Private City Kickstart Tour: Kyoto
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Receive a warm welcome to Kyoto on a private tour that will kick off your time in the city in the best way possible! In only 2 hours, a local guide will get you acquainted with Kyoto to help you enjoy the rest of your stay to the fullest.
Discover where to find Kenninji temple and Yasaka Shrine, and how to explore them away from the crowds. And what about that unique family owned restaurant or that amazing local hotspot? We got you covered; the local guides are experts in the subject! Forget about touristy traps; on this city kickstart tour, your guide will point you in the right direction.
Private City Kickstart Tour: Kyoto 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. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Private tour: only you & your local guide
What To Expect
Kennin-ji Temple
It is considered to be one of the so-called Kyoto Gozan or "five most important Zen temples of Kyoto"
Yasaka Shrine
Visit one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto, founded over 1350 years ago
Options
Kickstart Private Tour
Short Description: Kickstart your Kyoto visit with your local private guide, get unique insights and tips and make the most out of your trip!
What‘s Included
Local Tips and Tricks
City Orientation
Private Tour
Local Guide
Hotel pick-up and drop off
Food & beverages not listed as inclusions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
10 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A really good way to start your trip to Kyoto
Peter H,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderfull 2 hour walk with Shohei who is a nice and fun guy. We had only one day in Kyoto and this tour gave us a very good impression of the City. Recommendable.
Guia is an excellent...
Oleksandr F,Mar 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Guia is an excellent guide. It was great to have this starter tour and learn about the main areas of Kyoto and their history and get insider tips for further planning.
Great way to start our stay in Kyoto
Maeleine M,Aug 20, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Ted was a wonderful guide to start our time in Kyoto. In addition to the tour starting near our hotel, through Gion and up to the entrance to Kiyomizu-dera, he helped us plan our itineraries for the rest of our stay. Great insight and stories!
Great start in Kyoto
Maike H,Jul 21, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was Maha. First she asked us about our wishes for the Tour and our whole stay in Kyoto so she could coordinate the tour according to it. She showed us many places in the near area and helped us to make a plan for the next day in Kyoto. It was a very nice tour with Maha. She answered all questions and provided lots of information and tips about Kyoto.
Very disappointing tour with local who explained nothing
A8380QGemilyg,May 29, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Maha was nice but explained nothing to us. She just walked us along an extremely congested street, never addressing us as a group. We learned nothing and it was a waste of our money. Seems like this is a hit or miss service. We missed in a huge way.
Brilliant!
W890TTjohnb,Apr 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ted was a wonderful guide. He was our private guide for the kickstart tour one evening and we couldn’t have asked for more. Ted was warm, engaging, generous and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a perfect way to start our visit to Kyoto. Following our tour, Ted was kind enough to send us further information on Kyoto such as restaurant recommendations and other places to visit. Thank you Ted. We highly recommend to choose Ted as your guide.
Shohei was our guide and...
Kathleen D,Apr 4, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Shohei was our guide and was so engaging and interesting - gave us lots of tid bits of information about Kyoto and Japan in general that you can't get from any guidebook! I highly recommend a tour with Shoehei!
A perfect way to start exploring the city
Dora i,Dec 13, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour gets you a perfect image of the culture and some main places to visit. You get a great history lesson and understand the development of the whole city. The tour guide is very nice and explained everything perfectly and is really open to questions and curiosities.
Great way to learn to get around
andeegoofy,Dec 11, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were lost on all the things we wanted to see in Kyoto. Luckily, our host Eiji and this tour weaved all around easily in all the areas we wanted to see, and answered many local and historical Japanese questions. Thanks so much!
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