Category Tour Reviews

Kyoto · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours & Experiences in Kyoto

570 reviewed

Every tour on this site, one page, best first. Below are the 15 bookings that rise above the rest in Kyoto right now: what each costs, how long it runs, and why it earns its place, with the full catalogue underneath if none of them fits your days.

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour - Kiyomizu-dera First: Panoramas, Climbing, and Temple Views

1.PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13,518 reviews · from $129Our pick

A guided 1-day Kyoto highlights bus tour with Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo, and Kinkaku-ji, plus included admissions.

“Very intensive tour, but you get to see many highlights in 1 day, in every location we had quite short time, I recommend to take notes and come back on a different day if you see a place you like, our guide Hiroko was very nice and had great sence of humor, she taught us useful Japanese words, sadly the explanations about the places we visited were not very clear to me, maybe because my seat was in the back of the bus, because of a confusion regarding when the lunch time ends (I didn't pay for the lunch so got separated from the group) I missed seeing the places…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour - Kiyomizudera: Panoramic Views and a Temple with a Date Attached

2.Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,316 reviews · 510 minutes - 9 hours · from $122

Big Kyoto classics in one day: Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangendo, Arashiyama, Tenryuji, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari with a live guide.

“Our tour guide Den started and ended with the brightest smile. She gave us so much insight on the history of the temples and shrines we visited. I highly recommend this tour and hopefully you will get to experience the brightness that Den brought to our day!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto: Tea Ceremony in a Traditional Tea House in Kiyomizu

Kyoto: Tea Ceremony in a Traditional Tea House in Kiyomizu - The tea house garden by Ogawa Jihei VII: why the setting matters

Kyoto Geisha Walking Tour: Gion District & Hidden Gems

Kyoto Geisha Walking Tour: Gion District & Hidden Gems - Gion’s Streets, Teahouses, and Lantern-Time Atmosphere

Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia

Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia - From Minamiza Theatre to Hanamikoji: the night walk’s first cue

6.Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,393 reviews · 1h 40m · from $24

A small-group walk through Gion at night with geisha trivia, shrine stops, and photo help. 100 minutes, $24 per person.

“Really fun tour - our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We were lucky enough to see a Geisha during our tour. It was a great way to see the highlights of the area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto: 45-Minute Tea Ceremony Lesson Experience

Kyoto: 45-Minute Tea Ceremony Lesson Experience - Your English-Speaking Tea Master From Urasenke

7.45-Minute Tea Ceremony Lesson Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,378 reviews · 45 min · from $22

45-minute Kyoto tea ceremony lesson with an English-speaking Urasenke master: make matcha, learn etiquette and flavor rules, enjoy sweets, optional kimono.

“A true authentic tea ceremony which revealed many details about the ceremony, its origin and background. It was facilitated by a tea master which was a lot of fun and a great experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto: Gion Geisha District Walking Tour – Stories of Geisha

Kyoto: Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - Stories of Geisha - Ben’s Cookies Kyoto Shijo: starting where it’s easy to find

8.Gion Geisha District Walking Tour – Stories of Geisha

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,187 reviews · 2 hours · from $20Best value

Walk Gion and Pontocho at night on a guided 2-hour tour, with stops like Yasaka Shrine, Izumo-no-Okuni, and Hanamikoji.

“Yuki guided this tour and has so much knowledge and passion that I was impressed. I now know and respect more the geikoand meiko's of Kyoto. Thank you Yuki for making this such a memorable experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Best of Kyoto: Gion, Geisha, Pagodas & Cobblestones

Best of Kyoto: Gion, Geisha, Pagodas & Cobblestones - Where You Start: Two Meeting Options and How Not to Get Left Behind

9.Best of Kyoto: Gion, Geisha, Pagodas & Cobblestones

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,058 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Night walk in Kyoto’s Gion and Higashiyama with Yasaka Shrine, Ninenzaka, pagoda photos, and respectful geisha culture for $24.

“Loved every minute of this tour , we struck lucky and got a wonderful tour guide by the name of Janiel. She was informative , witty and most entertaining and the two plus hours flew by . We learned so much about the shrines temples and geikos of the Gion district . I would recommend this tour to everybody and hopefully you will be lucky as we were to have Janiel as your guide .”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket - Price and Value: Why This $27 Pass Can Work

10.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 2,034 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $27

Kyoto at your pace with an open-top hop-on hop-off bus, 7-language audio, and stops at top temples and UNESCO sites from $27.

“It's really excellent for visitors who goes for short stay. Senior visitor faciloties must improve by adding a ramp and more seats on lower deck.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Night Walk in Gion: Kyoto’s Geisha District

Night Walk in Gion: Kyoto's Geisha District - Why 100 Minutes on Foot Feels Right at Night

Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in Kyoto

Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in Kyoto - Meeting Up at Kajiichō: How to Get There and What Happens First

12.Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,937 reviews · from $131

Make ramen noodles from scratch at Ramen Factory Kyoto, customize broth and toppings, then eat your homemade lunch included.

“This class was so fun and informative! Mahiro was really knowledgeable and engaging and taught us how to make an awesome ramen bowl! This will absolutely be a highlight of our trip!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour

Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour - NORU Kyoto Bike Tours: timing, place, and how the day runs

13.Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,843 reviews · from $116

Small-group Hidden Kyoto e-biking with foldable e-bikes, helmet, and an English guide visiting Kinkakuji and quiet Zen back streets.

“Our guide Yuta (pronounced Utah) was amazing. First off his English was the best of any Japanese guide we’ve experienced. Most interestingly, he went to a depth in explaining Japanese culture and tradition that we were not expecting; from historic facts and figures, to explaining the details of the tea ceremony, to educating us on cultural dos and don’ts, to a most interesting smattering of Zen Buddhist teachings, Yuta really took a simple bike tour to a whole new and unexpected level. I highly recommend this tour with Yuta!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings) - Price and What You Get for $163.49

Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour (Private Option Available)

Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour (Private Option Available) - Fushimi Inari-Taisha: the hidden trail hike up the mountain

15.Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour (Private Option Available)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,750 reviews · from $63

A small-group Kyoto hike that leads you to Fushimi Inari from quieter trails, through bamboo and side shrines, ending with big views.

“Thank you Usuke! Super fun tour guide and was great with everyone including the family that came along. Great shortcut up to a non-busy area of the hike. Make. Make sure you're prepared, it's a bit of a moderate hike!”

Check availability →Read our full review