(Short time) Kyoto Old Town Walking Tour
Joined 2023
This tour is perfect for people who want to make a time-slip into ancient Kyoto! We will visit famous sites of the old town during a short tour AND you also get insights from me - a Japanese local!
If you wish to visit other different sites in Kyoto, please let me know. I'm flexible and we can customize the tour for you!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At Your Hotel (Kyoto)
Ninenzaka Street
Sloping street with historic Japanese-style buildings that typify Kyoto
Sannenzaka Street
Street filled with Kyoto-esque shops & restaurants
Yasaka Pagoda
5-story tall pagoda
Yasaka Koshindo
The most colorful temple in Kyoto
Kiyomizu Temple
One of the signature World Heritage sites in Kyoto with over 1200 years of history
Ending Point
farewell at the last spot (or nearby station)
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
Guide fee
Transportation fee, entrance fee (500 Yen per adult for Kiyomizu Temple)
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 2023
About Tour Guide Yuta I.
Hi everyone! My name is Yuta!
Thanks for checking out my profile.
I've been living in Kyoto for over 4 years, and I love exploring and sharing the city's amazing history and culture with people from all over the world. During university, I spent over a year traveling around Europe, which helped me become fluent in English and German.
I studied at the University of Leipzig in Germany and got great experience through an internship there. My wife is German, so I'm always in an international environment, learning about different cultures.
Besides guiding tours, I'm also a social media influencer with over 10,000 Instagram followers. I love sharing interesting content about Japanese and German life, connecting with people globally, and showing off the beauty of Kyoto.
I offer custom tours for individuals and groups, making sure each experience is unique and special. With my deep knowledge of Kyoto's historical sites and architecture, I'll make your visit to Japan's ancient capital fun and enlightening.
During our tour, I'll share cool historical insights and stories about the places we visit, helping you understand Japan's past and its connection to the present. I'm friendly and attentive, so I'll make sure you have a great time in Japan!
Feel free to message me if you have any questions about your trip to Japan!
Hope to see you soon on one of my tours.
Reviews
Diana B.
“Day Tour in Kyoto”
My husband and I had a great day with Yuta in Kyoto. Yuta was extremely flexible with our itinerary and took us to some less touristy places. It was a great mix of seeing shrines and shopping! I asked him for some suggestions on restaurants and he went above and beyond by making reservations for us! [The places he suggested were delicious btw] Yuta took great pictures and made a cool video that summarized our fun day together.
Yuta I.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I had a fantastic time exploring Kyoto with you both. You were so friendly and open, which made the day even more enjoyable! I’m really glad you liked the hidden temple—it’s one of my favorite secret spots. And the udon restaurant was a great choice! Kyoto has so many amazing places to eat, so I was happy to recommend some. It was a pleasure showing you around, and I hope you visit Japan again someday. Safe travels!
Kelly A.
“Your Guide for Kyoto, Osaka & Nara is Yuta! ”
Yuta was a great guide. He took us to all the big temples and shrines, but best was he took us to smaller, less crowded locations that were absolutely beautiful. He is so knowledgeable and was so great answering all of our questions. Would’ve never been able to navigate the trains and subways without him. He’s fluent in Japanese, English and German. If you want to see the real Japan, Yuta is your guide!
Yuta I.
Thank you so much for your kind review! I had a wonderful time showing you around Kyoto, Nara and I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed both the famous spots and the quieter, hidden gems. I also really enjoyed our conversations! Hearing about your city and your experiences with cruise ships was completely new to me and so interesting. That’s one of the things I love most about these tours—not just sharing Japan with you, but also learning from my guests. It was a pleasure guiding you, and I’m so glad I could help with navigating the trains and subways. I hope you have more amazing travels ahead, and if you ever come back to Japan, I’d love to show you even more! See you again:)
Greg W.
“Osaka with family”
Yuta did a wonderful job showing us around Osaka. He introduced us to fried food on a stick (kushikatso). He was able to get our family of 9 around without issues. Good explanation of Osaka history. We spent 2 days with Yuta and would use him again.
Yuta I.
Hi Greg!! I'm delighted you enjoyed the Osaka tour and your first experience with kushikatsu! Your family was so kind, friendly, and really curious about everything, which made guiding you all a true pleasure.It was my honor to spend two days with such a lovely group. I'd be thrilled to guide you again whenever you're back in Japan!
$200/ per group
More tours by Yuta I.
