“Kyoto - so much seen in 7hrs!”
As we are not a fan of organised tours & still quite young at heart (68 & 81), we decided to see Kyoto with a Japanese guide. We chose Yuta & he was extremely efficient in answering any questions prior to our trip. As our cruise ship was docking in Osaka, we were quite apprehensive about navigating the rail system to Kyoto to meet him but Yuta very kindly travelled to Osaka to meet us at the local subway which was a huge relief for us when we saw how many line changes we had to make! Yuta showed us all the sites we had agreed on prior to the trip except one where he recommended an equally beautiful area with far less tourists, which we were grateful for during the busy Cherry Blossom season. Yuta was kind, funny, relaxed, patient & a wonderful guide with excellent knowledge of the history & customs of the Japanese way of life. He was only too happy to answer our many questions. Thank you Yuta - you made a very busy day in Kyoto easy to follow despite long distances & stairs!! All the best for your future.
“Amazing multi day tours in Kyoto area”
My wife and I booked three day long tours with Mana in the Kyoto area for April 2024. She did an amazing job and made a huge difference in the quality of our visit. She met us at in the hotel each day. She was very flexible to adjust what we did as the day went on. We saw many sights we never would have on our own. The difference in navigating through the crowded areas vs the tour groups was fantastic. Mana is a kind, friendly, welcoming, and is enjoyable to be with. Her English is also very good. She has my highest recommendation as a guide, and you will be very pleased you spent a little extra for her personal service over a big tour group.
Matt M.
Kyoto-WH-Golden Pavilion, Rock Garden and more - from Osaka
“Fantastic day around Kyoto with a great guide”
This was my and my wife's 3rd time in Kyoto, and we brought my 81 year old mother this time - it's her first time in Kyoto, first time in Japan, and first time anywhere in Asia. We did a full day tour with Hiroyuki and felt the pace of it was excellent. I learned so much about Kyoto I hadn't picked up on previous trips. He was extremely knowledgeable and informative. For instance, I asked him about the contrast between Buddhism and Shintoism and he delivered a full-blown history lesson with lots of fascinating detail about the history of those two religions in Japan. He's also just a very pleasant and easy gentleman to spend time with. If you're looking for a highly-experienced and pleasant guide, I can't recommend Hiroyuki enough.
Hiroyuki T.
(90 reviews)Thank you very much for your kind message. It was so nice spending time with such nice people like you. You were all very kind, gentle and eager to learn. It is always nice to spend time with people who show a lot of interest and respect to our culture. Please come back to Japan, I will be looking forward to meeting you again. Hiro
With a real local of your choice
Just contact your favorite local
So no group tours with strangers
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.