• Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Renowned for its tunnels of vibrant vermillion-red torii gates, the Fushimi Inari Shrine offers a rich tapestry of stories that connect visitors to Japan’s history and culture. A guide will delve deeper into the fascinating origins of this shrine, dedicated to the god of grains. Statues of foxes, known as “Kitsune,” serve as messengers to the god Inari, and visitors may find themselves wishing for the foxes’ favor by the end of the tour.
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Experience one of Kyoto’s most beloved temples, Kiyomizu-dera, through an engaging 1-hour guided tour. With a guide, visitors can explore the temple grounds while gaining insights into Japan’s history and culture. The English-speaking guide ensures that no significant features are overlooked.
• Nijo Castle - Discover new wonders at Nijo-jo Castle, where the stunning architecture reflects the prestige of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616). Learn why this exemplary feudal-era castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds historical, cultural, and artistic significance. Enjoy the tour, the ideal way to explore Nijo-jo Castle!
• Gion - Navigating the narrow alleyways of Kyoto’s Geisha District, Gion, can be challenging for newcomers. A guided tour eliminates the stress of getting lost and reveals hidden gems cherished by locals, while sharing stories of Kyoto’s ancient past.
• Nishiki Market Shopping District - Nishiki Market (錦市場, Nishiki Ichiba) is a bustling, five-block-long shopping street with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this vibrant market specializes in food-related items, including fresh seafood, produce, knives, and cookware. It’s an excellent place to discover seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties like Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi.

Nishiki Market offers a lively yet welcoming atmosphere for those eager to explore Kyoto’s culinary delights. The market features a range of store sizes, from small stalls to larger two-story shops, with most specializing in specific food types. Nearly everything sold is locally sourced and produced.

• Kyoto Imperial Palace - The Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho) was the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is situated in the expansive Kyoto Imperial Park (京都御苑, Kyōto Gyoen), a beautiful park in the city center that also includes the Sento Imperial Palace and other attractions.
• Pontocho - Pontocho (先斗町, Pontochō) is one of Kyoto’s most charming dining areas. This narrow alley stretches from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, just west of the Kamogawa River, and is lined with restaurants offering a wide array of dining options, from affordable yakitori to traditional and modern Kyoto cuisine, as well as international dishes and exclusive venues.

The business hours and closing days of Pontocho’s establishments vary, but most are open from around 17:00 to 23:00, with some also serving lunch.

• Higashiyama Ward - The Higashiyama District (東山), located along the lower slopes of Kyoto’s eastern mountains, is one of the city’s best-preserved historic areas. It offers a glimpse into traditional old Kyoto, especially between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine, where narrow lanes, wooden buildings, and traditional merchant shops evoke the old capital’s charm. Recent renovations have enhanced the district’s traditional ambiance by removing telephone poles and repaving streets.
• Ginkakuji Temple - Ginkakuji (銀閣寺, Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple nestled in Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama). Built in 1482 by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa as a retirement villa, it was modeled after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather’s villa in northern Kyoto (Kitayama). After Yoshimasa’s death in 1490, the villa was converted into a Zen temple.

As the retirement villa of an art-loving shogun, Ginkakuji became a hub of contemporary culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture, which contrasted with the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather’s era. Unlike the Kitayama Culture, which was confined to Kyoto’s aristocracy, the Higashiyama Culture had a nationwide impact, influencing arts such as the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh theater, poetry, garden design, and architecture.

• Nanzenji Suirokaku - Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺), located at the base of Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama mountains, is one of Japan’s most significant Zen temples. It serves as the head temple of a school within the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism and includes multiple subtemples, expanding the already large complex.

Nanzenji’s history dates back to the mid-13th century when Emperor Kameyama built his retirement villa at the current temple site, later converting it into a Zen temple. After its founding, Nanzenji grew steadily, but its buildings were destroyed during the late Muromachi Period (1333-1573) civil wars. The oldest existing buildings were constructed after that period.

