The Kamo River, running through the heart of Kyoto, is a picturesque and tranquil waterway renowned for its scenic beauty and historical significance. The riverbanks are lined with cherry blossom trees, making it a popular spot for hanami (flower viewing) in the spring. Walking along the Kamo River, you can enjoy stunning views of traditional Japanese houses, modern cafes, and the beautiful blend of nature and urban life. It's an ideal place to relax, take a leisurely stroll, and immerse yourself in Kyoto's serene atmosphere.
Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses, teahouses, and vibrant atmosphere. Walking through the narrow streets, you'll feel as though you've stepped back in time, surrounded by the elegance of old Japan. The area is bustling with visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of a geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) as they make their way to evening engagements.
Hanamikoji Street is a historic and enchanting street located in the heart of Gion, Kyoto's famed geisha district. This picturesque street is lined with beautifully preserved traditional wooden machiya houses, many of which now serve as high-end restaurants, teahouses, and ochaya (geisha teahouses). As you stroll along Hanamikoji Street, you'll experience the timeless charm of old Kyoto, with a chance to see geisha and maiko gracefully making their way to evening appointments.
Yasui Konpiragu Shrine, located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, is a unique and revered Shinto shrine known for its power to sever bad relationships and bring good ones. The shrine is famous for its large "Enkiri-Enmusubi" stone, where visitors write their wishes on paper amulets and crawl through a hole in the stone to pray for breaking off bad relationships or binding good ones. The shrine's serene and spiritual atmosphere, combined with its distinctive rituals, offers a fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture and beliefs. It's a must-visit spot for those seeking to improve their personal connections and find spiritual solace.
Hokanji Temple, commonly known as Yasaka Pagoda, is an iconic five-story pagoda located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. This historic temple dates back to the 6th century and is one of Kyoto's most recognizable landmarks. The elegant pagoda rises gracefully above the traditional streets of the area, providing a stunning backdrop for photos and a glimpse into the architectural beauty of ancient Japan. Visitors can explore the temple grounds and, occasionally, enter the pagoda to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding city. Hokanji Temple is a must-see for anyone looking to experience the timeless charm and spiritual heritage of Kyoto.
Ninenzaka is a charming and historic pedestrian street in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, known for its traditional atmosphere and well-preserved wooden buildings. This gently sloping path is lined with quaint shops, teahouses, and restaurants, offering a variety of local crafts, souvenirs, and delicious Kyoto cuisine. Strolling along Ninenzaka, visitors can enjoy the nostalgic feel of old Kyoto, with stone-paved paths and beautifully restored machiya houses. The street leads up to Kiyomizu Temple, making it a popular route for those exploring the cultural and historical treasures of the area. Ninenzaka is an essential part of any visit to Kyoto, capturing the essence of the city's timeless beauty.
Nene no Michi, named after Nene, the beloved wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is a serene and picturesque stone-paved path in Kyoto's Higashiyama district. This charming street connects Kodaiji Temple to Maruyama Park and is surrounded by traditional wooden houses, lush gardens, and historic landmarks. Walking along Nene no Michi, visitors can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and stunning views of Kyoto's classic architecture and natural beauty. The path is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season and autumn, when the trees lining the street create a breathtaking canopy of colors. Nene no Michi offers a tranquil and culturally rich experience, perfect for those seeking to immerse themselves in the timeless elegance of Kyoto.
Yasaka Shrine, also known as Gion Shrine, is one of Kyoto's most famous and historically significant Shinto shrines. Located in the Gion district, this ancient shrine dates back to 656 AD and serves as the spiritual heart of the vibrant Gion area. Yasaka Shrine is renowned for its grand annual festival, Gion Matsuri, which is one of Japan's most famous and largest festivals, attracting visitors from all over the world. The shrine's beautiful grounds feature a striking main gate, elegant lanterns, and tranquil gardens, providing a serene setting for worship and reflection. Visitors can enjoy the blend of traditional architecture and natural beauty while exploring the rich cultural heritage that Yasaka Shrine embodies.
I had absolutely wonderful introduction to Gion. The late evening was the perfect timing, making the experience even more special. Many thanks to my lovely tour guide, Sara.
Good guide, friendly and young. The part near the Kamo river and Yasuka shrine are good. Best not to come to the tour already tired from other tours or with knee pain or if you have already been in Gion.
Mayumi is a. amazing cuide and very friendly and pacient! We love the tour!
Mayumi is a wonderful tour guide. My husband and I learned so much about Kyoto. I would highly recommend Mayumi and this company!
The tour was wonderful, got to see the shrines in Kyoto after sunset with almost no crowds! My guide was great and super informational about the different shrines, geishas, and sake! Would definitely recommend if you want to learn more about Kyoto from a local.
It was a great experience! Our guide Shumpei was very friendly and knowledgable, it adds so much compared to walking around on your own. Thank you! We learned a lot about the area, saw geishas and were invited by a nice family to make a wish and attack it to a bamboo tree.
Friendly and informative, simply a great experience for everyone. We had a wonderful time with Shumpei, who was super kind and nice. Highly recommend!
Fun experience seeing Kyoto in the evening. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable.
A nice guide but very young and not well informed for any of my questions. He knew about facts that were on his flip board pictures but not much else. I was the only one and lots of quiet awkward time. Only think about Sake is that he offered me a small sample bottle to keep but nothing else about Sake. He didn't know why the Geisha's didn't have the white face makeup was not on the back of their neck.
Kathy was wonderful. We could not have asked for a better guide than her. Her knowledge of the city of Kyoto and the area we toured was amazing. A true gem. My only regret is that we couldnโt keep her for the rest of our trip. She was the Best!!!! Request Kathy, you wonโt be disappointed. โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Fun experience! Had great and interesting conversations with the tour guide. Very insightful and fun! A great way to spend an evening to explore the Gion area.
