Best Kyoto Night Tours

Tailoring each experience 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

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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

Tess

Kyoto

Culture lover sharing Kyoto’s traditions, tea, and the city’s most amazing spots!

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

Toga was an excellent guide! We arrived 30 minutes late due to our cab driver having trouble with the address and Toga was very understanding- and extended our tour to the full 4 hours. We learned so much about the temples we visited, about the religion, about life in Japan, and about any other topic we were interested in. Toga was very relaxed, answered all of our questions, suggested things for us to do during the remainder of our time in Kyoto and he also educated us on Buddhism. Our tour was relaxed, informative, and we would highly recommend Toga as a guide!

April 2025

Nancy S
Our tour guide, Mia was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. She shared fascinating insights into Kyoto's history and culture, making the tour a truly memorable experience. We particularly enjoyed her passion for the local traditions and her ability to answer all of our questions with patience and enthusiasm. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Kyoto in a more immersive and enjoyable way!"

April 2025

Sandra N
Our guide, Toga, made our tour special even though the rain came in half way through our tour. We learned about the Gion District and about the Japanese culture all together. We shared a great meal and Toga recommended some really delicious authentic dishes. I will never forget this trip thanks to Toga.

April 2025

Shirley C
Taiga was an excellent guide who gave us great insight into the local food scene as well as history of Kyoto! He also had a very well planned path that took us to see the sights at times when it was best to take photos.

April 2025

Laura H