• Tofuku-ji Temple - Tofukuji (東福寺, Tōfukuji) is a large Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto, renowned for its stunning autumn colors. Founded in 1236 by the influential Fujiwara clan, its name combines those of two great Nara temples associated with the Fujiwara: Todaiji and Kofukuji. Historically, Tofukuji has been a principal Zen temple in Kyoto and serves as a head temple of a Rinzai sect school.

In autumn, visitors from across Japan flock to Tofukuji to admire its vibrant foliage. The Tsutenkyo Bridge, spanning a valley of lush maple trees, offers the most popular view. The bridge’s view is equally breathtaking, and the 100-meter-long covered walkway becomes crowded when the colors peak, typically in mid to late November.

• Toji - Toji Temple (東寺, Tōji), meaning “East Temple,” was established at the start of the Heian Period, shortly after Kyoto became the capital in the late 700s. Along with its now-defunct sister temple Saiji (“West Temple”), it flanked the city’s southern entrance, serving as guardian temples. Toji Temple is one of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

About thirty years after its founding, Kobo Daishi, the Shingon sect’s founder, became Toji’s head priest, elevating it to one of the most important Shingon temples, alongside the sect’s headquarters on Mount Koya. Kobo Daishi also added many large wooden buildings that still stand today.

• Kinkakuji Temple - Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, with its top two floors entirely covered in gold leaf. Officially named Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and per his will, it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji inspired the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the city’s opposite side decades later.

Kinkakuji is an impressive structure overlooking a large pond and is the only remaining building of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down multiple times, including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that devastated much of Kyoto, and once more in 1950 when a fanatic monk set it ablaze. The current structure was rebuilt in 1955.

• Ninna-ji Temple - Ninnaji (仁和寺) is one of Kyoto’s many esteemed temples listed as World Heritage Sites. It is the head temple of the Omuro School of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, founded in 888 by the reigning emperor. For centuries, a member of the Imperial Family served as Ninnaji’s head priest, and the temple was also known as Omuro Imperial Palace.

Due to numerous wars and fires throughout Kyoto’s history, none of the original 9th-century buildings survive. The oldest structures date back to the early Edo Period in the 1600s, including the main hall (Kondo), the Kannon Hall, the Niomon front gate, the Chumon inner gate, and the five-storied pagoda.

• Shugakuin Imperial Villa - Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮, Shugakuin Rikyū), built in the 17th century by Emperor Gomizuno, is now managed by the Imperial Household Agency. It comprises the Upper, Middle, and Lower Villa areas, each featuring gardens and traditional imperial-style buildings.

Shugakuin’s name originates from a former temple on the same site in the tenth century. The Imperial Villa was constructed between 1655 and 1659, with a palace for Gomizuno’s daughter added a decade later. In 1964, the surrounding farmlands were acquired by the Imperial Household Agency and are leased to local farmers who continue to cultivate the fields.

• Kibune River - Kibune (貴船) is a quaint town nestled in a forested valley in Kyoto City’s northern mountains, developed around Kifune Shrine. Legend tells of a goddess who traveled by boat from Osaka up the river into the mountains north of Kyoto, where Kifune Shrine was built at the journey’s end.

Kifune Shrine is dedicated to the god of water and rain, believed to protect those at sea. Visitors can obtain unique fortunes written on paper slips (omikuji) that reveal their messages when dipped in water. Okunomiya, the inner sanctum and original site of Kifune Shrine, lies about a kilometer further up the valley, featuring a large rock known as the boat stone, said to be where the goddess’ yellow boat is buried.

• Kurama-dera - Kurama (鞍馬) is a rural town in Kyoto City’s northern mountains, less than an hour from the city center. Kurama is renowned for its temple Kurama-dera and its hot spring, one of the most accessible hot springs from Kyoto.

Kurama Onsen, a ryokan at the town’s upper end, offers both outdoor and indoor baths. It is a 10-minute walk from the train station along the town’s only road or a nature trail by the river. Staying guests enjoy free bath access, while day visitors pay 2500 yen for all baths or 1000 yen for just the outdoor bath (rotemburo).

