Kyoto

Top 8 must-sees: magical Kyoto

Iconic Sights & Hidden Gems • 8 hours 5.0 (30)

Top 8 must-sees: magical Kyoto

Visit some of Kyoto's top sites in a day, from the Kinkakuji temple and Fushimi Inari gates to the Nishiki market, and a sprinkle of hidden gems

Visit on the 15th, 21st and 25th of the month to catch one of the flea markets and grab amazing bargain kimono, ceramics, handicrafts etc.

What makes this experience special

Key highlights

Get to know the real Kyoto with your host (a city local) and avoid the tourist traps, whilst still seeing the highlights!
See six to eight of the city's most famous attractions in one day - although 3000 temples and 1700 shrines are too many even for us
Discover the main attractions as well as the hidden gems that are tucked away nearby
Eat and drink authentic Japanese food by picking up street food recommended by your host or stopping by at a local eatery
Get tips from your host regarding exciting places to visit during the rest of your stay

What to know before you go

Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.

At a glance What’s included Things to know

8 hours

Fully tailored to your preferences

English Other languages may be requested

What’s included

Private and personalized experience

8 hours with a host

Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)

What’s not included

Food and drink

Tickets to any attractions

Transportation costs

Gratuities (optional)

Meeting point

The host will be waiting you at Matsumoto Kiyoshi Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

How your day could unfold

A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you most

What you’ll do

See six to eight sights that put Kyoto on any traveler’s bucket list, like the wood-built streets of Higashiyama and the city’s nearby geisha district, Gion, where you’ll find lantern-lit izakaya and street entertainment. Explore ancient architecture – from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to hilltop Kiyomizu-dera – and see those less-frequented, like Yasaka Pagoda and its secret upstairs viewpoint.

For a history lesson in central Kyoto, head to Fushimi and Nishijin – the old sake brewing and weaving districts – and visit the centuries-old Nishiki Market for the best street food. You’ll experience Kyoto’s popular pastimes with your host–from watching the Kamo River sunset to taking a 30-minute train ride north to the Kurama onsen, Japan’s natural hot springs.

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories

Tess_Liu_Kyoto_BR-1226201893

Tom_Vo_Kyoto_BR-1207290083

Kokoro_Ogasawa_Kyoto_BR-1234498219

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1219619623

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_CU-108407

Hanako_Kitajama_Kyoto_BR-1228661413

Cecilia_Elias_Kyoto_BR-1233364693

Cecilia_Elias_Kyoto_QTH123190

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1223077989

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_CU-107840

Kyoto_Noda_Kyoto_BR-1231082227

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_BR-1214150401

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_BR-1228451089

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_GYGLMVQZ7V7R

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_BR-1230176743

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_BR-1231013077

Eiko_Yamauchi_Kyoto_BR-1196118487

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1218947573

Jose_David_Vargas_Kyoto_BR-1228671511

Taiga_Utsumi_Kyoto_BR-1192254231

Alvin_Noviansyah_Kyoto_BR-1227976247

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1214179807

Kokoro_Ogasawara_Kyoto_YTW134751

Alexis_Sandes_Kyoto_BR-1226624629

Hanako_Kitajima_Kyoto_BR-1204603517

Tom_Vo_Kyoto_BR-1169344217

Eiko_Yamauchi_Kyoto_BR-1149801357

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_CU-105912

Tom_Vo_Kyoto_BR-1212135599

Hanako_Kitajima_Kyoto_BR-1212474221

Hanako_Kitajima_Kyoto_BR-1219979769

Tom_Vo_Kyoto_CU-106477

Kenya_Iwane_Kyoto_EVP647394

Kenya_Iwane_Kyoto_BR-1222047437

Ryokui_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1204814673

Tom_Vo_Kyoto_BR-1199392341

Hanako_Kitajima_Kyoto_CNZ573505

Emi_Horita_Kyoto_GYG48ZK2BVM5

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1220490899

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1215785079

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1203482663

Kiyoto_Noda_Kyoto_BR-1218458695

Alexis_Sandes_Kyoto_BR-1217401377

Jose_David_Vargas_Kyoto_CU-102290

Jose_David_Vargas_Kyoto_BR-1208869677

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_YAP237444

Jose_David_Kyoto_BR-1214451623

Toshio_Uenishi_Kyoto_RFP833558

Jose_David_Kyoto_BR-1214108785

Alvin_Noviansyah_Kyoto_KNY389579

Michael_Chodrow_Kyoto_BR-1215027007

Ryuki_Inoue_Kyoto_BR-1215657985

Rhea_Sarah_Kyoto_BR-1202882661

Annisa_Arsyad_Kyoto_BR-1213533187

17,500+ 5-Star Reviews and Counting

Trusted and recommended by travelers worldwide, including 99% on Google and TripAdvisor.

recommended by 99% of travelers on google

recommended by 99% of travelers on tripadvisor

We don’t make deals with businesses - giving you unbiased and authentic local experiences.

What travelers think of this experience

Bryce, Mar 2025

We had a wonderful experience exploring Kyoto with Austin! He was very knowledgeable and friendly and planned the perfect itinerary for a full day with our teenage boys. Highly impressed!

Alison, Mar 2025

Highly recommend booking with Alex Oberti, it was like being shown around Kyoto by a friend. He was so knowledgeable about the history and the best eats around town.

Alison, Mar 2025

A tour with Alex Oberti is like having a friend show you around his home town. He was so knowledgeable about the rich history of numerous spots, so kind and generous with his time (he told us to text him if we need any further recommendations while we are in town). We had a couple of sceptics in our group on whether a tour was a worthwhile investment but Alex added so much value, kept everyone engaged and gave “the navigators” of our group a day off.

Marianne, Jan 2025

Toga is fantastic! A day with him as our guide made us fall in love with Kyoto. He is very knowledgeable about the sites, thoughful in planning and kind in manner. He even provided recommendations for our following days in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Marianne, Jan 2025

Toga was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable about the sites, very thoughtful in his planning and very kind in manner.

Michael, Jan 2025

Kenta was an insightful and knowledgeable tour guide. He designed the itinerary around our Kyoto ‘must sees’ and provided advice on what are really the key things to do. He also took us to a great restaurant which we would never have found on our own plus made sure we were able to do the things that we really wanted to do like also buy a set of great Japanese knives.

SEE ALL REVIEWS