Private Tour
Private Kyoto Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems, Personalised
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Experience Kyoto with a private walking tour shaped around your interests and pace.
This experience combines Kyoto’s most iconic sights with quieter local corners, creating a day that feels both reassuring and personal. You may explore well-known places such as Gion, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Tower, or Togetsu-kyō Bridge, alongside lesser-known neighbourhoods and spots chosen around what interests you most.
After booking, you’ll receive a short questionnaire about your interests and travel style. Based on your responses, we’ll match you with a host who fits you well and who will be in touch before the experience to suggest ideas and shape a flexible plan together.
This experience is designed to adapt as you go — allowing time to linger, adjust pace, and explore Kyoto in a way that feels natural rather than rushed.
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
This is a private City Unscripted experience: real people, real connections
After booking, you'll receive a short online questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your City Unscripted guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kyoto
See Kyoto through the eyes of someone who calls it home—uncovering its hidden gems, rich culture, and untold stories with a passionate local by your side. This isn’t just a tour—it's a City Unscripted experience: real people, real connections, designed around you, full of authentic moments and unforgettable discoveries. Before your adventure begins, you will receive a short online questionnaire so we can craft an itinerary that reflects your interests—whether it’s exploring world-famous landmarks, savoring local flavors, or stumbling upon tucked-away treasures only locals know. Here are some highlights and hidden gems to spark your curiosity:
Pontocho District
Pontocho Alley—a stunning hidden gem often hailed as Kyoto's most picturesque street. With its car-free, timeless charm, traditional wooden shops, and intimate restaurants, it offers a glimpse into authentic Kyoto.
What‘s Included
Meet your host at your accommodation or a convenient central location (where accessible)
Flexible pacing and route, adjusted as you go
Local insight, recommendations, and cultural context
Pre-experience questionnaire to personalise your day
Private walking experience tailored to your interests
Direct communication with your local host before the experience
Food, drinks or entry fees (chosen together on the day, if desired)
Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
Fixed or guaranteed itinerary
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
2 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 2 hours
Pickup included
4 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included
3 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 3 hours
Pickup included
5 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 5 hours
Pickup included
Reviews
1,549 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
If you want to taste Kyoto-like udon, here!
Daydream13278352085,,Feb 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We just opened in December 2025 in Kawaramachi, Kyoto. Udon noodles yard yard ★ The Japanese modern and fashionable exterior of Kyoto first catches our eye! There are about 7 tables and a counter in the store, and you can watch the udon making from the counter with a live feeling ✨ The udon you get after watching it being made doubles the taste! We had nabe-yaki curry udon and menta kettle ball butter udon. The staff told us that fried shrimp toppings are a good choice for nabeyaki curry udon. I topped it with shrimp ⑅ ◡̈* The shrimp tempura was also plentiful and I was happy with two large ones ♫ Meita Kamatama Butter Udon was also too delicious with an elegant and gentle taste, which is completely different from eating at other restaurants ⭐️ The curry nabe-yaki udon was so classy that I even wanted to drink the entire soup stock, and it had a very Kyoto flavor, which was great! While the texture of the udon is firm, it is also soft, and the more you chew it, the more the taste of wheat spreads in your mouth. Anyway, it was an undisputed udon restaurant! The clerks all served us with nice smiles. We had a luxurious time of udon noodles. Thank you for the meal. We will go again ☺️
Exceptional historian who is very knowledgeable and enthusiatic
Marlene B,,Feb 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Our tour guide Amy was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all of the sites we visited in Kyoto. Be prepared for quite a lot of information on the history of places as well. Amy has so much information to share she is probably better suited to adult groups who can afford to spend the entire day with her. We only did the 1/2 day tour and ran out of time which cost us another $50 US per hour (we also had to pay for the guides transport throughout the day)
Excellent
giocondar786,,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Angel Dominguez at Hilton Cancun all inclusive, was an excellent bartender, very friendly and attentive
Great tour!
642kck,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a great tour and Amy was an amazing guide. I really appreciated her communication leading up to the tour to make sure we saw the things we wanted to. She was very knowledgeable about Japanese history and culture and had great recommendations for restaurants and shops in Kyoto after the tour. She was also very flexible, extending our tour as needed and changing the itinerary based on a traffic jam to Mae thing more efficient. I would definitely book this tour again and highly recommend Amy!
Kyoto half day tour
T478ZLtinan,,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Half day tour of Kyoto, great experience, Shaan was a wonderful tour guide. Very knowledgeable, organised tea ceremony and advised on other experiences for us.
Amy The Rockstar Kyoto Guide!
Rob D,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was our first time in Kyoto. Amy personalized our time together and paid attention to the details! We saw everything we wanted to and more. She also played role of professional photographer. She has a true passion for what she does and was as excited as we were to take in all the sites. She guided us through shops informing us about all the foods, snacks & beverages available. The best way to sum up our time together is this: it was like visiting an old friend who happens to live in Kyoto who took the time to plan a special day to show you why they live there & who makes you want to come back! 5 Stars all the way!!
Wonderful way to see some hidden gems and iconic places in Kyoto!
Kelly L,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great walking tour of Kyoto from Emi. She showed us some hidden gems of the city and gave us the “lay of the land” for more exploring on our own in the afternoon. She was extremely knowledgeable. Had all sorts of fun facts. Was excited to share her city with us. It was a wonderful experience!
Afternoon in Kyoto
jakesB6919XV,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Alex was an amazing tour guide and knows everything about Kyoto and Japan. Super informative and gave us tips and recommendations for the rest of our trip. Took us to the bamboo forest, the temple and shrine. Highly recommend for first time visitors, especially in the beginning of your trip.
Private tour with Amy
Oluwande E,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Thank you Amy for a great tour of Kyoto. I was short on time as I had a flight to catch, but Amy was able to fit a lot into the time we had together including Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-Dera. She was also quite knowledgeable and shared great information about the sites we visited. Thanks again!
Very good private tour!
MexicoCityDeLeon,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Kokoro guide was very good. He speaks very good Spanish and allowed us to know very good places in Kyoto. He also gave us tips to go on our own the next day and they were very good. I highly recommend private tours with this guide.
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