Kyoto’s beauty is timeless but experiencing it in peace is rare. On this early morning private tour, you’ll step into the city’s most iconic sights before the crowds awaken.
Begin your day beneath the whispering torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha, enjoying the spiritual stillness that vanishes by mid-morning. Arrive at the stunning Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) just as it opens, catching its shimmering reflection before the tour buses roll in. Then, breathe in the calm of Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, where you’ll wander through towering stalks in near silence an experience few visitors ever get.
This is Kyoto at its most magical: unhurried, uncrowded, unforgettable.
Among Kyoto's popular tourist destinations, Higashiyama and the Kyoto Station area, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, attract visitors from Japan and abroad due to their deeply Japanese atmosphere. This tour focuses on experiencing Japanese history, culture, and summer in Kyoto.
The tour begins at Shijo-Kawaramachi Station, offering easy access to Higashiyama attractions. After a short bus ride and walk, you'll reach Kiyomizu-dera Temple, known for its clear water and small waterfall. After shopping on the street in front of the temple, you'll visit Yasaka Shrine, believed to ward off epidemic diseases during the hot season.
Next, enjoy the Japanese summer sweet "shaved ice" in Gion and stroll along the famous Gion street. The tour concludes with a visit to Kyoto Tower in front of Kyoto Station for a romantic view at dusk.
Let's embark on a trip to Kyoto, a city best enjoyed in the hot summer!
Escape to the peaceful countryside of Ohara and explore the serene Sanzen-in Temple. Immerse yourself in nature and history on this relaxing day trip from Kyoto.
Meet at Kyoto Station and take a scenic bus ride of approximately 1 hour to Ohara. From there, visit Sanzen-in Temple, a tranquil site nestled in lush greenery. Explore the temple’s serene gardens and historical halls during a 90-minute tour.
To further enhance your experience, enjoy a relaxing tea ceremony at the temple’s tea house, allowing you to soak in the peaceful atmosphere. After the visit, depart from Sanzen-in and return to Kyoto by bus, concluding your journey back at Kyoto Station.
This trip offers the perfect blend of nature, culture, and relaxation.
Immerse yourself in the rich culture of sake brewing with our Kyoto tour. We'll explore not just the brewery, but also the history and traditions surrounding this celebrated beverage. Learn how sake is woven into the fabric of Japanese society, from special ceremonies to everyday life. Enjoy delicious food pairings that reflect the regional cuisine and complement the nihonshu flavors.
Discover Japanese cooking and culture by making traditional dishes with local kids in Kyoto, a unique program where you can make new friends while enjoying the art of Japanese cuisine.
ULU, opened in 2022, is a multicultural community space currently staffed by 20 members from various countries.
This is a place where people of all genders, races, ages, and nationalities can come together.
While Kyoto is a popular destination worldwide, opportunities to connect with locals and enjoy a unique cultural experience are rare. Here, you can achieve just that with us!
The tour takes you to three local Kyoto stores, with more than 100 years of history of creating and refining their own unique products. The tour begins with a miso and soy sauce tasting at their local breweries. The soy sauce brewery is famous for its moromi soy sauce, and the miso shop has supplied miso to the Imperial Palace, marking it as one of Japan’s top-quality miso breweries.
You will then visit a vinegar shop where you can create your own ponzu and have it bottled to take home as a souvenir. Finish the tour enjoying three signature cocktails with soy sauce, miso and ponzu.
Please note that the legal drinking age in Japan is 20.
Visiting World Heritage Sites: Lushan (Hedu Bridge), Tianlong Temple (Garden), Bamboo Forest, but this area has attractive attractions that can be changed according to customer requirements. Lushan* From the past, there were villas for some entertainers or industrialists. But for decades, there have been very popular attractions for foreigners. Because in Kyoto (Japan), there is some fun. Tianlong Temple (garden) and bamboo forest* are also mysterious spots that cannot be experienced at ordinary times. The atmosphere of the Toyama area (the site designated by the Japanese government) is completely different from the other attractions in Kyoto, so please enjoy!
・Our cooking class is located in Arashiyama, Kyoto, offering an authentic, uncommercial and uncrowded Japanese experience.