The best memorable day in Kyoto (7h)
This tour is perfect for people who want to visit some of the most famous sites of Kyoto, and also get insights from a Japanese local! What makes this tour special is that I know how to avoid the crowds and show you secret entrances to famous sightseeing spots! Also, during the tour I can take photos and video of your fun memories and share them later (I have 10,000 followers on Instagram, so I am good at photos and movies). *The secret entrance require taxi, a bit of walking and good weather
Ein unvergesslicher Tag in Kyoto (7h)
Diese Tour ist perfekt für alle, die die berühmtesten Sehenswürdigkeiten Kyotos besichtigen und gleichzeitig Einblicke von einem japanischen Einheimischen bekommen möchten! Wir werden u.a. den Kiyomizu-Tempel und den Fushimi Inari-Schrein, den Schrein der 1000 roten Tore, besichtigen! Anschließend können wir auf dem größten Straßenmarkt Kyotos japanische Spezialitäten und Street-Food kosten! Ich biete auch individuelle Touren an. Bitte lassen Sie mich wissen, was Sie für Wünsche haben!
Fushimi Inari - Secret Hiking Tour (private)
Did you know that the famous Fushimi Inari is not just a shrine? It is build on a holy mountain with thousands of red torii gates spread along the hiking trails! In this tour I want to show you some secret walks, where you have a view of the many beautiful red shrine gates without the tourist crowds while also enjoying the nature. It is an easy 3-hour-hike! This is a private tour. Perfect for solo travelers, family or friends!
Nara highlights with deer (from Kyoto)
Only in Nara, you can get the surreal experience of seeing over 1,000 deer roaming around Japan's ancient capital. There is no doubt that a tour to Nara where I show you the best sights will make good stories to tell your family and friends about your vacation! Also, during the tour I can take photos and videos of your fun memories and share them with you later (I have 10,000 followers on Instagram, so I am good at photos and movies).
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Kyoto
Early Bird Tour Western Kyoto including Bamboo Forest and Kinkakuji Kinkakuji
Shall we explore some of the most popular sightseeing destinations in Kyoto while most tourists are preparing for their tour? I would also like to take you some hidden gemes in Kyoto. Beat the crowds!
One day tour in Kyoto (Arashiyama area)
Tour will start from the Hotel in Kyoto. Frst visit is Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavillion ),then, to Ryoanji tmple where is famous for rock garden. Tour will stop at Arasiyama area to take lunch and visit Togetsu bridge, Bamboo grove, Tentyuji temple and others. The last visit is NIjyo castle. As these places are normally crowded. using chartered taxi is highly recommended in order to effectively use your valuable time in Kyoto.
Premium tour of Kyoto (1) : Arashiyama, Nijo-jo Castle & Kinkakuji temple
Why not enjoy your holidays in Kyoto? You can certainly get in touch with many things Japanese that we are proud of. They are old temples and shrines, cultural assets and the beautiful natural surroundings. You can also enjoy dropping in at souvenir stores and buy exquisitely made products, such as folding fans, porcelain and traditional Japanese cakes. I would like to take you to the following places, which are the three representative tourist destinations in this city: (1) Arashiyama It is the place where all the traditional natural beauties of Japan are combined together. They are Togetsukyo bridge, bamboo grove and the old temples. If you go up to the observation spot, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the gorge below. You can also see rickshaws of the olden times drawn by young people with smiling passengers on board. There are souvenir shops selling variety of goods and products. (2) Nijo-jo Castle (World Cultural Heritage Site) This castle was built in the early 17th century by the Tokugawa Shogunate government for the purpose of protecting the Kyoto Imperial Palace and as the accommodations when Tokugawa Shogun was in Kyoto. It was subsequently enlarged by successive Shogun. It is the castle as well as the palace, where you can see the powerful structures and beautiful gardens. You can learn, in addition, how great the power of Tokugawa Shogun was. (3) Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Pavilion) (World Cultural Heritage Site) The history of this temple began when the third Shogun of the Muromachi period acquired a tract of land in this area from a powerful statesman in 1397 and built a villa of his own to entertain the Emperor and members of the nobility. The upper two levels of the temple are covered with pieces of gold foil and are shining brilliantly against the background of the rich greenery. The pond in the foreground reflects the golden structure. It looks like the materialization of Pure Land of Buddha in this world. In addition, on the top of the golden structure is the shining phoenix.
Kyoto's most popular sightseeing spots tour and enjoy a various kinds of Kyoto's specialities
This tour covers 4 must-see sites and Nishiki Market. You visit the most renowned sites such as the Golden Pavilion, Ryo-an-ji temple where you may find an elegant beauty in its simple rock garden Nijo-castle ,the luxurious palace of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Sanjyu-sangendo temple, where the thousand life-size statues and the Principal statue make you feel like you are in a forest of Buddha! says " It's amazing ! Lastly visit Nishiki Market, where you can enjoy eating Kyoto’s cuisine.