Fantastic tour, very cool picture spots and the sake was very good!
Great guide with the owner, and insightful tour!
Our tour guide Han went above and beyond, and we learned so much!
Great experience, get to see the town at night. Although would not recommend doing it with young kids or if youโre not a big walker. Itโs a bit of a hike.
We had an excellent waking tour in the Gion district with Kathy. We learned about the different areas, the history and where the locals hang on the river. We were taken to a few nice places to get photos. It was great experience, all while getting to taste some saki along the way. The group got along well, even in the sprinkling rain. Kathy made sure everyone had the photos they wanted and helped to make sure all questions were answered. I'd highly recommend the tour with Kathy
Rina was an excellent guide. Very informative and friendly. It was such a delight learning about Kyoto and she was also very interested to learn about us ๐ค
Kathy was super sweet and awesome ! She took our picture, answered all of our questions and gave a really great tour ! Lots of fun :)
Friendly guide and knowledgeable. Good English skills.
Beautiful tour through the streets. Loved seeing the Geisha and all the beautiful temples and Shrines. Definitely a must when visiting Kyoto
Lovely walking tour. Def recommend the 5.30pm slot if you are trying to spot a geisha.
This was our first night in Kyoto and it was a beautiful evening. Our guide was very polite and took us to the Gion district and multiple temples and shrines. We learned a few interesting things but would have liked to learn more. Like all guided walking tours the guide can really make the difference in a spectacular evening versus just an average evening. Unfortunately, our evening was somewhat lacking. Our guide lacked animation and really didnโt share many details beyond the planned stops where details were a bit light. My advice would be to use the walking time to share other aspects of history of Kyoto the neighborhoods, building attributes, places to eat and drink etc. That will keep the crowd interested and deliver even more value. I also think that the guides who speak with confidence, a clearly audible volume, and a bit of humor will capture their audiences attention and make this tour a full 5 stars.
Myumi wqs a wonderful guide who took us to beautiful places, gave us great information and answered any questions we had happily, with passion and detail. An absolute pleasure.
Kotaro was very kind and nice to tour with. He taught us about the history of the Gion area and answered many questions about Japanese culture for us.
Yuka was super knowledgeable, helpful and friendly and took us to some beautiful spots. She gave us the breakdown and history of the region which was very interesting.
Yuka was a great guide. She was informative and friendly. Helped in taking pictures and gave us great recommendations for restaurants as well.
Yuka was really friendly,helpful and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the trip and would highly recommend.
Yuka was a great guide, knowledgeable and friendly. It was a very nice experience!
We did the tour in the evening when it was already dark and we could enjoy all the lights. Our guide Yuka was a great, we learned a lot about the Gion area and visited the oldest Pagoda of Japan. The complementary Sake made the time fly!
Incredible experience all due to Kotaro being the best tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and personable. It was very intimate and Iโd recommend 100/100 especially with Kotaro.
Kotaro was an incredible guide. We learned so much and saw beautiful sites. Kotaro answered all of our questions and had great insights into the history of the city and culture. Favorite part of our trip so far!
Wonderful experience! Our guides came prepared and on time. We each got a cup of sake and some snacks then started our journey. They were very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. The pace we maintained I thought was very appropiate. Would definitely recommend!
A lot of fun! They were very knowledgeable, friendly and open to all our questions. The treats and sake were a nice touch.
Staff was knowledgeable about the area and historical customs. Rina was professional, but friendly and happy to answer questions.
We loved this tour! Rina was our tour guide and she was amazing!! So sweet and told us all the amazing things about the area! Highly recommend doing this! We did the evening tour which was so nice cause the crowds were gone!
We learned some interesting things about shrines and temples. Rina is a very sympatic guide.
Kotaro is amazing and very interactive with good english. Thank you for amazing time and fun details about kyoto!
Highly recommend this tour!!
Had a wonderful time on the evening walk! Our guide Yuka was very knowledgeable in all our topics and she was also very friendly. This tour is great introduction to Kyoto and a lovely way to spend an evening. I will recommend this tour to anyone who is in Kyoto, especially if Yuka is the guide!
I was lucky to get Rina as my guide. She explained about the area and the geishas . She showed me things I would have not noticed and was more than happy to take photos. She was happy to shatlre more about life in Japan and university. Thank you so much!
This was a great expirenece walking around Gion with Rina. She was cery knowledgable and shared also about life in Japn.
Ktr and Yuka were wonderful guides and were very helpful and informative. We had a great experience and would highly recommend this tour.
Lovely walk and perfect to get the overview of Gion. Thoughtfully selected sake included as well as some Japanese snacks, so cute. Our Japanese guide Maytsumo was really lovely and gave us really valuable and interesting information. Would really recommend this as a start of your Kyoto trip!
This neighborhood is gorgeous at night, and the provided sake and snacks add to the charm. You're not going to get a whole lot of information, though - I was hoping for more explanations/history/anecdotes/fun facts, and mostly just got a repeat of the information in the booking description.
KTR it was a very sweet and knowledgeable guide. He took great care of us and in the evening engaging.
Ryoma was awesome. Gave such a great tour around Gion.
This tour gives tourists a feel for the residential streets of Kyoto. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot about Japanese beliefs, lifestyle, and religion. It was a wonderful experience!
Fabulous walk around Gion. Our host was lovely. Very informative and knowledgeable..
Rina and Ryoma were fantastic. Had such a wonderful time strolling through Gion in the evening without the crowds.
Fun adventure through Poncho with OTA Guided. Went to an excellent Izakaya restaurant, Yakutori restaurant, and bar. Fun, personable and entertaining guide.
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