・You can combine your sightseeing in Arashiyama with our cooking class, as the class location is close to the tourist spot.
・The cooking class lasts approximately two hours, including mealtime.
・Our cooking classes are also open to individuals.
・Our cooking classes are also very welcoming for families with children.
・You will experience making three types of sushi: rolled sushi, nigiri sushi, and hand-rolled sushi.
The tour is unique because you not only walk through the streets of Kyoto, you relive them! Mix the story of samurai, monks and princes in a dynamic story, full of legends and curiosities, accompanied by interactive activities that will make you feel part of the Japanese past.
Experience the timeless beauty and epic sites of the Kansai region on our Kyoto & Nara Small Group Day Tour from Kyoto. In a small group setting, our expert guides will escort you across Kyoto’s highlights, including the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Golden Pavilion, and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Afterward, continue your adventure to Nara, home to the Great Buddha. Once you arrive, you’ll discover the ancient Todai-ji Temple and bow to the Sika deer of Nara Park.
For those drawn to nature, culture, and history, join our Kyoto & Nara Small Group Day Tour from Kyoto. Together with your small group and devoted guides, enjoy seamless transfers to and from Kyoto while immersing yourself in these 2 remarkable cities.
Led by a Fushimi local and former brewery worker, this tour combines authentic sake tastings with insider stories you won’t find in guidebooks. From the Gekkeikan Sake Museum to hidden cafés and specialty shops, guests discover the history, culture, and flavors of Kyoto’s sake district in a truly local way.
This Kyoto Beauty Experience Tour is guided by Kyoto local lady who is working for beauty salon more than 10 years.
Not many people know there is a beauty shrine in Kyoto, and also the hospitality in those beauty industry are really good according to Kyoto's traditional culture.
The guide also knows well about the healthy food to get inner beauty as her mother is macrobiotic cooking teacher.
As her grandmother is a real Geisha, she also knows a lot of Kyoto traditional life and culture.
The guide has worked at Epcot, Walt Disney World in Florida, her English is good enough to communicate.
If there are other places you would like to go with the private guide, please send us message before the travel.
Purify your mind, body, and spirit in Kyoto. Start your day with a wholesome tofu lunch and a walking tour of hidden spring water sources.
Highlights
- Indulge in a nourishing tofu set meal, a Kyoto delicacy made from soy milk.
- Explore the city's natural beauty on a guided walking tour to three unique spring water sources, sampling the water at each location.
- Conclude your day with a relaxing break at a traditional Kyoto confectionery, where you can enjoy sweets and matcha made with spring water.
Please note that our tour requires a minimum of 2 participants to operate. If we don't reach this minimum number, unfortunately, we'll have to cancel the tour. You'll be notified of any cancellation 4 days before departure, and a full refund will be issued.
Please check our Instagram for visual examples of our wonderful guides!
Start your morning with the magic of Kyoto—before the crowds arrive. This small-group tour (max 8 people) takes you on a peaceful journey through the stunning Byodoin Temple from the 10 yen coin, and Ujigami Shrine, Japan’s oldest. It’s the perfect blend of iconic sights and hidden gems, led by a local English-speaking guide who brings each place to life. Quiet, authentic, unforgettable.
Avoid crowded tourist trails and explore hidden mountain trails.
Visit one of the most impressive shrines in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Walk through a bamboo forest and discover a hidden shrine.
Enjoy unique views of Fushimi-Momoyama Castle.
Without missing : your guide takes care of the route.
Small group tour, ensuring a closer and more personalized experience.
Delve into the world of sake at My Sake World in Kyoto-Kawaramachi, where you can create a personalized sake blend that reflects your unique taste. Start with a fascinating introduction to sake basics from trained staff, followed by sampling various sake to pinpoint your flavor preferences. Then, unleash your creativity as you blend your chosen sake, refining it through tasting sessions until you craft the perfect recipe. Finally, give your original blend a name, and take home a bottle of your very own personalized sake.
Make your Kyoto adventure hassle-free with Kyoto Gorilla's convenient luggage solutions! Located at the iconic Kyoto Tower, we offer both secure storage and reliable delivery services in English, Japanese, and Chinese.
