Kyoto Private Tours

Jackie A.

5 / 5

May 27, 2025

Half-Day Highlights Tour of Kyoto

May 27, 2025

Kyoto

4 hours

“Learn the real scoop!”

Maria led us on a tour of 4 temples and street food. We learned about spirtual practices, history and the food. she was great.

Maricel E.

(10 reviews)

Thank you so much for your excellent review, I am glad and honored to be your guide. Keep healthy and happy, regards to all the ladies. Girl power!

“Fantastic Guide!!!”

We had an absolutely wonderful day with Yoshie! He gave us a great lesson in history, he had our itinerary planned to perfection with a great lunch stop and over the top dinner suggestion. Yoshie knew all the hidden gems and our entire family loved him!!! Highly recommend!

Yoshihisa T.

(243 reviews)

Hi Lori. I really appreciate your nice review for my tour today. It was a great time guiding and talking with your family. I am also pleased to learn that you enjoyed the lunch and dinner a lot. I hope you will continue a pleasant trip and return home safely with lots of good memories of Japan. Ichigo Ichie. With best wishes. Yoshie

“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”

To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.