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Geisha Streets & Real Kyoto Magical Night
5.0
148 Ratings
Kyoto
Discover Kyoto’s hidden gems on a magical night tour through geisha streets and shrines. Uncover secrets with an expert guide. Book now!
Discover Kyoto’s hidden gems on a magical night tour through geisha streets and shrines. Uncover secrets with an expert guide. Book now!
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Minamiza : The Kabuki Theater of Kyoto - We will make a stop by the Kabuki theater while guide will explain interesting details of this traditional Japanese entertainment.
- Hanamikoji Street - We will explore the Gion District geisha streets (Hanamikoji) and alleys while the expert guide will explain the geisha arts & traditions in detail. We…
- Minamiza : The Kabuki Theater of Kyoto - We will make a stop by the Kabuki theater while guide will explain interesting details of this traditional Japanese entertainment.
- Hanamikoji Street - We will explore the Gion District geisha streets (Hanamikoji) and alleys while the expert guide will explain the geisha arts & traditions in detail. We will pass by geisha living quarters and working geisha houses where the wealthy are entertained.
- Gion Corner - We will pass by Gion Corner where the Geisha study and train.
- Kennin-ji Temple - We will walk by the oldest Temple in Kyoto while the guide provides insight into Japanese Zen.
- Yasui-Konpiragu - The guide will share the ancient traditions of Shinto while we explore this intimate Japanese shrine.
- Hōkan-ji Temple - Let’s explore one of the most beautiful historic areas of Kyoto at night. Excellent spot for the best photos!
- Ninenzaka - We will walk through this magical alleyway especially beautiful at night
- Nene-no-Michi - Enjoy a refreshing Kyoto snack (included in the tour) while we take a nice break
- Yasaka Shrine - This amazing shrine is one of the top shrines in Japan. The guide will share some of the important features of this fascinating spot.
- Tatsumi Bridge - A picturesque spot which can’t be missed while exploring the Geisha districts.
- Shinbashi Dori - The guide will take you through this lesser known Geisha street
- Pontocho District - We will explore the narrow and lively Pontocho Geisha District. This area has an amazing mixture of Geisha houses, bars, and nightlife.
What's Included
- Expert guide speaking clear, native English
- Walking tour
- Snacks
- Expert guide speaking clear, native English
- Walking tour
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Personal Expenses
- Gratuities/Tips: never an obligation, but always appreciated (if you had a good time))
- Personal Expenses
- Gratuities/Tips: never an obligation, but always appreciated (if you had a good time))
Additional Information
Two Available Times: 12:00 PM Day or 5:20 PM Night Tour
Join us for an enchanting night walking tour through the Gion District’s geisha streets and discover the “real Kyoto.” Our expert guide will reveal the hidden intricacies of the exclusive world of geishas and the enigmatic Shinto shrines.
This walking tour covers several geisha districts, shrines,…
Two Available Times: 12:00 PM Day or 5:20 PM Night Tour
Join us for an enchanting night walking tour through the Gion District’s geisha streets and discover the “real Kyoto.” Our expert guide will reveal the hidden intricacies of the exclusive world of geishas and the enigmatic Shinto shrines.
This walking tour covers several geisha districts, shrines, and the beautifully preserved historic areas of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Our guide is a native English speaker, known for clear and easy-to-understand communication. With extensive knowledge, the guide is prepared to answer all your questions thoroughly.
During the break, the guide will choose a refreshing Kyoto snack. While it’s a small snack and not a full meal, every effort will be made to accommodate dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and vegan options.
Gain profound insights into Japanese culture, traditions, and perspectives that are unique to this tour.
- For strollers, there are some steps and unpaved rocky paths which have to be manoeuvred during the tour
- The 3.5 hour walking tour is not suitable for anyone having walking issues
Location
Disney Store - Kyoto Shijo-Kawaramachi
Guide will meet you in the area in front of the Disney Store. To keep in touch easily, please download WHATSAPP app before you come.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(148 Ratings)
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Doris_y
Nov 17, 2025
Fabulous tour! - We decided to take this tour during the first night of our stay in Kyoto and we are glad we did! Richard was excellent in providing us not only interesting facts about the geishas but also about Japan history, architecture, and culture. This helped provide us context for the balance of our stay. Richard was engaging, knowledgeable, and open to any questions we had. He even provided restaurant suggestions upon request.
