Private Car Tour: Unveil the Secrets of Majestic Kyoto's Unexplored Historical Sites

Uncover the hidden historical sites of Kyoto on a private car tour. Explore off the beaten path spots with a passionate guide, and enjoy personalized service and insider tips.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - This shrine offers a breathtaking view of thousands of torii gates. The entire mountain is part of the shrine grounds, featuring a long stretch of bamboo forest trail and the peaceful sounds of birds chirping. The large gates and buildings at the entrance are pristine and beautiful, but as you venture deeper, you will…
What's Included
  • Completely private and personalized experience
  • Hotel pickup and dropoff
  • Tips of local good restaurants for lunch and dessert shops
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Gas, toll, and parking fee
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Dessert
  • admission fee
Additional Information

Explore the enchanting history of Kyoto through its hidden temples!
Join Takashi, an English-speaking Japanese guide, for a unique experience in a comfortable 10-passenger van. Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for over a thousand years before Tokyo, is renowned for its rich history. However, the main attractions can be quite crowded. Takashi’s mission…

Location
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku,
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(40 Ratings)
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Travis
Apr 28, 2025
So fun!! - We had an amazing day in Kyoto with Takashi! I booked the tour with him based on the other reviews here, and I’m happy to report that we were not disappointed. Our party consisted of three adults and five children, whose ages ranged from six to thirteen. Takashi was unflappable and always patient with the kids despite whatever silly things they were up to. His expert recommendations for attractions to visit and food to try were perfect for our group. His English is as good as that of a native speaker, and he is a very good driver. I can’t recommend booking with him enough; it’s basically guaranteed to maximize your time in Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer68012685846
Apr 28, 2025
Hidden Kyoto Gems & Hidden Ramen Spots - Our tour guide, Takashi was simply fantastic. He was friendly & knowledgeable. He possesses a unique blend of in depth local knowledge and engaging storytelling skills. Takashi provided a unique opportunity to sample & learn about local cuisine & beverages. I highly recommend this experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_c
Apr 6, 2025
Getting off the beaten path - We really enjoyed our tour with Takashi. We felt things got off to a bit of slow start in terms of connection but after a little time, we got to know one another and really enjoyed our time together. We loved going to lesser-known temples and shrines after experiencing lots of crowds in the days prior to this tour. Takashi also took us to an amazing ramen restaurant for lunch which we would never have found on our own. Takashi is a great driver and a wonderful tour guide - highly recommend him!
Review provided by Viator
Annacu1940fh
Mar 25, 2025
Amazing day in Kyoto - Takashi was a wonderful guide in Kyoto! Our group consisted of 9 people (4 adults and 5 kids ages ranging from 7-13) and this was the perfect tour for us. We started out our day by visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha, then had a delicious sushi lunch followed by visits to 2 additional hidden temples which we would never have known to visit on our own. The hidden temples were beautiful and serene. It was a nice change to be away from the busy crowds. Takashi was knowledgeable and answered many of our questions about Japan and life in Kyoto. He was great with kids and explained the customs and traditions in an easy to understand way. We had a wonderful day! Thank you Takashi!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lb199
Mar 4, 2025
Best tour & guide experience! - This tour is excellent. Takashi is such a knowledgeable, kind, and accommodating tour guide. He took us to the monkey park, which was the one place we got to choose in his "hidden Kyoto" tour. The other places were chosen by him and could not have been a better experience. These are places that had few or no tourists, were not ones you would see listed in your guide book, and still incredibly rich with history and beauty. Having Takashi with us for the day made everything easy. His English is perfect, he knew the best ramen place for lunch, and was happy to be flexible as needed (especially since our group spanned the age range of tweens to grandparents!). I highly recommend Takashi and any of his tours - you cannot go wrong!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy
Feb 6, 2025
Best option for exploring Kyoto - This tour was a great way to explore Kyoto and I highly recommend it. My husband and I booked this tour with no real preference on where to go and trusted Takashi to take us to great spots after reading the website. Takashi exceeded all expectations and was a very fun guide. The hidden Buddhist temple was a particular highlight and I was able to sneak in a little souvenir shopping at one spot. We also avoided crowds all day long which made the experience better. I am so glad that we booked this and would encourage others to do so.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gracebyuen
Jan 21, 2025
Fun way to explore Kyoto! - Touring Kyoto with Takashi was a really memorable experience. We had fun exploring and seeing new sights that we never would have on our own. We also enjoyed learning more about the culture from Takashi and his personal experiences. The van was comfortable and Takashi’s personal knowledge made the tour one of our best activities while in Japan! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveler317537
Jan 10, 2025
Amazing Kyoto Experience tour - Takashi was the perfect tour guide for our first time trip to Kyoto. He took us off the beaten path whilst showing us some beautiful sights in Kyoto. He was able to tailor our experience based on the needs of our family, and was incredibly helpful and patient. Thanks again Takashi, will be recommending your services to any friends who visit Kyoto in the future!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J1041qialexf
Jan 9, 2025
A Great insight into Kyoto and Nara’s hidden and some popular gems! - Takashi was very knowledgeable and great to deal with regarding our private tour around Kyoto and Nara. We covered a lot of areas in one day and he was very accommodating to our young family. Would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bubblegirl13
Feb 24, 2025
Disappointed - After reading such glowing reviews we didn’t hesitate to book this tour for two families - 7 people in total. Unfortunately we just felt like Takashi drove us around for the day and didn’t really tell us much at all. We certainly didn’t feel like he wanted to be doing a tour in the snow which of course was out of our control. We were given no real information about Kyoto at all and given tiny snippets of information when we asked. I wanted Takashi to guide us more, teach us some history and show us the highlights of Kyoto. Unfortunately this is not what we were provided. It’s the worst tour guide experience I’ve ever encountered the world over. If you do book with Takashi, give him your plan of where you want to go and what you want to learn so you get value out of your day. Otherwise you will feel short changed as our family and friends did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $103
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).