Top Things To Do In Kyoto

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

Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Kyoto

Top things to do in Kyoto

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

See all
Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Kyoto

Wondering what to do in Kyoto?

Kyoto at its core is a perfect pocket of Japanese history and culture, and many of the most memorable things to do in Kyoto offer an authentic glimpse into the Japan of centuries ago. Whether you explore 1200-year-old Kiyomizu-dera Temple, walk the wood-built streets of fairytale Higashiyama, or marvel at geishas in twinkling Gion, the city narrates Japan’s history beautifully. But Kyoto certainly hasn’t lagged behind in the modern aspects of Japanese life. In fact, the things to do in Kyoto span centuries, and the other side of the city is an exhilarating world of late-night karaoke bars, draft beers at intimate izakayas, and fluorescent 100-yen sushi restaurants.

Meet some of our Kyoto local hosts

Tourists enjoying a quiet moment with a local at a peaceful temple in Kyoto

Japan’s historic heart

Kyoto is a perfect snapshot of old Japan brimming with ancient temples, traditional teahouses, and narrow streets leading to centuries-old shrines tucked between modern storefronts. Many of the things to do in Kyoto today are the same things locals would have been doing centuries ago. From catching a streetside performance put on by a geisha to sitting down for the 1000-year-old experience of traditional Kaiseki dining, the things to do in Kyoto can take its visitors on a mesmerizing trip through time. It may be small in size, but the city is infinitely vast in cultural heritage.

Locals enjoying a meal with tourists while exploring the izakayas of Kyoto

Food fit for royalty

There’s a reason Kyoto was nicknamed the “kitchen of the Imperial Court” – the food here is spectacular. From traditional tea ceremonies with sweet wagashi confections to snacking on gyoza dumplings at Kamo River, many of the best things to do in Kyoto revolve around food. You could sample street food in the crisscrossing lanes of centuries-old Nishiki Market, the crowded “kitchen of Kyoto”, or experience the opulent epitome of Japanese haute cuisine, Kaiseki, a traditional multi-course menu. As long as you have an appetite, you certainly won’t struggle for things to do in Kyoto.

A Geisha posing in at night in Kyoto with a Shingon Buddhist temple in the background

Kyoto by night

Nights in the city are the stuff of magic, and some of the most exciting things to do in Kyoto only appear when the sun goes down. Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district, Gion, wakes up, and quiet streets packed with restaurants, vibey local haunts, and tucked-away shrines become crowded. The cobbled streets, bathed in the golden glow of paper lanterns, take on an ethereal appeal made even more bewitching by geishas floating by. Catch a traditional performance at Gion Corner, belt out a song at a karaoke bar, or have a drink at a quiet bar away from the madness – the night is yours.

Kyoto travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

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

VIEW MORE

Latest reviews from our guests

    We loved learning some history of Kyoto and hidden areas.

    22 January 2026

    Anthony N

    Alex was a fantastic tour guide. We had limited time so could only do a 3 hour tour but somehow managed to tick off a lot of my Kyoto list with information on culture, religion and geography. We did a large part of Gion which was my personal favourite! It really was the best way to discover Kyoto in an afternoon!

    12 January 2026

    Dana L

    We packed as much as we could into our 4 hours with Amy our guide . She came to our hotel to meet us and Explained all our Japanese history and the different cultures and ways of the life here in Kyoto. If you get Amy you will be in good hands and she is always keen and ready to take pictures as we moved around temples and shrines . Wear your best and most comfortable shoes and Kyoto is not as well connected so often a good walk is necessary. Amy took us to the best shops to try out local delicious foods and sweets and macho tea and saka . We left the tour with hundreds of photos of a great day .

    11 January 2026

    Murray B

    We were paired with Kenta, who did an amazing job of tailoring the tour to exactly what we wanted to see! We kept it open ended and asked him to take us off the beaten path -- especially after just visiting Tokyo, we wanted a quieter tour. Kenta totally delivered! The temples we visited had almost no crowds, and he took us on a path alongside a tranquil creek for much of the tour. Kenta also just had SO MUCH knowledge about so many things! I mentioned offhand my (little) knowledge of the various Japanese writing systems, and he dived into a quick history of each one. We definitely will book this tour again the next time we're in Japan!

