GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
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GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
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Kyoto Private Tours

Book a Private Kyoto Tour with a Local Tour Guide

Kyoto Highlights Tours

Premium tour of Kyoto (1) : Arashiyama, Nijo-jo Castle & Kinkakuji templecover image

Premium tour of Kyoto (1) : Arashiyama, Nijo-jo Castle & Kinkakuji temple

Kyoto
8 hours

Why not enjoy your holidays in Kyoto? You can certainly get in touch with many things Japanese that we are proud of. They are old temples and shrines, cultural assets and the beautiful natural surroundings. You can also enjoy dropping in at souvenir stores and buy exquisitely made products, such as folding fans, porcelain and traditional Japanese cakes. I would like to take you to the following places, which are the three representative tourist destinations in this city: (1) Arashiyama It is the place where all the traditional natural beauties of Japan are combined together. They are Togetsukyo bridge, bamboo grove and the old temples. If you go up to the observation spot, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the gorge below. You can also see rickshaws of the olden times drawn by young people with smiling passengers on board. There are souvenir shops selling variety of goods and products. (2) Nijo-jo Castle (World Cultural Heritage Site) This castle was built in the early 17th century by the Tokugawa Shogunate government for the purpose of protecting the Kyoto Imperial Palace and as the accommodations when Tokugawa Shogun was in Kyoto. It was subsequently enlarged by successive Shogun. It is the castle as well as the palace, where you can see the powerful structures and beautiful gardens. You can learn, in addition, how great the power of Tokugawa Shogun was. (3) Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Pavilion) (World Cultural Heritage Site) The history of this temple began when the third Shogun of the Muromachi period acquired a tract of land in this area from a powerful statesman in 1397 and built a villa of his own to entertain the Emperor and members of the nobility. The upper two levels of the temple are covered with pieces of gold foil and are shining brilliantly against the background of the rich greenery. The pond in the foreground reflects the golden structure. It looks like the materialization of Pure Land of Buddha in this world. In addition, on the top of the golden structure is the shining phoenix.

FROM$206/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Tatsuhiro N.
Tatsuhiro N.
4.55 / 5
(60 reviews)

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Kyoto Tour Reviews

Amazing guide

Speaks good English, know the town well with many uncrowned space. Great photographer

Kyoto Special

Hi Toshiyo, Thank you so much for helping us during our tour in Kyoto. We're very grateful for the patience and for being accommodating on our request. The tour was once in a lifetime experience for all of us. Cristopher Z.

Must see Spots in Kyoto and Nara in a day

From the start, Tomoe is professional and attentive to detail. She ensured that the itinerary was interesting for me , and expressed online and in person her willingness to adapt the itinerary based upon my interest. I personally found the set itinerary of Nara and Kyoto is well thought through as there was no way I could have learnt so much of Nara in such an enjoyable way, and in such a short time! Tomoe is a wealth of information about Nara past and present. Nara is definitely not only about deer and Todaji Temple. I loved the unexpected pit stops of the local mochi shop and the udon lunch spot in Nara Park. Tomoe timed both venues well to ensure we weren't stuck in long line ups as both venues are very popular. Tomoe even offered to guide me through the Botanical Garden that was close by but not part of the itinerary . Very serene and calming. Ending the day in Kyoto by walking through the beautiful tori gates in Fushimi Shrine was a great way to end the tour. Thank you Tomoe for an enjoyable day! PS. Tomoe is also a terrific photographer !

A. W.

Tomoe S.

Dear Angela, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! I had a really good time with you, the person who are energetic, hardworking, and like to make plans for the travels, like me. We enjoyed 'girls talk' all day long, right? Travels give us new energy, and precious encounter! I wish I could have spent more time together. I hope that you will come back to Japan and I can see you again. Thank you very much for booking me as your guide. PS. Thank you very much for the compliment for my photographs. I got my ability to take good photos from my late father who was an amateur photographer. TOMOE

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Private Tours in Kyoto

Unlock the mysteries of Kyoto with a local tour guide! From temples in Gion to lush gardens in Arashiyama, discovering Kyoto’s global appeal is one click away.

Ready to cool off from the day’s heat and high activity? Book a tour to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a mesmerizing forest of towering bamboo stalks. While a popular destination, private tour guides can lead you off the beaten path to explore lesser-known trails and rest stops, allowing you and your travel team to escape the crowds and rest in the peaceful ambiance of the grove.

Beyond the visual appeal, your Kyoto tour guide can share stories about the significance of bamboo in Japanese culture overall, and help you gain appreciation for Arashiyama's natural beauty in a more intimate way.