We would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Michele_b
Nov 16, 2025
Great overview of Gion and the Giesha culture - Richard was a phenomenal tour guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and we learned so much about the Gion area and Giesha's. It's a long tour, we even went over our time but you hardly notice because you are so immersed in what you are learning and the sites.
Review provided by Viator
Catherine_m
Nov 12, 2025
Wonderful Insight! - Our group of 4 enjoyed a wonderful evening touring with Richard in Kyoto. His knowledge of the history and culture of Kyoto was incredible! We very much enjoyed learning more about this beautiful city and the artisans who make Kyoto unique. The tour included a delicious snack along the journey. Our trip was timed around the fall leaves and so there were some wonderful photo opportunities.
Review provided by Viator
Sue_m
Nov 11, 2025
Excellent tour - Richard was a fantastic guide; really interedting and knowledgeable, about geisha culture, Japanese history and much more. The area at night is particularly beautiful and the tour was a highlight of my time in Kyoto.
Review provided by Viator
Bobbi_b
Nov 7, 2025
Great tour! - Great tour with Richard. Very informative of all the goings on in Gion district. We walked to areas I would probably never would have on my own. A great time of day as areas were not tourist busy.
Review provided by Viator
Hannahpm9028qw
Nov 6, 2025
Magical night tour is such an accurate description! - Our very first night in Kyoto, we are so glad we booked a 3-hour night walking tour of the Gion/Geisha District. We wanted to get a lay of the land and learn more about the history of Kyoto via it's iconic neighborhood, and we didn't really know much about Geisha history or how it exists today.
We are so to have had Richard as our guide!
We started our tour in one of the busiest shopping areas in Kyoto, just west of the Gion District on the other side of the river. It was a cacophonous area of tourists and shoppers, the atmosphere buzzing with neon signage and florescent light from the shop windows.
Only later did we learn that Richard chose that location to highlight the stark contrast in mood and atmosphere of the neighborhood we were about to tour: on the same road, but just east over the river, where the Gion/Geisha district's boundary begins.
Richard is a wealth of knowledge about Geisha culture and history and Kyoto broadly, drawing from historical knowledge and personal experiences in his hometown. Richard speaks English fluently, and is a wonderful storyteller, and the tour itself paced nicely from one area to the next. He expertly led us down narrow alleyways and stone streets to see Geisha Houses and Teahouses, pointed out Geiko and Maiko on the street as they passed, and showed us some of the most picturesque streets and his favorite shrines and temples in Kyoto.
NOTE: You will enjoy a delicious Japanese dessert medley along the way, I would recommend eating a light/late lunch before the 3-hour walking tour. Afterward, ask Richard to point you toward his favorite ramen place down the street from where the tour concludes. It was the BEST ramen we ate in our entire 3-week trip!!
Thank you, Richard!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mafel_m
Nov 5, 2025
Wow. Best walking tour ever - We have booked many if these walking tours on our travels and this was one of the best we've been on. Richard's knowledge of the Japan, Kyoto and the Gion district was second to none. We were able to see and experience the history of the geisha and all the awesome cultural aspecta if their lives. Seeing this district in the evening is spectacular and also less crowded. Richard allowed us to see all the special places within the district while providing an in depth commentary. We really felt that we got a better understanding of of this aspect of the Japanese culture. We would highly recommenzd this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Colleenschleider_s
Nov 2, 2025
Outstanding!! - Outstanding!! It truly was beautiful and magical!! I loved it and it was a highlight for my trip to Kyoto. Richard was excellent. He explained everything so well with a very personal history of the culture and history of Japan. It was one of the best tours I have ever had.
Review provided by Viator
Eric_s
Oct 22, 2025
Excellent tour of Gion. - This was one of the best tours we’ve had in Japan. Richard took us walking through the Gion District and provided in depth, discussion and explanation of many issues from geisha, living to Shinto philosophy.
Review provided by Viator
Gwen_b
Oct 20, 2025
A wonderful insight into Gion - Richard was such a wonderful tour guide! Very friendly, he took his time giving a lot of info on the history of Gion and the Maiko/Geisha as well as their Kimonos, I was even lucky enough to see them and some new trainees as we walked around Gion. He also explained shrines and Kimonos, very memorable and would definitely do it again
The traditional snack while not to my personal taste was also interesting and he explained the different parts of it, he also gave great restaurant and gift shop recommendations
Review provided by Viator
