Gion Night Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Shrines, shadows, and old Kyoto charm—step into the quiet magic of the city after dark. Evening is when Kyoto truly begins to glow. As the lanterns flicker to life and the crowds fade away, Gion transforms into something timeless. This gentle walking tour is your chance to soak up the after-dark atmosphere of Kyoto’s most historic district—with a local guide who knows all the quiet corners.

We begin at Yasaka Shrine, where golden lanterns sway softly and the scent of incense drifts on the night air. The bustle of the day fades, replaced by a sacred calm.

If we’re lucky, we might spot a maiko or geiko on her way to an appointment. But this isn’t a celebrity chase—we’ll share proper etiquette for respectful encounters. Let's appreciate this world with the dignity it deserves.

✨ Highlights

⛩️ Yasaka Shrine in the evening glow

The iconic Yasaka Pagoda

Lantern-lit alleys of historic Gion

Insight into geisha culture—with respect

️ Digital Kyoto guide with food & photo tips

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Tour Guide

What To Expect

Miyagawacho Kaburenjo

We walk through the geisha quarters and explain about the secret lives of these masters of the arts.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Kennin-ji Temple

We walk through the grounds of this beautiful temple and give you a brief introduction to Zen Buddhism.

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Discover Kyoto's Geisha District of Gion!

Reviews

4.89

133 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

122

Must do!
rociogE5958RM,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ben was amazing! Cheerful, holds a lot of knowledge and insights, was flexible and answered all of our questions! Best tour ever!
Great
abdullahaQ1603LL,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Was very enjoyable! Ganel was our guide, she was fun and informative, was a great tour to explore gion! The trip at night offered a relaxed atmosphere Hope you all enjoy it
Fabulous evening tour which was engaging and interesting. Informative guide who made the area come to life.
Bexian,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
A great walk through a lovely area of Kyoto. Janiel was really engaging and obviously knew about the area. Her stories brought this to life. She was full of energy.
Gion Night Tour is not to be missed !
Wander22656634174,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The Gion Night Walking Tour was absolutely magical ! So glad we chose to do this at night and were fortunate enough to get Kevin from Canada as our guide who was extremely knowable and made it fun as well. The tour went at a good pace and we didn’t feel rushed allowing us to absorb the atmosphere and we even spotted a Maiko. Highly recommend this tour and hopefully you get Kevin from Canada as he was terrific !
Incredible Tour
DanielEdward M,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an incredible experience!!! There was so much to see and experience in this Walking Tour. I would highly recommend anyone to take this tour. The guide was absolutely incredible, his knowledge, enthusiasm and approach was very professional. He his enthusiasm and sense of humor was appreciated by all.
Nightwalk of Gion
danielcU1718LD,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ben was amazing and knowledgeable! We loved our tour through Kyoto. It was the perfect length and his robust knowledge was great to question
Insightful, friendly, and reasonably priced - highly recommend!
Morgan A,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Kevin was an AMAZING guide! This was hands down the best tour we’ve done yet in Japan. Super insightful and answered all of our questions. It was also so nice to be in such a small group. We saw other tours that were huge. We got an intimate and informative experience for a reasonable price. Highly recommend!
Amazing tour thanks to Karim!
ladinac2014,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an amazing tour with Karim who made a fun yet very educating tour. He even went out of his way to send me special recommendations for certain shops after the tour!
Great tour with Kevin, couldn’t recommend more highly
John B,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic tour with knowledgeable and engaging guide Kevin, a longtime resident. History along with insights into modern Japanese culture.
The best tour with Ben!
Road435867,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It exceeded our expectations! Ben our tour guide was very knowledgeable and well prepared! He taught us everything about Japanese history and tied it to the tour of Gion in a flawless way with funny anecdotes and lot’s of room for questions! We thoroughly enjoyed it, highly recommend!