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Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour in Kyoto

Top rated
4.5
Activity provider: TripGuru Japan
Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour
Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour 2
Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour 3
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3-hour tour in Kyoto, taking in Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka and Kōdaiji Temple. Run by TripGuru Japan, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Sannenzaka
  • Kōdaiji Temple
  • Yasaka Shrine
  • Runs 3 hours
  • English-speaking tour guide

Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $142 per person
Duration3 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 3-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka and Kōdaiji Temple. It is run by TripGuru Japan, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years until 1868 and has 17 UNESCO-listed sites among some 2,000 temples and shrines. The big three are Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and best in morning light; Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden stage on the eastern hills with the Higashiyama lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it; and Fushimi Inari's gates. Nijo Castle has the nightingale floors that squeak against intruders, and Ryoan-ji the rock garden. Temples open around 8:00 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, and the city bus is slow; a day with a driver or a guide who orders the stops against the crowds is the difference between four sights and seven.

The price covers tour guide, Entrance fees and Snacks. It does not cover Hotel pick up and drop off, Meals and other drinks and Personal expenses, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

112 Tatsumichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0855, Japan. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with TripGuru Japan before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Starting location

112 Tatsumichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0855, Japan

Kiyomizu-dera

Guided tour (1 hour)

Sannenzaka

Guided tour (30 minutes)

Kōdaiji Temple

Guided tour (30 minutes)

Yasaka Shrine

Guided tour (30 minutes)

Finish at

Gion-Shijo Station

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: 112 Tatsumichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0855, Japan

Kiyomizu-dera: Guided tour (1 hour)

Sannenzaka: Guided tour (30 minutes)

Kōdaiji Temple: Guided tour (30 minutes)

Yasaka Shrine: Guided tour (30 minutes)

Finish at: Gion-Shijo Station

Includes

  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Entrance fees (Kiyomizudera and Kodaiji Temple)
  • Snacks

Excludes

  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Meals and other drinks
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

112 Tatsumichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0855, Japan

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $142
$142
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.5/5
based on 22 reviews
Guide
4.7/5
Value for money
4.5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
E
Elsa
May 9, 2026

Jasmine is really nice and knows everything you need about Kyoto. I really recommend this tour that covers important shrine and temple, it’s a great introduction of the city.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
K
Kate
October 2, 2025

CC was relaxed, engaging, funny and incredibly knowledgeable. Happy to divert for quick matcha or shopping breaks whilst still ensuring we saw everything. We have done tours in Tokyo, Osaka and this one. CC was by far the best guide that we had and would recommend her to everyone.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
H
Helen
December 31, 2024

I have been able to do a few tours in Japan and have to say the Katz was by far the best guide I have had the pleasure of touring with! He was so much fun, energetic and so knowledgeable and passionate about his city and country! He went out of his wag to answer all of my silly questions and I learned so much from him. He was the cherry on the top of my time in Japan! I highly recommend this tour!

Review photo 1
5
M
Mauro
August 4, 2025

beautiful. The guide Miyake was very good and friendly. He showed us wonderful places and explained the history and curiosities of Kiyomizudera. He showed us places for great photos and also the Gion area with lots of useful tips. Miyake Number one

5
E
Eliza
May 17, 2025

Jasmine was a pure delight. She was energetic, friendly, and quite humorous to add to her knowledge of all of the historical sites that she showed us. Highly recommend!

5
F
Frank
March 30, 2025

Alex was awesome. Very knowledgeable about Japanese culture. Highly recommend.

5
N
N
March 13, 2025

Yuko was our excellent guide; very knowledgeable about the sights we saw. Our tour started promptly and we were able to see the temples, shrines and beautiful gardens. Yuko was also vey helpful in providing us with other information about where to see plum blossoms in bloom, etc. Thank you Yuko!!

5
J
Jon
January 3, 2025

Rafael was a great guide. Customized our tour to sights we wanted to see. Our family was the only ones on the tour! Taught us alot about Japanese culture.

5
C
Clemence
November 11, 2024

Incredible ! The guide is very very knowledgeable. His english is perfect and very friendly. I loved the tour in wonderful Kyoto

5
M
Maria
October 11, 2024

We had a wonderful experience! Mr Miyake Nobumasa is an excellent guide, he took us on a wonderful visit providing us with insights into Japanese culture and religion. The tour was very wisely organized and the group very small. We highly recommend it!

5
R
Rossella
April 1, 2026

Ottimo il giro anche se pesante da sostenere dati i km a piedi e le tante scale. Però ben organizzato e molto bello. Interessante le spiegazioni

5
T
Traveller
March 24, 2026

Tour molto bello , interessante , guida preparata e molto disponibile

Frequently Asked Questions

112 Tatsumichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0855, Japan
The price does not cover hotel pick up and drop off, meals and other drinks and personal expenses. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
English-speaking tour guide, Entrance fees (Kiyomizudera and Kodaiji Temple), Snacks
The duration of the Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour is typically 3 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$142