    6 January 2026

    Cari E

See more reviews

Explore other popular cities

See all destinations

Experiences for all types of travelers

^
curious

Experiences
for all types
of travelers

Tourists enjoying a busy local restaurant in Tokyo with a local

Food Tours In Tokyo

Tourists enjoying a meal with a local guide at a busy restaurant in Japan

Food Tours In Japan

Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Japan

Top Things To Do In Japan

Group of tourists standing in front of the Godzilla statue in Osaka with a local guide

Top Things To Do In Osaka

Tourists exploring the best things to do in Tokyo with a local guide

Top Things To Do In Tokyo

Tourist posing with a local while on a night tour of Tokyo

Best Tokyo Night Tours

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

Best Kyoto Night Tours

Tourists posing in front of a torii gate at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo

Best Private Tours In Tokyo

Tourist posing in front of luminous signs at night on a busy street in Osaka

Best Osaka Night Tours

Tourists exploring the alleyways of Japan with a local guide

Best Private Tours In Japan

Tourists crouching down next to the fox statues in Ohori park Fukuoka

Private Tour Guides In Fukuoka

Tourist standing in front of Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate while on a tour of with a private guide in Hiroshima

Private Tour Guides In Hiroshima

Private Tour Guides In Kanazawa

Private Tour Guides In Kanazawa

Private Tour Guides In Kobe

Private Tour Guides In Kobe

Private Tour Guides In Kyoto

Private Tour Guides In Kyoto

Private Tour Guides In Nagasaki

Private Tour Guides In Nagasaki

Private Tour Guides In Nagoya

Private Tour Guides In Nagoya

Private Tour Guides In Osaka

Private Tour Guides In Osaka

Private Tour Guides In Tokyo

Private Tour Guides In Tokyo

Private Tour Guides In Sapporo

Private Tour Guides In Sapporo

Private Tour Guides In Yokoham

Private Tour Guides In Yokoham

Private tour guides Japan

Private tour guides Japan

Walking Tours In Japan

Walking Tours In Japan

Walking Tours In Hiroshima

Walking Tours In Hiroshima

Walking Tours In Kanazawa

Walking Tours In Kanazawa

Walking Tours In Kyoto

Walking Tours In Kyoto

Walking Tours In Fukuoka

Walking Tours In Fukuoka

Walking Tours In Kobe

Walking Tours In Kobe

Walking Tours In Osaka

Walking Tours In Osaka

Walking Tours In Nagasaki

Walking Tours In Nagasaki

Walking Tours In Nagoya

Walking Tours In Nagoya

Walking Tours In Tokyo

Walking Tours In Tokyo

Walking Tours In Yokohama

Walking Tours In Yokohama

Walking Tours In Sapporo

Walking Tours In Sapporo

Fukuoka Private Tours

Fukuoka private tours

Hiroshima private tours

Hiroshima private tours

Kobe private tours

Kobe private tours

Kanazawa private tours

Kanazawa private tours

Kyoto private tours

Kyoto private tours

Nagasaki Private Tours

Nagasaki Private Tours

Nagoya Private Tours

Nagoya Private Tours

Osaka Private Tours

Osaka Private Tours

Sapporo Private Tours

Sapporo Private Tours

Yokohama Private Tours

Yokohama Private Tours

Fukuoka Food Tours

Fukuoka Food Tours

Hiroshima Food Tour

Hiroshima Food Tour

Yokohama Food Tours

Yokohama Food Tours

Nagasaki Food Tours

Nagasaki Food Tours

Nagoya Food Tours

Nagoya Food Tours

Sapporo Food Tours

Sapporo Food Tours

Kanazawa Food Tours

Kanazawa Food Tours

Kobe Food Tours

Kobe Food Tours

Osaka Food Tours

Osaka Food Tours

Kyoto Food Tours

Kyoto Food Tours

Japan Layover Tours

Japan Layover Tours

Tokyo Layover Tours

Tokyo Layover Tours

Tours With Locals In Fukuoka

Tours With Locals In Fukuoka

Personalized Cherry Blossom Experiences in Japan

City Unscripted Destinations