must cover host’s cost)
  • Snacks
Additional Information

IG piqtourjapan for more dates/times/etc (!)

This is an unforgettable half-day adventure through Kyoto’s cultural heart, exploring some of its most iconic landmarks. PiQtour is unique–there’s no other experience like this!

This guided, private tour embarks to three of Kyoto’s most important locations. Your guide, a professional photographer, will help you learn, explore, and create a personalized visual story of your time in Kyoto.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the amazing sites, getting interesting history and facts, while also getting beautiful photos to take home with you and cherish!

Please note that this tour varies in length, usually about 4 hours. It is a scheduled tour on a set route, but we will make sure to give you the time to enjoy the things you want to see most during the tour. It also involves walking. Please check the tour details for the route!

Location
Shinshindo - JR Kyoto Station
We meet out front this bakery in the front area of Kyoto Station. You should be able to see the glass building behind the bakery and then turn around and see Kyoto Tower.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(32 Ratings)
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Helenelk3859ba
Jul 16, 2024
Kyoto Tour Guide and Photographer - What a treat to spend a day with Abigail from Piqtour! Abigail is a very talented photographer who speaks fluent English and Japanese. She took us to three major attractions and despite the intense summer heat and crowds, was able to capture the best moments on camera. Many of the photos were just our family alone which was a remarkable feat given the crowds. I was truly impressed with the final results! Not only does Abigail take amazing photos, she is a delightful person who will give a historical perspective, entertain your kids with trivia, and who knows all the best street foods and souvenir shops. I've already recommended her to friends and family, and we hope to book her again on our next Japan adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Crviii01
Jul 8, 2024
Enduring Kyoto’s Heat: A Captivating Cultural and Photographic Journey - Despite the searing heat and humidity, our walking tour of Kyoto was an unforgettable experience. Abigail, our guide, persevered through the challenging weather, ensuring that we didn’t miss the highlights of Kyoto’s cultural heart. This tour was a unique, half-day adventure that took us to three of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks. What made this experience truly special was that our guide was a professional photographer, helping us to create a personalized visual story of our time in Kyoto. Exploring these amazing sites while learning interesting history and facts, and capturing beautiful photos to cherish, made this tour exceptional. Although the tour is scheduled on a set route and it was a hot day, Abigail made sure we had time to enjoy. Thank you, Abigail, for your dedication and expertise, which made our hot day in Kyoto so memorable
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Talleew
Jul 8, 2024
Book this tour right away!! You'll be glad you did! - If we returned to Kyoto we would take the exact same tour again with Abigail! It was one of the highlights of our trip! Abigail was so chill and knowledgeable and made sure we kept on schedule without ever feeling rushed. This tour is an absolute must if you're hoping to get pictures with no other tourists in them! She knew all the right spots and methods for getting shots like there was no one else there. Don't let the posted photos fool you, there are a lot of tourists but you wouldn't know it looking at the pictures she takes. We cannot recommend her highly enough. If you can get a spot, book this! I wish I could add more photos, but it is saying the files are too big.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bulbasaur2006
Jun 8, 2024
Unforgettable Kyoto experience in the rain with PIQTour! - Our recent visit to Kyoto with PIQTour was truly unforgettable, despite experiencing a heavy rainstorm. Abigail, our guide, demonstrated exceptional professional photography skills, capturing stunning photos even in the challenging weather. Her knowledge of Japanese culture and historical sites like Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kiyomizu Dera enriched our experience immensely. The typhoon-like conditions could not dampen our spirits or the beauty of the memories we created. Abigail's expertise and warm demeanor made this tour a standout highlight of our Japan trip, and the wonderful photographs are a testament to her talent and dedication. We highly recommend this unique experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Road35535403526
Jun 6, 2024
Local Expert With Patient Approach and Attention to Detail - We spent a few hours with Abigail in Kyoto recently for a photo package. In our group of 6 there were two children and a lady with a medical condition that can have 'challenging' behaviours. Abigail was on time, took us to some wonderful photo locations within walking distance of the meeting point, and carefully directed the groups locations patiently with the children behaving as children can. Though it rainded for us on the day the pictures were fantastic and the method of sharing the images was seamless, with a link to click on and download received just a few days after the shoot. Thanks Abigail!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Billyc896
Apr 24, 2024
Best photography walking tour in Japan - I had an amazing time taking some really cool photos of the key spots in Kyoto. It's not easy finding places that are less crowded in such a busy city, but my photographer was a real pro at it. She was patient, creative and you could tell that she puts her heart into her work. She always managed to get the perfect shot and was always thinking of ways to make my experience unique. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a great photography experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lovemaria15
Apr 18, 2024
Enjoyable private tour such beautiful photos - This was such a unique experience because of the beautiful photos and enjoyable private tour with my whole family and especially our young kids. Thank you so much Abigail! You made our trip to Kyoto so worthwhile…
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Airankabir
Apr 16, 2024
An unforgettable family experience with an amazing photographer and guide in kyoto - If you are considering booking this and see an open slot, book it first & then read the review! This was our first trip to Kyoto and I had heard how it got super croweded at popular sites like Fushim Inari & Kiyomizu-Dera. I wanted some good pictures and came across Piqtour's listing while researching here on Tripadvisor. Abigail was beyond amazing from the start. She was super responsive before we even arrived in Kyoto and once we met, she built rapport quickly with me and my young family. We have a super shy 5 year old and a chatty 8 year old. Abigail managed to entertain both and she captured the biggest smile we've ever seen on our little one's face :) Not only was she fantasic with kids but she also shared impressive knowledge about the history and traditions related to each site we visited. She came up with question/answer sessions and games which just added so much more to our experience This is by far the best money I've spent in a while and the the bonus was the fantasitcally editted pictures we recieved in just a few days later. Each one of the picture was amazingly captured and will be a keepsake for years to come. I would give this experience a 10 out of 5!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
226karishmak
Apr 12, 2024
Great experience - Amazing . Love her pics . It’s v rare u get a guide who’s a photographer and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend the services
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Punkam_r
Apr 9, 2024
Best photo tour experience ever! - Loved our photography - sight seeing tour! Abigail was fun and knowledgeable of local history and culture of tour spots. She recommended we can rent kimonos at the local Kyoto station shops, and it was an experience in and of itself. So fun selecting kimonos, having someone help put it on and getting hair done. My family was dressed and ready for our tour & photography. We stopped along the way for photos, being posed to capture iconic backdrops. Can’t wait to see the pictures, with quick turn around times. We would highly recommend this photography tour to anyone wanting both a tour and pro photos! Abigail is the best! We had a great time.
Review provided by Viator
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