Choose Your Service:
1. STORAGE SERVICE (¥1,000/item)
Secure same-day storage
Perfect for exploring Kyoto hands-free
Prime location at Kyoto Tower
Easy access from Kyoto Station
2. DELIVERY SERVICE (¥2,000/item)
Convenient luggage delivery
Perfect for smooth hotel check-in/out
Professional handling
Stress-free sightseeing
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Daily
Location: Kyoto Tower: Nishiki Uoriki - Kyoto Tower Sando
721-1 Higashishiokōjichō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216
Why Choose Kyoto Gorilla:
Trilingual staff (English/Japanese/Chinese)
Professional and secure service
Perfect for:
Early check-out/late check-in
Day-trip visitors
Shopping enthusiasts
Temple and shrine hoppers
Travelers with hotel transfers
This walking tour starts at Miyagawa-cho, then takes you through Hanami-kouji Street and Gion Shirakawa, where you can fully enjoy the charming streets of Gion and Higashiyama area.
The traditional machiya-lined streets feel like stepping back in time, and there are photo-worthy spots everywhere you look. Feel free to ask your guide for help with any photos!
Along the way, you’ll also pass famous temples and shrines like Kyoto Ebisu Shrine and Kennin-ji (we won’t go inside, but we’ll walk through the area).
While it's not guaranteed, if you're lucky, you might even cross paths with a maiko or geiko! This is the perfect tour to soak in the old-world charm of Kyoto.
Step back in time in Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan. Explore serene temples, ancient shrines, and timeless traditions as you stroll through bamboo groves and historic geisha districts.
Color your memories of Kyoto in Kimono.
Rent a rickshaw at Kiyomizu-dera Temple or look for sweets in the back alleys of Gion. After changing into a kimono, let's go out on the town! Wearing a different outfit will make even the most ordinary scenery look fresh. What special encounters await you today? Such excitement is one of the best parts of wearing a kimono!
Discover the elegance of old Japan with a 4-hour tour that immerses you in Kyoto's traditions. Begin by stepping into a beautiful kimono, expertly dressed by a professional to ensure an authentic and memorable look. With a newfound grace, you will then participate in a traditional tea ceremony, where you'll learn the centuries-old rituals of preparing and serving matcha green tea. This serene and mindful experience, often held in a traditional machiya (wooden townhouse), offers a deep look into Japanese culture. It's a perfect half-day escape that combines beautiful attire, cultural enlightenment, and a taste of history.
Step into the heart of Japan’s spiritual and cultural heritage
Explore the timeless beauty of Nara, Japan’s first capital and home to some of the country’s most iconic cultural treasures. From roaming deer in Nara Park to the towering Great Buddha of Todaiji, and the charming streets of Naramachi, this private tour offers a perfect blend of history, nature, and local charm.
Travel comfortably in a private vehicle and discover the stories behind the temples and townscapes with a knowledgeable English-speaking local guide.
-Meet the friendly deer of Nara Park and stroll through peaceful green spaces
-Visit World Heritage Sites including Kofukuji Temple and Todaiji Temple
-Explore Naramachi, a historic district filled with preserved merchant houses
-Relax with private transportation—no transfers or crowds to worry about
-Learn about Nara’s ancient role in Japan’s history from your expert guide
Arashiyama, one of the most popular places in Kyoto, has many attractive places to visit, such as the Togetsu Bridge and the bamboo grove path.
At the same time, however, the original calm atmosphere has been lost due to tourists from all over the world. In fact, however, it is only in some areas that crowding occurs, and a short bicycle ride away, you will find the quiet countryside of Sagano, Kyoto.
The tour stops at some tourist areas, but is designed to allow you to enjoy Arashiyama by bicycle while keeping your mind at rest. The tour includes a dedicated English-speaking navigator to assist you.
・Slow cycling is an easy way for people who are not confident about their physical fitness to take part.
・All equipment for riding is provided, so you don't need to bring anything.
・The tour is also a great way to enjoy local food at speciality shops.
・The tour course can be arranged according to your wishes.
・You can take photos with your stylish BROMPTON bike.
