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[Matubara street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto

Kyoto Private Tour - Matsubara bridge used to be Gojou bridge because Matsubara street used to be Gojou street. There was a very famous story of fighting on tihs bridge between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei who had big influence to end aristocatic period Heian.

Matsubara bridge used to be Gojou bridge because Matsubara street used to be Gojou street. There was a very famous story of fighting on tihs bridge between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei who had big influence to end aristocatic period Heian.

Matsubara street is east-west street in old capital Kyoto. This picture shows the location.

Kyoto Private Tour - Matsubara street used to be very busy street, but now It is not. There are lots of traditional shop, but they are closing and are rebuilt into houses like hotel inn.

Matsubara street used to be very busy street, but now It is not. There are lots of traditional shop, but they are closing and are rebuilt into houses like hotel inn.

Kyoto Private Tour - "Tetsurin no Ido" shrine is famous for breaking off bad relationship with a man or woman. It is located in front of a person's house (or inside of the premise). So this shrine is one of the most difficult shrine to find.

"Tetsurin no Ido" shrine is famous for breaking off bad relationship with a man or woman. It is located in front of a person's house (or inside of the premise). So this shrine is one of the most difficult shrine to find.

Kyoto Private Tour - If you buy some tea leaves, you can chat with tea master(?). This picture shows small tea corner in a tea leaf shop when the tea shop master offered tea.

If you buy some tea leaves, you can chat with tea master(?). This picture shows small tea corner in a tea leaf shop when the tea shop master offered tea.

Kyoto Private Tour - Urushi is a Japanese lacquer which is used for not only dishes but also boxs, cups, and other craftworks (Lacquerware). You can make your own lacquerware (There is a starters-kit).
In this picture two dishes in right side are before coating urushi, and two dishes in left side are after coating urushi.

Urushi is a Japanese lacquer which is used for not only dishes but also boxs, cups, and other craftworks (Lacquerware). You can make your own lacquerware (There is a starters-kit). In this picture two dishes in right side are before coating urushi, and two dishes in left side are after coating urushi.

Kyoto Private Tour - Anyway this street has a lot of shops. From left-upper picture, japanese pickles shop, cooked Eel shop, Buddhist altar shop, tea utensils shop, Kimono shop, japanese candy shop, japanese roof tile shop, japanese candle shop, japanese folding fan shop, silk yarn shop, japanese folding fan shop, Buddhist altar fittings shop, material shop for japanesae silding door, japanese antique shop, japanese sweets shop.

Anyway this street has a lot of shops. From left-upper picture, japanese pickles shop, cooked Eel shop, Buddhist altar shop, tea utensils shop, Kimono shop, japanese candy shop, japanese roof tile shop, japanese candle shop, japanese folding fan shop, silk yarn shop, japanese folding fan shop, Buddhist altar fittings shop, material shop for japanesae silding door, japanese antique shop, japanese sweets shop.

[Matubara street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto

Off the Beaten Path

Joined 2018

Yoshiharu K.

4.70 / 5

(63 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

Japanese (Native), English

5 hours

Private tour (only you and Yoshiharu K.)

Up to 4 people

There are many old streets in old capital Kyoto area. I design a walking tour set of 31 streets.You can see the true Kyoto in this tour which is not in current tourism. It is like Kyoto of 30 years ago.In some streets, You could see traditional dying shops for Yuzen which is a traditional dyeing method of Kyoto.You can visit some of the shops and I will interpret between the shop owner and you.

Itinerary

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

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

At the lobby in your Hotel (in Kyoto city)

9:00 We start from Gojou station or your hotel. Then we go over Matsubara bridge to the West.

12:00 We have lunch at the restraunt along Matsubara street.

14:00 We gat our distination, Tanbaguchi station (JR) or Saiin station(Hankyu railway)

Ending Point

Tanbaguchi station (JR) or Saiin station(Hankyu railway)

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, Guide's transportation fee between guide's house and Kyoto, hotel pick-up in Kyoto city

What‘s not included

lunch, dinner, entrance fee(If we visit. There is no place where enterane fee is needed as far as I know) ,

Public transportation fee for you and guide during the tour(less than 1000yen for each),

Hotel pick-up in Osaka city(optional).