• Ryoanji Temple - Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺, Ryōanji) is home to Japan’s most famous rock garden, drawing hundreds of visitors daily. Originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, it was converted into a Zen temple in 1450 and belongs to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, whose head temple is just a kilometer south.

The history of Ryoanji’s renowned rock garden is uncertain, with unknown construction dates and various speculations about its designer. The garden features a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls, with 15 rocks arranged in small groups on moss patches. An intriguing design aspect is that from any viewpoint, at least one rock is always hidden from view.

• Arashiyama - Arashiyama (嵐山) is a charming, tourist-friendly district on Kyoto’s western outskirts. The area has been a favored destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles enjoyed its natural beauty. Arashiyama is especially popular during cherry blossom and fall color seasons.

The Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama’s iconic central landmark. Nearby, visitors can find numerous small shops, restaurants, and attractions, including Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, and pleasure boats available for rent on the river.

• Katsura Imperial Villa - Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮, Katsura Rikyū) is a prime example of Japanese architecture and garden design. Completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan’s Imperial Family, the villa and garden are a testament to traditional design.

Visiting Katsura Imperial Villa requires joining a tour, which follows the garden’s circular walking trail around the central pond. Palace buildings can only be viewed from the outside, and photography is permitted only from designated spots. English tours are available.

• Daikaku-ji Temple - Daikakuji (大覚寺) is a large temple in Kyoto’s northern Sagano district. Originally built in the early 800s as Emperor Saga’s detached palace, the emperor enjoyed spending time in this serene area on Kyoto’s outskirts. Thirty years after his death, the palace was converted into a temple and has since been a highly ranked Shingon Buddhism temple.

Daikakuji has played a role in several significant historical events. A succession of retired emperors reigned from here, and in the 12th century, the temple hosted peace talks that reunited the Northern and Southern Imperial Courts after 50 years of civil war. Daikakuji is also featured in the “Tale of Genji,” the first novel in Japanese literature. Today, the temple is one of the best places to experience the ancient court atmosphere described in the novel and is often used for filming historical dramas.

• Tenryuji Temple - Tenryuji (天龍寺, Tenryūji) is the most significant temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district. Ranked first among the city’s five great Zen temples, it is now a world heritage site. Tenryuji is the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai Zen sect of Japanese Buddhism.

Built in 1339 by the ruling shogun Ashikaga Takauji, Tenryuji was dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, who had recently passed away. The two historic figures were once allies until Takauji turned against the emperor in a power struggle over Japan. By constructing the temple, Takauji sought to appease the former emperor’s spirit.

• Yoshimine-dera - Yoshiminedera (吉峰寺) is a Tendai sect temple located in Kyoto’s western mountains. Like Kiyomizudera on the opposite side of town, Yoshiminedera is built along the mountainside, offering views of Kyoto. The temple grounds are expansive, with many buildings scattered up the mountainside.

A priest from Enryakuji, named Gesan, established Yoshiminedera as a personal retreat in 1029. The temple was destroyed in the Onin War in 1467 but was rebuilt in 1621. The main objects of worship are a Kannon statue carved by Gesan and a Kannon statue gifted by Emperor Gosuzaku in 1042.

