Experience an afternoon and evening packed with highlights on a guided tour of Kyoto by day and night. See the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, taste amazing street food and encounter geishas along the way.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 8 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Small group: Limited to 8 participants

Highlights

Taste some of the best traditional street food of Kyoto
Marvel at the many red torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine
Explore the famous geisha district of Gion and learn where the geishas live and work
Visit the arcade strip of Teramachi and see merchants selling Manga comics and more
Go to a typical stand-up bar in the Nishiki food market

Full description

See the temples, shrines and gardens of Kyoto and learn about the city's 1,200-year history and geisha traditions. Start at the 13th-century Tofukuji Temple and learn about the inspiration for its garden. Walk to the Fushimi Inari Shrine to see the red torii gates spread across the mountain. Head to the geisha district of Gion as the sun sets and stroll past traditional teahouses from the 17th century. Soak up the atmosphere of the historic quarter and get some free time to explore on your own. Then, experience Kyoto at night in a group. Wander the lantern-lit wooden streets to the Yasaka Shrine, brought to life with its bright lights. Sample typical dishes at the street food stalls selling everything from frozen bananas to skewered squid. Cross the Kamo River to get a view of the restaurant district before entering the historic entertainment district of Pontocho. Continue to the arcade strip of Teramachi and see merchants selling Manga comics, high-quality sushi knives and more. End at a typical tachinomiya (stand-up) bar in the Nishiki food market.

Includes

Local, English-speaking guide
Snacks and 1 drink during the evening portion of the tour
Entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
Public transportation fees during the tour

Additional food and drinks
Souvenirs and personal shopping
Tips for your guide

Not suitable for

Vegans
People under 20 years
People with mobility impairments

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

Meet in front of Central Post Office (Chu-o yu-bin-kyo-ku), less than 1-minute walk from the north side of Kyoto Station. Please meet in front of the door with the vending machine and traditional red mail box.

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Important information

Know before you go

Please wear comfortable and modest attire as you will visit temples and shrines
People under 20 years old are not permitted to join this tour
This tour can be customized to accommodate vegetarians. However, the tour cannot cater to vegans or gluten-free travelers. You are welcome to bring your own food or snacks
This is a small group tour of no more than 12 people
Effective September 1, 2021, travelers aged 18+ must produce proof of COVID-19 vaccination on Intrepid Urban Adventures tours. Children aged 6-17 must present a negative COVID-19 test, proof of recovery, or proof of vaccination. View full policy at urbanadventures.com/vaccine.

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.2 /5

based on 6 reviews

Review summary

Guide
5/5
Transportation
5/5
Value for money
4.4/5
Safety
5/5

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My partner and I really enjoyed this experience, the guide was personal and provided an experience we were interested in. If he didn't know the answer to a question he would research it and get back to us. Overall we found it lovely to learn about Kyoto and have someone take control for 8 hours (no more maps or wondering where to go next). For these reasons I would recommend the tour even if you've been to Kyoto before.

March 20, 2020

actually 2 tours, so some double

After the first tour in the afternoon, the second part followed after a short break, but this started for about 1 hour with the same content as the first tour ended, same places, same explanations, a shame. Apart from that, the tour was very interesting and in the evening we also saw geishas.

April 6, 2018

No guide

Something must have gone wrong but no guide showed up. I contacted the company and they were prompt in responding and offering a full refund. This is why I gave it two stars not one I hope the refund will come through.

December 14, 2017

Kyoto Culture and Food Tour by Day and Night

Kyoto Culture and Food Tour by Day and Night

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actually 2 tours, so some double

No guide