Tour Important Information

In this tour, you can drop into your favorite shops. And the guide gives you basic explanations and interprets between you and shop clerks.

You will walk long(the street length is around 4.7km from Gojou station to Tanbaguchi station).

So you have to wear suitable shoes for walking.

The tour hours are fixed, so even if we are in the middle of course, we finish the tour.

If we leave hours, we can go a neighbor street.

Important message from the supplier

I can guide you from Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara if you pay the pick up fee.

Please ask the fee.

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 2018

Yoshiharu K.

4.70 / 5

(63 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yoshiharu K.

Hi! I'm Yoshiharu. Please call me Yoshi. Yoshi means "good" in Japanese! I'm a good man (^^);;;.

I was born in Kyoto but I lived there 3 months. Then my family moved to Osaka and I grew up in Osaka.

So I am almost Osakan.

When I was young, my hobby was traveling by bicycle. I went cycling around most part of Japan except Shikoku.

In my family rule, Shikoku is in bad direction because my grand father died just after his Shikoku pilgrimage.

So I want to have a cycling tour not only in Kyoto (coming soon!) but also all part of Japan someday.

I am interested in Japanese history.

I am a National Certificated Guide. And I have "Kyoto Tourism Culture Certification 3rd grade", "Osaka Expert Certification 3rd grade", "Nara Concierge 2nd grade" and "Karuizawa Web test 3rd grade".

So I have expert knowledge about Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Karuizawa and common knowledge about Kobe.

Besides I like gadgets, so I can guide you DenDen town in Osaka.

When you have a chance to visit Kyoto or Osaka or other city in this area,

please contact me anytime and join my tour!

I'll be looking forward to seeing you, spending wonderful time with you.

Reviews

Nag M.

5 / 5

Jun 24, 2025

Kyoto highlights (Kyoto departure)

Jun 24, 2025

Kyoto

9 hours

“From Pandas to Planets – A Perfect Day with Sami”

We can’t say enough good things about our guide, Sami — he was simply amazing! It was our last day in Tokyo, and we were feeling a bit tired and unsure about how to make the most of it. Sami stepped in and completely transformed the day. He customized the itinerary on the fly, making sure every member of our family had something to enjoy — and somehow managed to fit in all the highlights of Tokyo! - He got us last-minute tickets to teamLab Planets right on time. - Took our son to Bouldering at B-Pump, which he absolutely loved. - Brought us to the zoo to see the pandas. - Helped us find one of the best vegan restaurants we’ve ever been to. - Took us to Ueno, which we hadn’t seen yet — so glad we did! - Took us shopping in Akihabara — what a cool spot for souvenirs and tech finds! - And even made sure we got back to the hotel smoothly. Along the way, Sami shared so much about the culture and history — like how Kyoto means “capital” and Tokyo means “eastern capital.” It was like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend. Truly a perfect ending to our trip — thank you, Sami!

Rob J.

5 / 5

May 26, 2025

Penetralia Arashiyama and Sagano (Kyoto departure)

May 26, 2025

Kyoto

7 hours

“Highly recommended!!”

We had a wonderful day out with Yoshiharu, and highly recommend him as a tour guide!! He was friendly, efficient, and a pleasure to be with, as he took us out to Kyoto's Bamboo Forest and the temples around Sagano. This was the best day we've had in Japan so far, by far. Some beautiful things to see, a great lunch out and great company, in Yoshi. Thank you. Rob & Kim

Yoshiharu K.

Dear Rob Thank you for your evaluation. It was good day for walking, warm and dry day before rain season. And there were not many tourists including high school students in the area. So we could enjoy the quit walking there. I was wondering the restaurant would be full but it was not. We had a lot of luck. But I was afraid you would feel aching of your feet because we had walked too long. Anyway thank you very much. Yours sincerely, Yoshi

Christine D.

5 / 5

May 12, 2025

Nara Highlights from Kyoto or Osaka

May 12, 2025

Nara

10 hours

“Excellent nara experience with Yoshi”

Very knowledgeable and personable. We all 4 enjoyed this tour. Highly recommend.

Yoshiharu K.

Dear Christine Thank you for your evaluation. It was comfortable day which helped us to have a good traveling. I hope you will have good traveling to Hiroshima and Kyoto. Yours sincerely, Yoshi