Best Kyoto Night Tours

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Local guide showing tourists around the city on a night tour of Kyoto

Top Kyoto night tours and other experiences

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

The best Kyoto night tours & experiences with locals

There’s nowhere in the world quite as mystical as Kyoto after dark. As the sun sets over the Kamo River, turning its water a thousand shades of orange, Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district, Gion, wakes up. Lanterns light up cobbled streets and wooden buildings are cast in a golden glow, signaling the start of the night. Japan doesn’t get much more vibrant or atmospheric than night tours in Kyoto, when previously quiet streets packed with restaurants, vibey local haunts, and tucked-away shrines become crowded. With so much to see, you don’t want to get caught in a tourist trap – let night tours in Kyoto with City Unscripted show you where locals spend their free time.

Meet some of our Kyoto local hosts

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Couple of tourists enjoying the views of Kyoto after sunset

Choose your own adventure

Night tours in Kyoto with City Unscripted can go many different ways – it all depends on your interests, your travel style, and your mood. We know that every traveler’s idea of the ultimate night out is a little different, which is why all our Kyoto night tours are 100% personalized to suit your pace. Sit back and relax, because we’ll do all the work of planning the perfect experience for you. Whether you prefer a high-energy party scene or low-key leisure, with a local guide to reveal all the hotspots and hidden gems of the Kyoto nightlife scene, the best of the city is yours to discover.

Local guide showing a tourist the fresh foods of Nishiki Market on a night tour of Kyoto

Not your average night tours

Though tranquil by day, Kyoto transforms into a hub of nightlife when the sun sets. What the city lacks in dancing-till-dawn nightclubs, it makes up for with 24-hour karaoke bars, amazing traditional theater performances, incredible street food, and swanky restaurants and bars keeping the wealthy amused. The city after sunset is a hive of activity – but with a local guide to lead your private night tour in Kyoto, you’ll bypass the tourist traps and instead be swept up in a tide of locals making their way to their favorite hole-in-the-wall izakayas, dimly lit bars, and 100-yen sushi restaurants.

A Geisha posing in front of a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto at night

Discover centuries-ago Japan

You don’t need to go too far to experience the full spectrum of Kyoto nightlife – in fact, you’ll find it all in Gion. At night, this living snapshot of the Japan of yesteryear is the most magical place on earth. On our night tours in Kyoto, keep your eyes peeled for one of Gion’s most incredible sights: elegant geisha that look like they’ve floated from the pages of a fairytale. Whether you spy them at the traditional Japanese theater, putting on streetside performances, or simply strolling to their next engagement, the glimpse of a geisha makes a night in Kyoto especially unforgettable.

Kyoto travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, the best things to do at night and lots of travel tips in Kyoto and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

Guia super educado e prestativo. Entrou em contato no dia anterior e como estávamos em Tokyo, foi nos buscar na estação de trem de kyoto. Super recomendo!! Super polite and helpful guide. He got in touch the day before and as we were in Tokyo, he picked us up at the Kyoto train station. I highly recommend it!!

May 2024

Gustavo S
Bita is lovely. She will get in touch early to ensure best program is scheduled but also be flexible if you have any particular requirements. Our visit was smooth and we tried to stay « off the beaten path » as much as possible. Thanks Bita!

May 2024

Gregory B
Ryoanji Zen temple and the surrounds areas. Kenta was fantastic and we planned a great 5 hours. I also enjoyed the local transport, bus and tram. Lunch at the Nishiki Market plus walking through the market l came across the Japan Blue jeans l wanted to purchase. Highly recommended you have a basic idea of where you want to go and let Kenta do the rest.

May 2024

Wayne M
Eva was our guide and we really enjoyed her. She reached out and asked us for our interests and input as she developed our personalized itinerary. She did some research on specific items we were looking for and took us to those shops. She put together the itinerary and made sure it met all of our needs. She was great and so helpful when the Kyoto station was evacuated for a suspicious package, she stayed with our group and guided us to get around that station to return back to Osaka. We were unfamiliar with the trains and a bit stressed but she kept us calm and took screen shots so we could navigate our way back.

May 2024

Susan D