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Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: JAPANIFY TOURS
Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator
Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator 2
Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator 3
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Tour in Kyoto, taking in Injō-ji Temple (Sembon Emma-dō), Kitano Tenmangū Shrine and Daishōgun Hachi-jinja Shrine. Run by JAPANIFY TOURS, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Injō-ji Temple (Sembon Emma-dō)
  • Kitano Tenmangū Shrine
  • Daishōgun Hachi-jinja Shrine
  • Yokai Street
  • Runs 2.5 hours
  • Walking tour of Kyoto's supernatural sites

Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator: Key Facts

PriceFrom $42 per person
Duration2.5 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 2.5-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Injō-ji Temple (Sembon Emma-dō), Kitano Tenmangū Shrine and Daishōgun Hachi-jinja Shrine. It is run by JAPANIFY TOURS, 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 Walking tour of Kyoto's supernatural sites, Visit the true hidden beautiful cursed North beyond Gion, Learn about the dark history of Kyoto and Special surprise ending. It does not cover Tips, Train fees and Dinner, 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.

Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with JAPANIFY TOURS 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

Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station

Injō-ji Temple (Sembon Emma-dō)

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Walk

Kitano Tenmangū Shrine

Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing

Daishōgun Hachi-jinja Shrine

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Walk

Yokai Street

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour

Funaokayama Park

Picnic, Scenic views on the way

Finish at

EMMACHI STATION

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station

Injō-ji Temple (Sembon Emma-dō): Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Walk

Kitano Tenmangū Shrine: Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing

Daishōgun Hachi-jinja Shrine: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Walk

Yokai Street: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour

Funaokayama Park: Picnic, Scenic views on the way

Finish at: EMMACHI STATION

Includes

  • Walking tour of Kyoto's supernatural sites
  • Visit the true hidden beautiful cursed North beyond Gion
  • Learn about the dark history of Kyoto
  • Special surprise ending

Excludes

  • Tips
  • Train fees
  • Dinner

Important information

Meeting point

Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station

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 2.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $42
$42
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

5/5
based on 9 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
M
Manjima
May 26, 2026

This ended up being our favourite tour in Kyoto. Kalle was a fantastic guide — really knowledgeable about Japanese history, mythology, and all the creepy, mystical stories tied to the places we visited. It felt much more unique than a typical tour, especially with the shrines connected to cursed spirits and the fascinating stories behind them. Finishing the evening with a stunning view over Kyoto made the whole experience even more memorable.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
D
David
March 24, 2026

knowledgeable tour guides for an obscure topic. Going to out of the way areas.

5
T
Traveller
August 31, 2026

the tour guide Kalle was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of stories about the surroundigs, temples and shrines. the tour included a nice view on the city from the hilltop, which was a nice suprise. we would definitely reccomend the tour!

5
L
Linda
March 17, 2026

Bellissima passeggiata in quartieri tipici e lontani dal turismo di massa. Le nostre guide sono state interessanti, molto preparate e con un tocco di umorismo e leggerezza. Consiglio vivamente questa attività m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station
The price does not cover tips, train fees and dinner. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
The listing gives the distance and the terrain; most walking tours are flat and paced for average fitness, and cycling tours use river paths and back streets with e-bikes available on request. Summer in the cities is hot and humid from July to September, so early starts and water matter more than fitness.
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.
Walking tour of Kyoto's supernatural sites, Visit the true hidden beautiful cursed North beyond Gion, Learn about the dark history of Kyoto, Special surprise ending
The duration of the Kyoto Night Walk: Curses, Dark History, Yokai and Secret Views by Local Operator is typically 2.5 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$42