Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Big Ben to Tower Bridge

What you'll do

See the temples and shrines that make Kyoto famous – and the popular local haunts your guidebook doesn’t even know exist! From feasting on wagyu (yes, wagyu!) sushi ordered by your in-the-know host at centuries-old Nishiki Market to exploring the historical, wood-built streets of Higashiyama, to gazing out over the city from Yasaka Pagoda, the soul of Kyoto is quick to discover – and even faster to love.

Enjoy modern and ancient Japan, harmoniously intertwined, as you snack on street food while listening to live traditional music at Kamo River. Gather with other revelers in the streets of Gion and Ponto-chō for a night of karaoke, upscale dinners, and draft beer at intimate izakayas where the crowds outside seem to fade from existence.

Where you’ll go

It may be small in size, but Kyoto is vast in cultural heritage – and with a host’s invaluable insider knowledge, you’ll make the most of your time. You could explore ancient temples, like cherry blossom-flanked Kiyomizu-dera, or head north to the tranquil Rakusho teahouse for Uji green tea and wagashi confections.

Five minutes away, Kyoto’s lantern-lit central district, Gion, is the perfect place for a draft beer at a cozy izakaya bar or a multi-course kaiseki meal at one of the many traditional restaurants. From here, you might stroll a short distance south to the wood-built streets of historical Higashiyama for a view from 1400-year-old Yasaka Pagoda, then cross the Kamo River bridge west to Nishiki Market for your street food fix.  

  • Private & 100% personalized tour

  • 4 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking tour (may use public transport)

  • Hosted in English (On request: Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish)

  • Meet at your accommodation or a central location

Experience outline

  • In just a few short hours, see a tailor-made selection of sites, picked by your local host, that show every side of Kyoto
  • Experience modern and ancient Japan – from late-night karaoke bars to the oldest temple in Kyoto
  • Explore two of Kyoto’s most famous districts: Gion and Higashiyama
  • Learn about Japan’s history by simply walking the streets and talking to your local insider
  • If you’re hungry, your host is on hand to explain every dish, order from any menu, and recommend the most delicious food in the city

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private and personalized experience
  • 4 hours with a host
  • Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 7 days before the experience for a full refund
  • Worry-free cancellation terms: book with peace of mind knowing that you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Photos taken by our hosts and guests

City Unscripted guests photos

Reviews

    I had a great tour of Kyoto visiting traditional and famous places, but also hidden corners of the beautiful city Kyoto, including a stop to taste a very good coffee in a cozy Cafeteria. Thanks to the local very kind host guide Taibi! Patrizis. Italia

    March 2023

    Patrizia B

    Cici my guide knew exactly what I wanted to see. Didn’t rush me and had really good knowledge of Kyoto and its history. Bonus she’s a professional photographer and took some amazing pictures for me and sent them to me after the trip. Definitely made my experience even more memorable.

    March 2023

    Sarah K

    We had a great time on our tour with Alex. We did the 5-hour walking tour and felt it was just what we were looking for. We saw a bunch of cool sights throughout Kyoto with great information on the tradition, history and what it is like to live here. We saw several temples, streets with great history, the famous inari gates and our guide gave us a bunch of recommendations for things to do on our own not just in Kyoto but Osaka and Tokyo too after the tour which was very helpful. Alex was very knowledgeable and funny and luckily encouraged my girlfriend and I to get pictures taken of us by him which will be very appreciated in the future. We also went second week of March which was decent timing. We were able to see some rare cherry blossoms every once in a while, but there was not even an eighth of the crowd compared to true cherry blossom season at the end of the month and beginning of April.

    March 2023

    Will S

    Taibi was an incredible guide! We had the best tour we could have imagined in Kyoto- he catered the tour to our wishes and was knowledgeable about the city’s shrines and markets. Would definitely recommend!

    March 2023

    Wyatt F

See more reviews

Meet our local hosts in Kyoto. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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