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
5 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 5 hours
Pickup included
4 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included
2 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 2 hours
Pickup included
3 hour walking tour of Kyoto
Duration: 3 hours
Pickup included
Reviews
1,536 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We packed as much as we...
Murray B,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We packed as much as we could into our 4 hours with Amy our guide . She came to our hotel to meet us and Explained all our Japanese history and the different cultures and ways of the life here in Kyoto. If you get Amy you will be in good hands and she is always keen and ready to take pictures as we moved around temples and shrines . Wear your best and most comfortable shoes and Kyoto is not as well connected so often a good walk is necessary. Amy took us to the best shops to try out local delicious foods and sweets and macho tea and saka . We left the tour with hundreds of photos of a great day .
Kyoto in a day!
CLAUDIA M,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Shaan was our personal guide in Kyoto. She is highly knowledgeable of Kyoto and answered all our questions on how you live as a local plus the historical perspective. Having limited time in Kyoto it was well worth spending it with a professional. Her English is excellent and my husband and I really appreciated the accommodations to the schedule that suited us.
A wonderful tour off the beaten path
293carie,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were paired with Kenta, who did an amazing job of tailoring the tour to exactly what we wanted to see! We kept it open ended and asked him to take us off the beaten path -- especially after just visiting Tokyo, we wanted a quieter tour. Kenta totally delivered! The temples we visited had almost no crowds, and he took us on a path alongside a tranquil creek for much of the tour. Kenta also just had SO MUCH knowledge about so many things! I mentioned offhand my (little) knowledge of the various Japanese writing systems, and he dived into a quick history of each one. We definitely will book this tour again the next time we're in Japan!
Incredible and fascinating 3 hour Kyoto history tour which we will never forget
OnAir30922644020,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Milo made such a difference to our stay in Kyoto. We booked a 3 hour tour which was perfect for us and he brought us to Nene no Michi Maruyama park Chion in temple gate (pure land sect) Heian shrine gate Nanzenji temple Philosophers path The silver temple He is so knowledgeable and passionate about Kyoto’s fascinating history. He also connected so well with my two sons who are 23 years and 21 years old. After the tour, he sent us numerous recommendations for the rest of our Japan holidays. For sure, we will come back to Kyoto and book Milo again!
Kyoto walking tour with excellent local guide
norbertoc701,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our walking tour of Kyoto was wonderful and very informative. Our local guide (Amy Sato) was very knowledgeable about the local landmarks and Japanese culture and traditions. Along the tour Amy also knew all the interesting spots and made frequent stops at interesting food shops or hidden city treasures that we would have never found on our own. Our time went fast and we wish we had more days to explore the rest of Kyoto with Amy. Highly recommend this tour!
One of our best memories
yanzhu2005,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband, my 10 years old and I had a great experience in Kyoto. Mia was our private tour guide. She is very kind and very accommodating to our interests. She approached us before our trip and tried to understand our needs. My boy is not very much interested in temples but as a family, we would still like to explore this iconic city. Mia tailored our trip to see the most famous shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha and Gion district for local dining and shopping. The blend of culture and food was perfect for our family. She kept the explanations and conversation interesting. My boy was engaged all the time. For many places in the world, you can travel with online assistance, like ChatGPT. But for sophisticated places like Kyoto, it was a best decision we made to hire a local guide. Mia was exactly who we needed.
Amy guided us through...
susan s,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amy guided us through Kyoto explaining history and cultural while riding public transportation. She prepared us for the sites we were to visit during the tour. Provided an understanding of Japanese history and culture. Also gave us recommendations on other important sites to visit and where to experience food and markets.
Kenta Suzuki: outstanding
Sumit C,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Detailed tour at Fushiyama Inari and Arishiyama bamboo Grove was covered. Kenta's detailed knowledge and excellent English expressions (he lived in San Francisco for many years) were highlights. Also, he planned the tour so nicely that we, as seniors didn't have any issue to walk the close to 20k steps. He never rushed us through and made sure we were at the place we wanted to be at the end of the 4 hour tour.
Great Tour
Hannah H,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Alex was great! We learned a lot about the culture and history of various cities. We also learned about specific shrine rituals.
We had a great day with...
Kerry B,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great day with Afifa. She was very warm and welcoming. She contacted us long before our arrival to set up a convenient meeting place and to learn about our interests for the day. We left most of the itinerary up to her and we were very happy with all the spots she highlighted during the day. She was very knowledgeable about the area and made our experience in Kyoto very enjoyable. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to tour and experience Kyoto.
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