Kyoto Private Custom Tour with local expert guide + Hotel Pickup

4.71

4.7(79 reviews)

Private Tour

8 hours

Japanese, English

Mobile ticket

Show all 25 photos

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

8 hours

Mobile ticket

Explore Kyoto’s top attractions like Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji, and hidden local spots with your own private guide. This fully customizable Kyoto 1-day tour is perfect for first-time visitors and repeat travelers alike.

Discuss with our experienced guide who knows all about Kyoto. Our guide is "YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT" during your stay in Japan !

This is a "FULLY CUSTOMIZED PRIVATE TOUR", either 8 hour full day tour or 4 hour half day tour. You can visit 4 or 5 places on the full-day tour and 2 or 3 places on the half-day tour.

You will experience the best of Kyoto on foot (public transport) or by private vehicle.

Please book a tour for the day after your arrival in Japan considering the time difference with your country.

⭐ 92% recommended

Private tour

Fully customizable

Hotel pickup included

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***

Your guide will contact you in advance to discuss your own itinerary.

Please let us know YOUR CORRECT CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Additional Info

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

A moderate amount of walking is involved. Please wear a comfortable pair of shoes

Additional activities, such as a tea ceremony, aikido or calligraphy class, etc, can be included in the itinerary, but will be at your own expense

Not all admission fees are included.

What To Expect

Kinkakuji Temple

** Here are some recommended places to visit. **You can visit 4 or 5 places on the full-day tour and 2 or 3 places on the half-day tour. **Please let us know your interest in advance ! After talking with our experiensed guide who knows all about Kyoto, please feel free to decide the place to visit and enjoy the wonderful journey!!! ======================================== After enjoying the breathtaking Golden pavillion, we take a walk in the garden.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Nijo Castle

You can walk inside the powerful Shogunate castle with images of samurais in your head.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Options

Full-Day + Private Vehicle(8h)

Full-Day Tour+Private Vehicle : Custom full-day tour of Kyoto with private transfer - approx. 8 hours Pickup included

Half-Day + Public Transfer(4h)

Half-Day+Public Transportation: Custom half-day tour of Kyoto with public transfer - approx. 4 hours Pickup included

Full-Day + Public Transfer(8h)

Full-Day+Public Transportation: Custom full-day tour of Kyoto with public transfer - Approx. 8 hours Pickup included

Half-Day + Private Vehicle(4h)

Half-Day Tour+Private Vehicle: Custom half-day tour of Kyoto with Private Vehicle - approx. 4 hours Pickup included

What‘s Included

Transportation fares (if by public transport)

drink

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kyoto city

Transport by private vehicle (if by private vehicle)

Professional English speaking guide

Lunch (full-day option only)

