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Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama: The Historic Streets of Kyoto
Steps of stone, temple bells, and the calm of old Kyoto.
This part of Higashiyama is one of the best-preserved areas in Kyoto, with stone streets, old wooden buildings, and small shops still running as they have for years. As we walk through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, you’ll pass Yasaka Pagoda and some of the most well-known views in the city, before reaching Kiyomizu-dera, where its large wooden stage looks out over Kyoto.
4 Hour Private Tour 1 - 6 People ¥30,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Kiyomizu-dera — Sannenzaka — Ninenzaka — Yasaka Pagoda — Ishibe Koji Alley — Nene no Michi — Kodai-ji (Bamboo Grove)
Plus additional points of interest
Gion & Heian Jingu: Kyoto’s Living Culture
Heian's Torii to Chion-in Sanmon Gate: Quiet Kyoto Paths
This tour takes in Heian Jingu, where the area opens up with one of Japan’s largest torii gates and spacious grounds based on the old Imperial Palace design, along with ever-changing seasonal gardens. It also includes Furukawacho Shotengai, a local shopping street that shows the everyday character of the neighborhood. The quieter grounds of Shoren-in and its small bamboo grove offer a contrast to the more crowded and well-known Arashiyama bamboo forest, along with Chion-in and its massive Sanmon gate, one of Kyoto’s grand temple entrances. The route also covers Yasaka Jinja, the anchor shrine of Gion, and the seasonal setting of Maruyama Park.
Recommended in Spring
6 Hour Private Tour 1 - 6 People ¥35,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Yasaka Jinja — Maruyama Koen — Chion-in Temple — Shoren-in Temple & Bamboo Grove — Furukawacho Shotengai — Heian Jingu & Garden
Plus additional points of interest
Fushimi Inari & Sanjusangendo: Torii Gates & 1,001 Golden Buddhas
Vermilion Torii Paths & Silent Golden Halls
Fushimi Inari is known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, while Tofuku-ji offers a quieter contrast with its Zen temple grounds, especially known for their autumn colors. Sanjusangendo has its own atmosphere, with its long wooden hall, the longest wooden building in the world, lined with 1,001 life-sized golden statues, each with subtle differences if you take the time to look closely. Together, these places show a different side of Kyoto, balancing the energy of Inari with calmer temple spaces nearby.
Recommended in Autumn
6 Hour Private Tour 1 - 6 People ¥35,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Fushimi Inari - Tofukuji Temple & Hojo Gardens - Sanjusangendo
Plus additional points of interest
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Tenryu-ji: Kyoto’s Historic Retreat
Bamboo Grove Paths & Quiet Hillside Temples
Arashiyama is known for its bamboo grove and the historic gardens of Tenryu-ji, set against the western hills of Kyoto. Jojakko-ji sits further up the hillside, with a small pagoda and quieter views looking back over the area below. This part of the city has long been associated with retreat, once drawing Kyoto’s aristocracy during the Heian period. It also works well as a base for exploring more of the Sagano area, including places like Saga-Torimoto, Adashino Nenbutsuji, or the Romantic Railway.
Recommended Year-Round
4 Hour Private Tour 1 - 6 People ¥30,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Tenryu-ji UNESCO Garden — Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — Jojakko-ji Temple & Pagoda
Plus additional points of interest
Gion & Pontocho: The Paths of Geisha & The Hanamchi
Quiet Machiya Townhouse & Hidden Worlds
We explore Gion and Pontocho, two of Kyoto’s best-known geisha districts, but there are still quieter backstreets where the old machiya townhouses and everyday life come through. Along the Kamo and Shirakawa rivers, narrow lanes run past these buildings where life still carries on much as it has for centuries. The walk also gives you a better sense of how to move through these areas beyond the main streets, so you can return later and explore them on your own when the atmosphere shifts in the evening.
4 Hour Private Tour 1 - 6 People ¥30,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Pontocho — Takase Riverside — Shirakawa Lane
Plus additional points of interestest
*Also available as an early evening tour
Nanzen-ji & Eikan-do: Autumn Temples & Hilltop Views
Fiery Colors & Secluded Waterfall Shrines
Northern Higashiyama's hillside temples offer a quieter alternative to Kyoto's crowded landmarks. Nanzen-ji, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples, features the monumental Sanmon gate and a small waterfall shrine tucked behind the main hall. Eikan-do's sculpted gardens include the "sleeping dragon" corridor and Amida Buddha glancing backward. Kuro-dani (Konkai Komyo-ji) provides hilltop pagoda views over the bustle below. Shinnyo-do's two distinct Zen gardens contrast with Ryoan-ji's more famous rock garden, offering uncrowded calm.
Especially Recommended in Autumn
4 Hour Private Tour 1 – 6 People ¥30,000 Per Group
Highlights:
Nanzen-ji — Eikan-do — Kuro-dani (Konkai Komyo-ji) — Shinnyo-do
Plus additional points of interest
Private Kyoto Bicycle Tour: Tailored for the Season
Cycle Through Kyoto’s Imperial Heart
Exploring Kyoto on two wheels brings you a different view of the city that many travelers never see. We ride through quiet side streets for glimpses of everyday life away from the main tourist areas, passing through riverside lanes that change with the seasons and stopping at local temples or shrines along the way. As this is a private route, you set the pace—stopping to explore whenever you like or following your guide to specific local spots. The course isn't set in stone; it adapts to the season and the day's conditions to ensure you see the best of the city’s imperial heart.
*Advance Booking Required (Minimum 2 Weeks)
4 – 5 Hour Private Tour 1 – 6 People | ¥30,000 Per Group
(+¥2,000 PAX Bike Rental)
Custom Kyoto Private Walking Tours: Tailored Just For You
A personal six-hour route through ancient and historic Kyoto, custom made for you.
We work with you to shape your ideal Kyoto walking tour, whether that’s ancient temples, quiet gardens, or local neighborhoods. The route is planned so you stay immersed, without wasting time moving around the city. Share what you want to see, and we’ll build a seamless six-hour private walk that makes the most of your time.
6 Hour Custom Private Tours 1 - 6 People | ¥40,000 Per Group