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Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto

Top rated
4.4
Activity provider: Guydeez
Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto
Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto 2
Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto 3
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2-hour tour in Kyoto, including Private Walking tour and Customization of the tour. Run by Guydeez, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Runs 2 hours
  • Private Walking tour
  • Customization of the tour
  • Hotel pickup : Meet up at your accommodation (If located in the city)
  • Walking tour and public transport (Except if you select one of the option)
  • Help from our team to book the tickets for the desired visits

Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto: Key Facts

PriceFrom $151.5 per person
Duration2 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto

2-hour tour in Kyoto, including Private Walking tour and Customization of the tour. Run by Guydeez, booked direct rather...
2 hours
English
$151.5
Free cancellation

Full description

This is a 2-hour experience in Kyoto. It is run by Guydeez, 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 Private Walking tour, Customization of the tour, Hotel pickup : Meet up at your accommodation, Walking tour and public transport and Help from our team to book the tickets for the desired. It does not cover Drink or Food, Tips, Tickets to any attractions and transportation around the city, 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.

Kyoto. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Guydeez 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.

Pickup location

Kyoto

Includes

  • Private Walking tour
  • Customization of the tour
  • Hotel pickup : Meet up at your accommodation (If located in the city)
  • Walking tour and public transport (Except if you select one of the option)
  • Help from our team to book the tickets for the desired visits.

Excludes

  • Drink or Food
  • Tips (Optional)
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Local transportation around the city (it’s a walking tour, car transportation isn’t included)

Important information

Meeting point

Kyoto

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

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $151.5
$151.5
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

4.4/5
based on 249 reviews
Guide
4.6/5
Value for money
4.3/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
N
Nancy
January 23, 2026

We had the very best time with Kenta! Kenta is an excellent guide and made seeing Kyoto a pleasure! We never would have seen what we did without a hassle! Kenta shared so much with us...his knowledge is vast ! I would definitely recommend having Kenta guide you in Kyoto !!!!!

Review photo 1
5
L
Lesley
December 27, 2025

We had an absolutely wonderful day in Kyoto thanks to our fantastic tour guide, Wajid. He guided us expertly through Fushimi Inari Shrine, sharing fascinating insights as we walked through the iconic torii gates. At Sanjusangendo Temple, his explanation of the 1,001 Buddha statues added real depth to the experience. Our visit to Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was perfectly paced and richly informative. Wandering through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Wajid pointed out cultural details, photo spots, and hidden gems. We finished at Maruyama Park, learning about geisha culture and even s

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
R
Russell
November 21, 2025

It was a great all day tour with an excellent guide Flavio. Include both popular spots and local treasures often not seen. A walk along a quiet river, history, sake tour and tasting, temples, shrines, and even pizza made for a wonderful day. We ended with a bowl of ramen highly recommended by a Flavio’s wife!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
A
Abby
June 3, 2026

Milo was an excellent tour guide! He took us on a great walking tour our first day in Kyoto, which allowed us to have a great understanding of the area for the rest of our time there. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and was super helpful, even sent us links, of recommendations of places to go and where to eat. Highly recommend!

5
A
Aurelie
March 10, 2026

Excellent visit of Kyoto with Jerome who adapted the walking tour to what i wanted to see. Very nice and down to Earth guide.

5
N
Neeraj
November 20, 2025

Maria our tour guide was knowledgable about this history of the temples in kyoto. Having lived in japan for over 25 years and as a licensed tour guide she was informative about culture economics and history

5
A
Aina
November 4, 2025

Yuji is a wonderful guide! He takes you everywhere efficiently and knows so much about the history and the best ways to move around Hiroshima and its surroundings. We learned a lot and had such a great time with him. 11/10✨

5
E
Erin
September 2, 2025

Kev did a great job on our tour today! He showed us some less popular spots, taking into account the heat. He also sent us recommendations for food afterwards and dropped us off at an udon restaurant he recommended at the end of the tour!

5
F
Frederic
August 26, 2025

Good discovery of Gion Kyoto with Jerome. He adapted the tour for my kids. Thanks 🧘‍♂️

5
S
Sophie
July 31, 2025

We met Kevin our guide at AG Coffee, a lovely bright friendly cafe in Sakyo for delicious iced coffee! It was HOT in Kyoto! And then the trek up Daimonji before which we were explained the differences between temples and shrines and what that entails by a very knowledgeable but also equally interested Kevin. He was careful to cater the trip to our needs and interests and was able to adapt when occasion called. Back down the mountain we started off on the Philosophers Path and a visit to Gingakukji. Our guide was excellent about knowing when and how much information to share! After a stop at an

5
M
Mary
July 8, 2025

Excellent. Our guide was able to keep my twin boys cool in the hot weather and entertained. Very nice.

5
C
Claire
June 12, 2025

Gef is a really great guide and we thoroughly recommend spending time with him on this tour. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Japan, architecture and the tour that he gave us, also very relaxed and accommodating. It couldn’t have been better so thanks Gef and good luck with all your future endeavours…we are planning how we can get back to Japan again soon!!! Claire and Stan

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Kyoto The collection window is usually a little wider than a fixed minute, because the driver is working a route around several hotels.
The price does not cover drink or food, tips (optional), tickets to any attractions and local transportation around the city (it’s a walking tour, car transportation isn’t included). Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Private days are usually priced per vehicle for up to the stated number of guests, and the price on this page follows the operator's own pricing for each group size. Entrance fees and meals are paid as you go unless the option says all-inclusive; tolls and parking are normally included.
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.
Private Walking tour, Customization of the tour, Hotel pickup : Meet up at your accommodation (If located in the city), Walking tour and public transport (Except if you select one of the option), Help from our team to book the tickets for the desired visits.
The duration of the Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide in Kyoto is typically 2 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$151.5