Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Kyoto Private Tour | 3 hours

112 Reviews | Kyoto
From $149.07 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 8 travelers in total.
Adult (1-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 8
2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Best of Kyoto Private Tour
2 Adults x $279.57
$559.14
Approx Total
$559.14
Short Description: Kickstart your Kyoto visit with your local private guide, get unique insights and tips and make the most out of your trip!

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: Japanese, English
  • Tickets for Kiyomizu Temple included
  • Private Tour
  • Local Guide
  • 1 local drink/tasting
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • Food & beverages not listed as inclusions

Overview

This is not just another city tour; this is the best of Kyoto from a unique perspective! Get to know Kyoto on a city tour that gives you the perfect overview, with city highlights, hidden gems, storytelling, and a local treat - this tour has it all! Forget about big touristy groups and the crowds; it's time to see Kyoto at its best but from the eyes of a local. Check out main landmarks like Gion Area, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka-Jinja Shrine and uncover hidden gems and city secrets with the help of a knowledgeable local guide. And the cherry on top, a local treat is included. Withlocals Highlights & Hidden Gems Private City Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups.

Meeting points

198 Nakanochō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0075, Japan

Open in Google Maps

At the entrance of the Minamiza Theatre, next to Gion Shijo station

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden

    Pass by the Zoo and get to see this neighborhood, which preserves the look and feel of feudal-era Japan in a wood-built historic quarter of narrow lanes lined with traditional pottery stores, tea houses, and restaurants for multi-course kaiseki meals.

    30 minutes

  • Yasaka Shrine

    Hokanji temple was built in the Asuka period (538 - 710)

    20 minutes

  • Kongoji Temple

    Learn more about the folk faith, which says that to have a wish granted, you must sacrifice one desire.

    20 minutes

  • Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Over 1200 years have passed since the foundation of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Halfway up Mt. Otowa, one of the peaks in Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range stands the temple

    30 minutes

  • Yasaka Shrine

    Before getting to see another shrine, you will have a coffee. This is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago

    20 minutes

  • Gion

    Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district

    20 minutes

  • Kamogawa River

    Another unmissable place in Kyoto is Kamo-gawa river. This is probably the most famous and arguably the most popular river in Kyoto.

    20 minutes

  • Nishiki Market Shopping District

    Explore a 400-year-old market, sample local Japanese goodies and shop for souvenirs

    20 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Private tour: only you & your local guide
  • CO2 Neutral: all tours carbon emissions are offset

Free Cancellation

April 25100% refund
April 26No refund

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 canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.9

112 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    103
  • 4 stars
    5
  • 3 stars
    2
  • 2 stars
    2
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 103 reviews with 5 stars

Very enjoyable and informative!

Published on Nov, 2024

Shohei is an excellent guide. He is very approachable, informative, and, most importantly, friendly. He answered all of our questions and speaks excellent English. This was a perfect introduction to the city, its history, and culture. Highly recommended.

Highly recommend

Published on Nov, 2024

Ted was terrific. We did as much as we could in the time available. I would have liked more time with him. What I appreciated was showing me the “off the beaten track” spots.

Great tour for a good first impression of Kyoto

Published on Nov, 2024

Ted was an amazing guide. He speaks very well English and answered all of our questions. The tour was great to get a good first impression of Kyoto of and even after our tour he was still available for questions and advice. 100% recommend

Book this for your first day in Kyoto

Published on Nov, 2024

Ted was an amazing guide, even before our arrival. He provided us a fantastic list of restaurant options that we were able to reserve ahead, with every recommendation being some of our favourite meals of the entire trip. The hidden gems and stories from Ted were all fascinating and gave us a perfect overview of the city. He then left us with great ideas for what to do with our remaining days, including some excellent out of the way places where we could escape the crowds. We would highly recommend Ted and this tour to anyone.

Geishas!

Published on Nov, 2024

Ted was so knowledgeable and we learned so much. The geisha are was beautiful! Thoroughly enjoyed our day.

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