GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
  • Tours
  • Art, Culture, & Historical

Kyoto Alley Walking Tour (Half Day)

Art, Culture, & Historical
Kyoto Tour Guide - Kenji O.

Joined 2022

Kenji O.
5.00 / 5
(9 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Kyoto
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!English, Japanese (Native)
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!3 hours 30 min
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Private tour (only you and Kenji O.)
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Up to 5 people

Kyoto served as a capital city where the Emperor resided between 798 and 1868. The ancient capital city has been designated as a UNESCO cultural heritage. This walking tour gives you a fun time to experience strolling in the backstreets where few tourists visit. You can walk in the famous Geisya quarter including Miyagawacho and Gion, Keninji Zen Temple and Shirakawa riverside.You have a fun walking in the alley in Kyoto. You can encounter Geiko (Geisya) or Maiko if you are lucky.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

Your hotel or JR Kyoto station

09:00 AM

Meet at your Hotel

Condition: Tour time would be changed, depending on where you stay and what time you want.

10:00 AM

Higashi Hongannji Temple

Higashi Honganji, or “Eastern Temple of the First Vow” is one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Pure Land Buddhism, the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan.

11:00 AM

Geisya quarter and Kenninji Zen Temple

You can encounter Geino and Maiko if you are lucky.

Kenninji Zen temple is famous for the tea culture foundation. The founder priest, Eisai brought back tea philosophy from China. You can see green tea leave hedge in the precinct.

11:30 AM

Shirakawa River side with Kyoto sweets

You can challenge crossing Gyojyabashi that is a stone-build bridge with 67cm in width and 12m in length. You can enjoy traditional Kyoto sweets at the riverside.

12:00 PM

Your hotel or Local dissolution

The tour guide will take you back to your hotel by the public transportation, or arrange a taxi to your hotel.

Ending Point

Your hotel or Local dissolution

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
What‘s included

Guide fee, Hotel pick-up


GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
What‘s not included

- Transportation

- Your food fee is paid by yourself.

Tour Important Information

Please wear sneakers or jogging shoes.

Please bring rain clothes or umbrella in case of rain.

The tour guide will change the itineraries to accommodate the tour without prior notice, considering the location of the guest accommodation.

This tour would be cancelled in case of harsh weather like heavy rain/snow/storm.

Important message from the supplier

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

I can introduce you interesting spots including temples, shrines and yummy places including local foods though it is not fancy. Please note the following conditions;

-Mass transit fares, admission fees and meal fees must be self-pay.

-Please pay the guide its mass transit fares (2000JPY) by cash on the tour day.

-Let me know if you have any food allergies beforehand.

-Let me know if you have any food you cannot eat for your religious and dietary reasons beforehand.

-My tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

and

-My tour schedule will accomodate you to start earlier at 7:30AM for your convenience if you want to avoid crowds.

Cancellation Policy

  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Kyoto Tour Guide - Kenji O.

Joined 2022

Kenji O.
5.00 / 5
(9 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Kenji O.

I lived in Seattle, WA US for several years to study public policy and urban planning at University of Washington and Washington State Department of Transportation . The US life has awakened me to realize its beauty and value of the Japanese nature and culture. After coming back from US, I have started my professional career of the infrastructure development in both developed and developing countries as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert for more than 20 years. I have provided hospitality and honesty as a Japanese during my professional career.


I can give you not only sightseeing tours but also technical tours with my expertise.

I live in Osaka where an ancient capital city, Kyoto is located within a hour by train. I can show you how Japanese has developed the capital city with urban planning and infrastructure development. I look forward to seeing you here in Japan.

Reviews

L

Leslie S.

5 / 5
Oct 2, 2024

Kyoto Alley Walking Tour (Half Day)

Kyoto
3 hours 30 min

First Day in Kyoto

Kenji was an excellent guide for us as first-time visitors to Kyoto. He designed an interesting itinerary while accommodating the physical limitations of our party. He helped orientate us to the Gion area and we had a chance to enjoy delicious pastries and Matcha tea in between visits to shrines and temples. We really appreciated Kenji's wide range of knowledge, which made for a memorable experience.

Leslie S.

Leslie and Mark, Thank you for having me with you. Please visit Kyoto again. I will definitely take you to other districts in Kyoto. Thanks, Kenji

Kenji is the best! A wonderful experience in Kyoto.

I had a brilliant day in Kyoto with Kenji. His communication prior to the tour was excellent and he came up with the perfect itinerary based on what I’d already seen the previous day. Clearly knows Kyoto as a local and is knowledgeable and passionate about the sights. We visiting many wonderful shrines, temples and gardens and his commentary was perfect - enough information but plenty of quiet ‘zen’ time to take it all in. Kenji was even accommodating in welcoming friend who arrived unexpectedly halfway through the tour. Lunch was AMAZING. A locally run restaurant with the most delicious wagyu beef, all sourced locally. Probably one of the best meals I had in Japan. Kenji is a Kyoto treasure! I’d recommend unreservedly as a private or group guide to both Kyoto and Osaka (where he lives) visitors. Thank you Kenji!!

