Step into the world of emperors and samurai on this historical journey through Kyoto.
Explore the elegant gardens and grand halls of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, then uncover the secrets of Nijo Castle—home to shoguns, hidden chambers, and the famous “nightingale floors” that sing with every step.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Nijo Castle
- Nijo Castle (Main Entrance/Ticketing Gate) 541 Nijojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8301
Nijo Castle Main Building
Step inside a real shogun residence filled with history, hidden chambers, and famous paintings. Experience the famous nightingale corridors.
Ninomaru Garden
A classic Japanese landscape garden with ponds, islands, and manicured pines—designed to reflect the refined beauty of the Edo period.
Honmaru Garden and Watchtower
A quiet, lesser-known garden tucked within Nijo Castle’s inner circle—climb the watchtower for scenic views of the castle from above.
Seiryu-en Garden
A modern-style Japanese garden used for tea ceremonies and official receptions, combining tradition with elegance.
Kyoto Imperial Palace and National Garden
Once the home of Japan’s emperors, this grand estate features wide courtyards, graceful gates, and beautifully preserved Heian-style architecture.
Ending Point
Kyoto National Garden
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
• Guide Fee
• Entrance Ticket to Nijo Castle
• Transportation cost from Nijo Castle to Imperial Palace
• Hotel Pick Up
Tour Duration: 3 hours
Walking Level: Moderate – please wear comfortable shoes
What to Bring: Water, sun protection, and seasonal clothing
Photography:
• No photos allowed inside Nijo Castle’s main building (Ninomaru Palace)
• Photography is allowed in the gardens and exterior areas
Hi, I’m Jasmine! I am a friendly, multilingual guide based in Kyoto.
My tours are perfect for families with children and easy-paced for elderly guests. I offer warm, personal experiences filled with fun stories, local delights, and hidden gems you won’t find in guidebooks. Let’s explore Kyoto together!
Jessica A.
“Nishiki Market Food Guide + Gion Night Stroll”
Our group of 5 adults & 2 children age 3 & 7 had an incredible tour with Jasmine. We started our private tour walking through Nishiki Market where Jasmine ordered 7 different local tastes for us to try at different stalls along the way. She made it easy by ordering for us, securing a place for us to sit and try each item despite the crowds, and she was knowledgeable about everything we tasted. We loved hearing her explanations about each item. And she even picked up extra treats and candies for the children. Although she had specific places for us to stop, she was also flexible with the interest of everyone in our group as she allowed for us to stop and shop or try other items along the way. She went at our pace while maintaining the structure of the tour. Next she took us to the Gion district and was so informative walking us along the streets past tea houses and giving us a lot of fun and interesting history and facts about Giesha and Meiko. We continued on the visit several local shrines and she made us feel comfortable, walking us through the process of visiting each shrine. My daughter especially loved participating in this as Jasmine guided her through the nuances of each shrine. Jasmine was very kind, patient, fun and informative. We would definitely recommend her to anyone traveling to the Kyoto area.
Cam H.
“Awesome family tour with Jasmine”
Jasmine was such a great guide. She remained flexible to our family of 5 and adapted the program to our wide variety of ages so we could all enjoy the time spent with her visiting the temples and streets of Kyoto. We learned so many things about Japan and Kyoto while having fun.
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Jasmine L.
Thank you for the review, Cam!! I enjoyed giving the Folk family a tour of Kyoto :)
Warren V.
“Simply the Best”
We spent two unforgettable days touring Kyoto with Jasmine, and the experience was nothing short of amazing. From the very start, it was clear she possesses not only a deep knowledge of Kyoto’s history, culture, and hidden gems, but also a rare ability to connect with people in a warm and genuine way. Her English is impeccable, and she communicated every story and cultural insight with clarity, charm, and enthusiasm. Jasmine was always punctual, extremely organized, and effortlessly flexible — adjusting our itinerary as she got to know our interests so that every moment felt personal and thoughtfully planned. She’s also quite a food connoisseur, introducing us to authentic local restaurants and flavors that we would never have discovered on our own. Whether explaining the symbolism behind a temple ritual or guiding us through a tucked-away market, Jasmine’s knowledge, kindness, and passion for Kyoto shone through in everything she did. If you want to truly experience Kyoto — not just visit it — Jasmine is the guide you want by your side. Her professionalism, warmth, and love for her city made our time in Kyoto absolutely unforgettable.
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Jasmine L.
Warren, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words!!! Your message truly means the world to me. Guiding you and Jared through Kyoto was such a joy; both of you were so considerate, patient and kind that it made the experience unforgettable for me too. I’m really touched by how much thought you put into this review and so grateful for the genuine connection we built over those two days. Thank you again for trusting me to show you Kyoto — it was an absolute honor, and I’m already looking forward to the next time our paths cross :)
$166/ per group
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