Guided tour

Kyoto: Gion Geisha District Walking Tour

4.6  / 5601 reviews
Activity provider:Localized Walking & Food Tours
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Guided tour
Kyoto: Gion Geisha District Walking Tour
Activity provider:Localized Walking & Food Tours
4.6  / 5601 reviews

Discover Kyoto's geisha culture on a guided walking tour after dark. Explore the city's old geisha district with a local guide and learn about this captivating culture.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Duration 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Itinerary

  • getyourguide-logo-icon.svg

    Starting location:

    Ben's Cookies Kyoto Shijo

  • Ben's Cookies Kyoto Shijo

    Guided tour (10 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Pontocho Alley

    Visit, Guided tour (15 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni

    Visit, Guided tour (15 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Gion

    Guided tour (30 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Yasaka Shrine

    Visit, Guided tour (25 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Gion Corner

    Visit, Guided tour (10 minutes)

  • main-stop-icon.svg

    Hanamikoji Street

    Visit, Guided tour (15 minutes)

  • Finish at:

    Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni

Main stop
Other stop

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Get a glimpse into the world of Kyoto's geisha culture on a nighttime tour
  • Explore the old geisha districts of Gion and Pontocho with a local guide
  • Wander along narrow alleyways and see the districts come to life at night
  • Encounter geisha and maiko en route to appointments as you explore
  • Gain deeper insight into this fascinating world and its thriving traditions

Full description

Meet your guide in a central location and set out on your nighttime tour of Gion and Pontocho, the city's famous geisha entertainment districts. Step back in time as you stroll through narrow alleyways and along streets lined with old wooden teahouses built in the classic Japanese style. Wander down Pontocho Alley, a popular street lined with traditional Japanese eateries and elite clubs before crossing the river and stopping at the statue of Izumo-no-Okuni to learn about the woman who invented the art of kabuki. Then, continue your tour as you explore Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Discover the famous Yasaka Shrine and take a walk along Hanamikoji, keeping an eye out for geishas as they make their way to their appointments. Feel free to ask your guide any questions you may have as you walk and leave your tour with a deeper appreciation for the art of geisha as you discover more about their history and training.

Includes

  • Walking tour
  • Local guide
  • Tips

Not suitable for

  • Children under 15 years

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet your guide in front of the Ben's Cookies Kyoto Shijo shop. Your guide will be holding a sign board.

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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 601 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    4.5/5

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N
Nigel – United KingdomSeptember 5, 2024  – Verified booking
Niki was a great guide - she gave an informative and interesting tour - taking us around 2 of the geisha districts - and she had great knowledge pf the history of japan . She was enthusiastic and was great at answering all our questions - would definitely recommend
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Digmaly – United StatesSeptember 4, 2024  – Verified booking
Yesterday (09/03/24) my husband and I had the pleasure of exploring the Gion district with Nikki as our guide, and I can't say enough about how incredible the experience was. From the moment the tour began, Nikki's deep knowledge and passion for the area truly shone through. She brought the history of Geiko/Maiko culture of Gion to life, sharing fascinating stories and insights that we would have never discovered on our own. Nikki was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly engaging and approachable, making sure everyone in the group felt included and informed. Thank you, Nikki, for an unforgettable tour. Your expertise and warm personality made our visit to Gion a highlight of our trip. We couldn't have asked for a better guide! Love, from Puerto Rico ♥️
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P
Priscila – United StatesSeptember 2, 2024  – Verified booking
Our tour guide Yuki was very knowledgeable and you could tell he was excited to do the tour. It was very informative and we got through walk through some areas and learn about old Kyoto’s history. We also saw a glimpse of a Geisha which was so cool.
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Product ID: 563565

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