Private Tour
Explore Kyoto in Style: Temples, Shrines & Cultural Highlights
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the heart of Japan on this unforgettable
Kyoto tour, where ancient kyoto temples, sacred shrines, and local cultural experience come together. Explore Kyoto's most iconic landmarks while learning the history, traditions, and daily life that make this city truly unique.
Walk through historic districts, visit renowned Kyoto temples and Shinto shrines, and experience authentic local culture with insights from a knowledgeable guide. This tour is perfect for first-time visitors and travelers who want a deeper understanding of Kyoto beyond the guidebooks.
Whether you choose a private or small-group experience, this Kyoto tour offers a relaxed pace, stunning photo opportunities, and meaningful cultural encounters - all in one seamless journey.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Child Seat Policy - Only one child seat can be provided per group/vehicle. Please inform us in advance if you require one.
Pre-Trip Contact - The operator will reach out to guests via WhatsApp one day prior to the trip to confirm details and arrangements.
Private Car Hire Service - This experience is a Private Car Rental with an English-speaking driver-escort, who can provide travel advice, local recommendations, and itinerary assistance throughout your journey.
Our Chauffeurs All drivers are licensed professionals fluent in both English and Japanese. With over 10 years of driving experience on Japan’s roads, they ensure your trip is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable from start to finish.
Private Experience This is a completely private tour/activity — only your group will participate, ensuring flexibility, privacy, and a personalized travel experience.
Travelers who feel unwell or have cold, flu, or fever symptoms are advised to refrain from joining the tour for the safety of all guests and staff.
Guests with mobility or medical conditions should inform us in advance so we can make suitable arrangements for comfort and accessibility.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Arashiyama
1. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Step into one of Kyoto’s most iconic and enchanting landscapes — the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Walk through towering bamboo stalks that sway gently in the breeze, creating a serene and almost otherworldly atmosphere. The soft rustling sound of the bamboo and filtered sunlight through the dense green canopy make this a perfect spot for photos and quiet reflection. 2. Iwatayama Monkey Park Enjoy a short scenic hike up Mount Arashiyama to reach the Iwatayama Monkey Park, home to over 120 Japanese macaques. Once at the top, you’ll not only get up close to the friendly monkeys, you can even feed the monkeys safely from inside a designated area — a fun and memorable experience for both adults and children. 3. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple Discover one of Arashiyama’s hidden gems — the Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, a peaceful sanctuary filled with over 1,200 hand-carved stone statues of rakan (Buddha’s disciples)
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (愛宕念仏寺) is one of Kyoto’s most charming and lesser-known temples, located in the peaceful hills of Arashiyama. Founded in the 8th century, the temple is famous for its 1,200 unique stone Rakan statues, each representing a disciple of Buddha with a different facial expression, pose, and personality.
What‘s Included
Fuel, Parking Fees & Highway Tolls – All standard transportation costs are included; no hidden charges.
Meet & Greet Service – Friendly pickup from your accommodation
VIP Experience - Luxurious VIP Vehicle(Toyota-Vellfire) for Your Comfort with customizable locations within city area of Kyoto according to your interests.
English Speaking Driver – Professional driver who provides travel advice/assist with the itinerary
Spacious, modern, and well-maintained for your comfort.
Optional, at the guest’s discretion.
Meals
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
See the beauty of kyoto-1 day
Customize your interests: We are glad to meet you here. We are aligning your interests to comfort your day in Kyoto.
Pickup included
customize your day in Kyoto
Kyoto's must see locations: Visit Kyoto in one day with seamless planning, local insights, and unforgettable experiences
Pickup included
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic day in Kyoto
Ian W,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I found myself with limited time to see Kyoto, really only one full day. So I booked this tour hoping to get an idea of why people rave about his city. Why 5 stars? Firstly it was easy to book, see the itinerary and pick the tour. As advertised Sam reached out the night before to confirm pickup, time, and get a feel for what I wanted to see. He contacted me before arrival in the morning and made sure I knew where he was. He showed up on time and the van was clean and comfortable, looked like new. And off we went on a chilly grey day in Feb. We visited Buddhist and Shinto temples. Temples feature heavily on the agenda so if you don’t want to see them don’t skip the tour, skip Kyoto. You can’t throw a fast ball without hitting three, there are thousands of them. Sam gave the history, practices and insights into Japanese culture. I learned a little Japanese. We took a good few hikes, I’m sure these could be skipped but for someone like me who loves to be in the fresh air and walk, this was fantastic. We swapped stories and experiences. Tried lots of samples of local food and spices along the way (no spoilers but don’t miss the black ice cream (even in Feb) or the wasabi peanuts. Lunch was in a terrific street market where you could literally get anything. We talked about cars, culture and business. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. I’ve done many many day tours and travel experiences all over the world. This was one of the best. I won’t dwell on the locations, they are mostly in all of the tours, though we did take a couple of side stops to see other things. I came with high expectations of Kyoto. Started the day hoping to soak in some local culture and experiences. Finished the day with expectations exceeded and with a new friend. And for all of that it’s a 5 star tour. I’d give it 6 if I could.
Discovering Kyoto Made Special
707samanthau,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an excellent experience exploring Kyoto in December 2025, guided by Leshan(buddy), The guidance was outstanding, with well-chosen places and thoughtfully selected food spots that truly captured the essence of Kyoto. The experience was smooth, enjoyable, and memorable, making the trip both enriching and relaxing. Special thanks for home made foods that shared with us🌮🌮🌮
Leeshan!
deepak2710,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Leeshan was an amazing host! He went above and beyond to help us out during the day trip to find a clinic. Even after that, we were able to cover most of the places as Leeshan stayed with us till 9PM. Definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting kyoto.
Fabulous day with Sam!
MARA K,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sam was a wonderful tour guide. Can’t say enough good things about our day with him! English speaking. He spent a lot of time planning and making sure we didn’t miss anything! Wonderful driver and spacious.
Amazing Kyoto personalized Experience. Does a great Job knowing the History of Every location we visited
ga815,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great Personalized Tour, Leeshan does a Amazing Kyoto schedule to hidden Gems. Does a great Job knowing the History of Every location we visited. relating stories accordingly.
perfect way to see Kyoto
Timothy H,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00we just spent the day with Leshan and there is no way we could have experienced so much on our own. he really knew how to get around the city. we went to a special authentic Japanese restaurant for lunch and it was great. i highly recommend this tour because you can customize it even throughout the day.
A MUST do experience!
rauwbbq,Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Top service , very good explaination and very friendly atmosphere!!! A must book excursion if you want to Meern something of kyoto
Great Private tour in Kyoto
mailvish,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Leshaa was too too good. He was very friendly and caring for all of us. Explained all the places and the history of Kyoto. He was on time to pick us up and drover very carefully. I definitely recommend Leshaa for all private tours in Kyoto.
Great day visiting Kyoto sights with Leshan
ProudCanadian18,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of 4 had a fantastic day with Leshan. He is kind, flexible and accommodating. Very helpful with kids/teens. Vehicle was very roomy and comfortable. He planned the day very well so that we hit all the main sights at the perfect time for views, sunsets, and avoiding crowds. This way we were able to obtain photographs to our liking. Good understanding of history and Japanese folklore too. Leshan recommended a great place for luncheon was very flexible with the timing during the day. What highly recommend! Thanks Leshan for a wonderful day!
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Operated by Wander Tours