Any additional activity fee

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Cancellation Policy

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

Reviews

4.71

79 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Miya-san Very Knowledgeable and Efficient
Kara P,Jun 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We packed in Nijo Castle, The Golden Pavillion, and the Bamboo Forrest into a 4 hour tour. Miya-san was very efficient and knowledgeable. We spent a perfect amount of time in each place and got to see as much as possible.
Amazing cherry blossom season in Kyoto with huge number of tourists!
Passport68283350750,Apr 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Our guide Rick navigated our 4 hour private tour of Kyoto very skillfully in the middle of busiest season. His tour plan worked out well for us, in spite of most difficult circumstances. We were able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and a couple of major sightseeing spots. We enjoyed the tour very much although the crowds of tourists diminished the experience a bit.
Family tour in rainy Kyoto
zoeaI6064BZ,Oct 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thank you to our tour guide Oki who navigated the Kyoto temples for us on a very rainy day! He was so understanding especially with all of our accommodations and was always so thoughtful and worried about us all. He made our dinner reservations which was also very helpful. Oki is so knowledgeable and explained everything to us in a way that was easy to understand. Thank you Oki!!
Wonderful day in Kyoto!
kathyllll,Sep 30, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an amazing day with Miho yesterday on our tour of Kyoto. We saw a few of the sights in Tokyo, including the silver temple and the gold temple as well as Nijo Castle and the bamboo forest, but what made our trip so amazing was the knowledge that Miho had on many things. We learned a lot about Japanese history and the history of the sights we saw. She made some great suggestions for extras on our tour. One of the highlights was the restaurant she took us for lunch which was a traditional Japanese lunch. It was a place we never would have found without her. What also made our day so special was how friendly Miho was. Her English was perfect and she was wonderful to talk with about not only Japan, but many other topics as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with her!
Great tour and Guide
catherinetQ7533MA,Sep 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked a one-day private tour in Kyoto for our family of 7 and 1 infant. Oki-san was a wonderful guide. We got a taste of Kyoto's rich history with Oki-san's help and knowledge. Yamamoto-san was our driver. He navigated us through the city safely and promptly! We enjoyed the tour very much and highly recommend it.
Time well spent
Gary B,Sep 19, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
The guide was very knowledgeable and was a pleasure to spend the time with.it was titime well spent.we will have a lot of memories
True Kyoto experience
L4601VQsarak,Sep 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide Oki took us to parts of Kyoto we would never been able to find, especially for the half day. He was able to squeeze in everything we wanted to see and some more. What is great too is that the tour is tailor made for what you want to see. Wear comfortable shoes and you will be able to see so much that Kyoto has to offer, with Oki’s help.
Unforgettable Kyoto with the best guide Oki!👌🏼
FrequentFlier324716,Aug 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Motoi Okishio was our best guide ever, very knowledgeable, patient and friendly, we were very happy with his answers to our questions and he took us to hidden special places that are unforgettable, he also picked the best spots for many delightful pictures for our memories from beautiful Kyoto!
Greatest tour in Japan.
aldo andrei P,Aug 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Oki-San did a great job to understand our family needs and interest before the trip and made his best to ensure that even with very severe weather we were able to have a very enjoyable tour. My whole family agreed that we would love to have this kind of tours for the rest of our vacation in Japan.
Highly recommended and very accomodating
5beckiep,Aug 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Oki was a great guide! He was very knowledgeable and accommodating of our needs, esp as we could get a little slow with a 5 and 7yo with our group. He spoke English and helped us navigate a grocery store at the end of trip, too! We were able to choose the destinations we wanted, but Oki made some suggestions, too (during planning stage). Oki was a very willing and capable photographer and was always asking us if we wanted a picture. He suggested some great photo locations. Lunch was in a private room for our group and was delicious and an interesting experience. The van was very comfortable and they provided us with cold water. I would highly recommend this tour.

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Related Experiences

Operated by Venture

Kyoto Private Custom Tour with local expert guide + Hotel Pickup

4.71

4.7(79 reviews)

Private Tour

8 hours

Japanese, English

Mobile ticket

Show all 25 photos

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

8 hours

Mobile ticket

Discuss with our experienced guide who knows all about Kyoto. Our guide is "YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT" during your stay in Japan !

This is a "FULLY CUSTOMIZED PRIVATE TOUR", either 8 hour full day tour or 4 hour half day tour. You can visit 4 or 5 places on the full-day tour and 2 or 3 places on the half-day tour.

You will experience the best of Kyoto on foot (public transport) or by private vehicle.

Please book a tour for the day after your arrival in Japan considering the time difference with your country.

⭐ 92% recommended

Private tour

Fully customizable

Hotel pickup included

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***

Your guide will contact you in advance to discuss your own itinerary.

Please let us know YOUR CORRECT CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Additional Info

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

A moderate amount of walking is involved. Please wear a comfortable pair of shoes

Additional activities, such as a tea ceremony, aikido or calligraphy class, etc, can be included in the itinerary, but will be at your own expense

Not all admission fees are included.

What To Expect

Kinkakuji Temple

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Nijo Castle

You can walk inside the powerful Shogunate castle with images of samurais in your head.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Options

Full-Day + Private Vehicle(8h)

Full-Day Tour+Private Vehicle : Custom full-day tour of Kyoto with private transfer - approx. 8 hours Pickup included

Half-Day + Public Transfer(4h)

Half-Day+Public Transportation: Custom half-day tour of Kyoto with public transfer - approx. 4 hours Pickup included

Full-Day + Public Transfer(8h)

Full-Day+Public Transportation: Custom full-day tour of Kyoto with public transfer - Approx. 8 hours Pickup included

Half-Day + Private Vehicle(4h)