Jo J.

Jo san, Thank you for your wonderful message. I look forward to your next visit in Kyoto. I am going to guide you hidden gems of deep Kyoto. See you soon. Kenji

T

Tyler M.

5 / 5
May 25, 2024

Tyler's Kyoto One-day Excursion

Kyoto
10 hours

Customized

Knowledgeable, organized, and professional

Kenji from start to finish was excellent. He worked with our itinerary, helped to pick lunch, and also the most optimal transportation. Would highly recommend Kenji as a tour guide for the Kyoto area.

Tyler M.

Tyler, Thank you for your message. I hope we see you each other either in Colorado, US or in Japan sometime. Kenji

Want to Personalize?Send a Message

$129/ per group

Reserve

More tours by Kenji O.

Golden Temple, Bamboo Forest, Nostalgic Tram Ride Tourcover image

Golden Temple, Bamboo Forest, Nostalgic Tram Ride Tour

Kyoto
6 hours 30 min

Keifuku Tram is beloved as "Randen" by Kyoto local. You can enjoy the nostalgic tram ride that takes you the Bamboo forest path in the precinct of Tenryuji temple. This tour takes you to Ryoanji temple that is famous for its rock garden and the Golden temple (Kinkakuji). This tour also includes strolling in the Geisya district of Kamishichiken.

FROM$162/ per group
Philosopher's Path Walking Tour; Silver Temple~Nanzenjicover image

Philosopher's Path Walking Tour; Silver Temple~Nanzenji

Kyoto
5 hours

This tour invites you to walk along one of the most beautiful walkways in Kyoto. You visit several temples along the walkway, Silver Temple (Ginkakuji), Hounenin Temple, and Nanzenji Temple (Headquarter of Rinzai Zen Sect).

FROM$162/ per group
Himeji Castle Day Trip by Shinkansen from Osakacover image

Himeji Castle Day Trip by Shinkansen from Osaka

Osaka
6 hours

You can experience a time travel to the feudal period to encounter Samurai, Japanese warriors. Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely recognized as Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds.The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s. The castle complex as it survives today was completed in 1609.

FROM$162/ per group
Great Buddha (Daibutsu)-Nara One-day Tripcover image

Great Buddha (Daibutsu)-Nara One-day Trip

Osaka
7 hours 30 min

The Great Buddha has been enshrined in Nara, a former capital city, since 752. Its size is 15m in height. You can imagine how people built such a great statue 1300 years ago. You can enjoy the infinite philosophy of Buddhisim in the ancient city of Nara.

FROM$162/ per group

Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Kyoto

Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyotocover image

Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto

Kyoto
8 hours

There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. Also, Kyoto is getting very crowded due to a lot of foreigners visiting there. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference. I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with Wabi Sabi such as those in Sagano and the oldest Japanese sweet shop in Murasakino.

FROM$259/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Nori I.
Nori I.
5.00 / 5
(36 reviews)
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forestcover image

Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest

Kyoto
8 hours

There are a lot of Buddhism temples and Shinto Shrines in Kyoto. This tour focuses on three UNESCO World Heritage temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for a lot of red Torii gates and Bamboo Forest in Arashiyma to feel the profundity of Kyoto. If you are interested in the places which are not listed here, like Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Gion, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangen-do, Kiyomizu-dera and others, just let me know, I will customize a tour for you.

FROM$291/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Hiroyuki T.
Hiroyuki T.
4.97 / 5
(144 reviews)
半天周游京都宇治地区(平等院凤凰堂、黄檗山万福寺)cover image

半天周游京都宇治地区(平等院凤凰堂、黄檗山万福寺)

Kyoto
4 hours 30 min

从您们的宾馆,坐京阪电车。 1首先访问平等院凤凰堂(在宇治车站下车) 走着斜看宇治川过约7,8分钟,到平等院凤凰堂。(世界文化遗产) 2然后再坐京阪电车到黄檗山万福寺(在黄檗车站下车) 走着去约5分钟到黄檗山万福寺,是日本最早的禅宗寺院(中国由来的 )

FROM$53/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - 裕治
裕治
4.71 / 5
(14 reviews)
Private tour Fushimi Inari,  Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market Start form Kyoto or Osakacover image

Private tour Fushimi Inari, Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market Start form Kyoto or Osaka

Kyoto
6 hours

Kyoto is the ancient and modern blend seamlessly. Join me on a private tour to explore two of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks: Fushini Inari, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion and Nijo Castle, culminating in a vibrant exploration of Nishiki Market. Enriching journey through Kyoto's past and present, where each moment promises a new discovery.

FROM$252/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Akari Y.
Akari Y.