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Kyoto Alley Walking Tour (Half Day)

Maiko (an apprentice Geisya)

Miyagawacho, one of Geisya quarter

Shirakawa and Gyojyabashi

Kenninji Zen Temple and Cherry blossom

Higashi Honganji Temple

Kyoto Alley Walking Tour (Half Day)

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2022

Kenji O.

5.00 / 5

(15 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

English, Japanese (Native)

3 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Kenji O.)

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

ou 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. Kenninji Zen Temple has a Dragon ceiling picture and a replica of the Wind and Thunder God paper screen that is designated as a national treasure (You can see a real one at the Kyoto National Museum.).

* Notice: The admission of Kenninji Zen temple costs you 800JPY/person.

11:30 AM

Shirakawa River side

You can challenge crossing Gyojyabashi that is a stone-build bridge with 67cm in width and 12m in length.

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

What‘s included

Guide fee, Hotel pick-up

What‘s not included

-Admission (ex. Kenninji Zen Temple costs you 800JPY/adult and 500JPY/7-18yrs old student to enter into the temple.)

-Transportation Fare

-Meal (Lunch)

-Souvenirs

-Beverage

- Your food fee is paid by yourself.

-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.

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

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

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2022

Kenji O.

5.00 / 5

(15 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

Jeff I.

5 / 5

Apr 9, 2026

Golden Temple, Bamboo Forest, Nostalgic Tram Ride Tour