Half-Day Tour+Private Vehicle: Custom half-day tour of Kyoto with Private Vehicle - approx. 4 hours Pickup included

What‘s Included

Transportation fares (if by public transport)

drink

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kyoto city

Transport by private vehicle (if by private vehicle)

Professional English speaking guide

Lunch (full-day option only)

Any additional activity fee

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Cancellation Policy

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

Reviews

4.71

79 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Miya-san Very Knowledgeable and Efficient
Kara P,Jun 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We packed in Nijo Castle, The Golden Pavillion, and the Bamboo Forrest into a 4 hour tour. Miya-san was very efficient and knowledgeable. We spent a perfect amount of time in each place and got to see as much as possible.
Amazing cherry blossom season in Kyoto with huge number of tourists!
Passport68283350750,Apr 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Our guide Rick navigated our 4 hour private tour of Kyoto very skillfully in the middle of busiest season. His tour plan worked out well for us, in spite of most difficult circumstances. We were able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and a couple of major sightseeing spots. We enjoyed the tour very much although the crowds of tourists diminished the experience a bit.
Family tour in rainy Kyoto
zoeaI6064BZ,Oct 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thank you to our tour guide Oki who navigated the Kyoto temples for us on a very rainy day! He was so understanding especially with all of our accommodations and was always so thoughtful and worried about us all. He made our dinner reservations which was also very helpful. Oki is so knowledgeable and explained everything to us in a way that was easy to understand. Thank you Oki!!
Wonderful day in Kyoto!
kathyllll,Sep 30, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an amazing day with Miho yesterday on our tour of Kyoto. We saw a few of the sights in Tokyo, including the silver temple and the gold temple as well as Nijo Castle and the bamboo forest, but what made our trip so amazing was the knowledge that Miho had on many things. We learned a lot about Japanese history and the history of the sights we saw. She made some great suggestions for extras on our tour. One of the highlights was the restaurant she took us for lunch which was a traditional Japanese lunch. It was a place we never would have found without her. What also made our day so special was how friendly Miho was. Her English was perfect and she was wonderful to talk with about not only Japan, but many other topics as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with her!
Great tour and Guide
catherinetQ7533MA,Sep 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked a one-day private tour in Kyoto for our family of 7 and 1 infant. Oki-san was a wonderful guide. We got a taste of Kyoto's rich history with Oki-san's help and knowledge. Yamamoto-san was our driver. He navigated us through the city safely and promptly! We enjoyed the tour very much and highly recommend it.
Time well spent
Gary B,Sep 19, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
The guide was very knowledgeable and was a pleasure to spend the time with.it was titime well spent.we will have a lot of memories
True Kyoto experience
L4601VQsarak,Sep 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide Oki took us to parts of Kyoto we would never been able to find, especially for the half day. He was able to squeeze in everything we wanted to see and some more. What is great too is that the tour is tailor made for what you want to see. Wear comfortable shoes and you will be able to see so much that Kyoto has to offer, with Oki’s help.
Unforgettable Kyoto with the best guide Oki!👌🏼
FrequentFlier324716,Aug 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Motoi Okishio was our best guide ever, very knowledgeable, patient and friendly, we were very happy with his answers to our questions and he took us to hidden special places that are unforgettable, he also picked the best spots for many delightful pictures for our memories from beautiful Kyoto!
Greatest tour in Japan.
aldo andrei P,Aug 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Oki-San did a great job to understand our family needs and interest before the trip and made his best to ensure that even with very severe weather we were able to have a very enjoyable tour. My whole family agreed that we would love to have this kind of tours for the rest of our vacation in Japan.
Highly recommended and very accomodating
5beckiep,Aug 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Oki was a great guide! He was very knowledgeable and accommodating of our needs, esp as we could get a little slow with a 5 and 7yo with our group. He spoke English and helped us navigate a grocery store at the end of trip, too! We were able to choose the destinations we wanted, but Oki made some suggestions, too (during planning stage). Oki was a very willing and capable photographer and was always asking us if we wanted a picture. He suggested some great photo locations. Lunch was in a private room for our group and was delicious and an interesting experience. The van was very comfortable and they provided us with cold water. I would highly recommend this tour.