Private Highlights of Kyoto Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

7 hours

Mobile ticket

In order to closely feel the local atmosphere of Kyoto, this tour will use public transportation so that you can experience the everyday life of Kyoto locals, unlike other tour groups hastily hopping from one location to another on chartered buses. During the 7-hour tour, your guide will show you around the city covering four major must-see locations. There are two different courses: one northwest-bound and the other southeast-bound. If you participate in both tours, you can efficiently cover eight locations at a relaxing pace. For both courses, you can chose from private option, non-private option and non-private option with apprentice guide (reduced rate). Even if you chose non-private option, we guarantee that the total number of guests will be less than 9 people.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

Kinkakuji Temple

Nicknamed as Golden Pavilion, and one of the most popular temples in Kyoto, which is covered by gold leaves.

50 minutes • Admission Included

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The view of Kyoto City seeing from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera Temple is magnificent. The scene is often depicted in post cards.

50 minutes • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Public Transportation

One-day city bus pass (can be used continuously after the tour)

Professional English speaking guide

Food and drinks

Lunch

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Options

Private guide for Southeast

Private guide for Southeast: Premium package of Southeast-bound course conducted by our well-experienced guides with years of constantly high reviews by customers.

Reduced rate Southeast

Specially reduced rate package of Southeast-bound course conducted by our apprentice guides. Less-experienced yet friendly licensed guides will accompany your group for more reasonable rate.

Northwest-bound course

The Northwest-bound course visits the Bamboo Grove, the Rock Garden (Ryoanji Temple), the Golden Pavilion and the Nijo Castle or the Nishiki Market.

Southeast-bound course

The Southeast-bound course visits the Sake Brewery, the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Sanjusangendo Temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple and the Ninenzaka or Sannenzaka Slope.

Reduced rate Northwest

Specially reduced rate package of Northwest-bound course conducted by our apprentice guides. Less-experienced yet friendly licensed guides will accompany your group for more reasonable rate.

Private guide for Northwest

Premium package of Northwest-bound course conducted by our well-experienced guides with years of constantly high reviews by customers.

Reviews

4.80

84 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Tour was great!
Peter H,,Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The tour guide was great, told us information about the temples that we would have not known ourselves. I would of booked another day if I had more time.
A wonderful tour of the main highlights of Kyoto
Tricia A,,Mar 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Chako was a great tour guide. She was very friendly and helpful. We learned so much from her. I have vented Kyoto three times before, but never knew all of the background knowledge.
This was a wonderful...
Barbara L,,Mar 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a wonderful tour. Mia was a great tour guide who made sure that we were given the right amount of information about the places we visited. She answered all of our questions and obviously wanted us to get the most from our tour.
Best tour ever
Carl R,,Dec 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We were met by Mie and found out we were the only ones in the tour. She was fantastic and we had the most marvelous time. We visited all the sites that we expected to and while there Mie gave us great information about each one. On the way, she her culture, the Japanese customs, everyday life. She was also very interested and loved to hear our stories as we traveled from place to place; ate lunch. She is a fabulous tour guide!
Kyoto Summer 2024 adventure
Charlie C,,Dec 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We loved our tour guide . Perfect way to see Kyoto for the first time. Our guide told us facts and historical facts about each place we visited . Would recommend this experience.
Justified our day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo
Jedrix A,,Aug 4, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our tour guide, Mie, was well-prepared and very friendly from the moment we met her. She clearly communicated the agenda to ensure it met our personal expectations. Mie took the time to know us and was an excellent conversationalist. She cared about us getting the most out of our one day in Kyoto and customized the agenda based on what caught our interests. It was absolutely worth having Mie as a private tour guide, and if you have the opportunity to request her, do it.
Amazing friendly guide with beautiful scenes
Christina C,,Jul 10, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Chako-san was an amazing guide, her deep understanding of all of the cultural sites really helped us appreciate the various temples and enjoy all of the respective characteristics unique to each site. Despite the on/off rain, intense crowds at each site, and thousands of steps walked, her bubbly energy was very contagious and helped us power through! Highly recommend. She also arrived early and was very courteous and answered so many questions throughout with immense patience.
Worth it!
Addie Y,,Jul 4, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We loved this tour, our guide was amazing and gave us history of each place we visited. There is lots of walking but it was all manageable. We went on a rainier day and it was still amazing, especially the bamboo forest.
Worth the Money
Timothy D,,May 19, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Chouka (sp?) Was a fantastic guide. She helped us with our Japanese, she taught us all about the areas we visited for both modern and ancient times. She was very well organized and was just a real pleasant guide. This is worth every penny. We highly regret not getting her contact info for future tours. Tim and Alicia. :-)
Smell, taste, and take in the views of lovely Kyoto
91odettes,,May 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My partner and I met out guide Chouka-san at the station and she took care of all the tickets needed along the way. She was an amazing guide, talented in English, with a great understanding of Japanese history for both its recent and distant past. She emboldened us to try some new foods at the markets, found us a lovely spot for lunch, and helped us identify things which are unique to Kyoto - such as the guardians above the doors, inari sushi, etc. She was able to answer all of our questions about the temples and shrines, explained the rites taking place and taught us a couple phrases of japanese that will help us along the rest of our trip. Such a lovely woman! I would highly recommend any tours with her as your guide. Suddenly Kyoto feels like home