• Togetsukyo Bridge - The Togetsukyo Bridge (“Moon Crossing Bridge”) is Arashiyama’s most iconic landmark. Originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185) and reconstructed in the 1930s, the bridge is particularly picturesque against the backdrop of forested mountains. A riverside park with numerous cherry trees is located adjacent to the bridge.
• Bamboo Forest Street - The walking paths through the bamboo groves offer a delightful walk or bike ride. The groves are especially enchanting when a gentle breeze causes the tall bamboo stalks to sway. For centuries, local workshops have used bamboo to craft various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, and mats.
• Okochi Sanso Garden - This former villa of the popular actor Okochi Denjiro (1896-1962) is located behind Arashiyama’s bamboo groves. Okochi Sanso features several gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses, and gates. The buildings can only be viewed from the outside, and admission includes matcha green tea with a snack.
• Jojakkoji Temple - Founded in 1596, this mountainside temple boasts small, charming buildings and gates, creating a serene and understated atmosphere. Maple trees and moss line the paths and stairs that traverse the temple grounds. Visitors can enjoy views of Kyoto from several vantage points.
• Nisonin - Similar to Jojakkoji, Nisonin Temple is a hillside temple with slightly larger, more imposing buildings. The understated atmosphere is enhanced by overhanging trees along the approach. Founded in the mid-9th century, Nisonin is a Tendai sect temple with views over the city from the upper grounds.
• Gio-ji Temple - Gioji is nestled deeper into the forest than Jojakkoji and Nisonin. It is renowned for its moss garden, punctuated by tall maple trees. The temple’s entrance gate and small main hall feature thatched roofs, with the latter offering an attractive round window view into the gardens.
• Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Located at the end of the Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street, Adashino Nenbutsuji was founded in the early 9th century when the monk Kobo Daishi placed stone statues for the souls of the deceased. Today, the temple grounds are covered with hundreds of such stone statues. A short path at the back leads through a bamboo forest.
• Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple - A ten-minute walk north of Adashino Nenbutsuji, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple is famous for its 1200 stone statues of rakan, devoted Buddhist followers, each with a unique expression. Created in the 1980s and early 1990s, the statues are scattered across the temple grounds, which cover part of a forested mountain slope.
• Daitoku-ji Temple - Daitokuji (大徳寺) is a large, walled temple complex in northern Kyoto and the head temple of the Rinzai sect’s Daitokuji school of Japanese Zen Buddhism. The complex includes nearly two dozen subtemples and is one of the best places in Japan to experience a variety of Zen gardens and culture.

Daitokuji’s main buildings are typically closed to the public, but four subtemples are open:

• Daisenin
• Ryogenin
• Zuihoin
• Kotoin (Currently closed)
• Myoshinji Temple - Myoshinji (妙心寺, Myōshinji) is a large temple complex in northwestern Kyoto, comprising about 50 subtemples in addition to its main buildings. While a few temple halls are accessible, most subtemples are closed to the public. However, visitors can freely explore the walking paths. In many ways, the complex resembles Daitokuji Temple.
• Eikando Zenrinji Temple - Eikando (永観堂, Eikandō), formally Zenrinji Temple, belongs to the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism. Located north of Nanzenji, Eikando is renowned for its autumn colors and evening illuminations in fall. The temple boasts a long history, with various buildings and a pond garden for visitors to explore.
• Sanjusangendo Temple - Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂, Sanjūsangendō), also known as Rengeo-in, is a temple in eastern Kyoto famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Founded in 1164, the temple was rebuilt a century later after a fire destroyed the original structure.
• Kennin-ji Temple - Kenninji Temple (建仁寺) is located near the bustling Hanamikoji and Shijo streets. The expansive and pleasant grounds of Kenninji Temple feature two karesansui (dry landscape gardens) that offer visitors a tranquil oasis. It is considered the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.
• Byodoin Temple - Byodoin Temple (平等院) is renowned for its Phoenix Hall, a National Treasure of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Uji city, Kyoto prefecture, extra travel time is required to visit.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Kyoto
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private Vehicle
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Ancient traditions such as temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies still thrive in Kyoto, the former capital of Japan. A journey through this magnificent city is akin to a trip back in time, given its centuries-old preserved architecture. The Kiyomizu Temple magnificently shadows the renowned Gion district, which is historically known for its geisha culture. With so much history embedded in this city, it’s a must-visit destination, and you can enhance the experience by booking our Government Licensed and Experienced English-speaking guides for a comprehensive walk around Kyoto.

Once you’ve secured your reservation, a guide will get in touch to customize your tour. Select between 3 to 4 locations that you’d like to explore, and the guide will create a tailored itinerary for you. If you’re unsure about the local attractions, feel free to ask for the guide’s recommended itinerary, which will be based on your preferences. Whether you’re an enthusiast of history, a admirer of aged Japanese architecture, or just keen to relish a green tea parfait, Kyoto certainly has something to captivate you!

• Pick up & Drop Off is on foot
• This is a walking tour
• Please reserve at least 2 weeks in advance

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