Kiyomizu Temple and Backstreets of Gion, Half Day Group Tour
Description
Enjoy a culture-rich introductory walking tour of Kyoto with a local guide. Travelers interested in history and culture will enjoy strolling through Gion and the Higashiyama area, admiring the views from Kiyomizudera Temple, and learning more about Zen Buddhism at Kenninji Temple. A local expert guide provides deep cultural context and history, ensuring you efficiently visit these top sights. ・Get an intimate view of Kyoto on a walking tour ・Learn more than you would touring independently ・Capture the truly iconic views of Kyoto, from Kiyomizu’s grand stage to Gion’s backstreets. ・Enjoy unhurried time at Kiyomizu-dera Temple to appreciate the view and the architecture. ・Check off several of Kyoto’s must-see sights in half a day
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet in front of Kyoto Ceramic Center
visit Kiyomizu-dera and learn about culture, history from professional guide. Kiyomizu-dera is not only a significant religious site but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kyoto's most visited and culturally significant landmarks.
The Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka are historic, steep streets leading up to Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Sannen-zaka (Three-Year Slope) is the longer and steeper of the two, while Ninen-zaka (Two-Year Slope) is slightly shorter. Both are lined with traditional shops, teahouses, and old-style architecture, creating a charming, nostalgic atmosphere. These paths are popular with visitors, offering a glimpse into Kyoto's past while leading to the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple.
A Japanese garden located near Kiyomizu-dera. It is known for its beautiful landscape design, featuring ponds, traditional wooden bridges, and carefully arranged plants, offering a peaceful retreat. This garden provides visitors with a serene space to enjoy nature while overlooking the surrounding area.
The Yasaka Pagoda is a historic five-story pagoda which is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The pagoda is known for its elegant design and significant cultural value. It is often associated with the surrounding historic streets, including Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, and offers a beautiful view of Kyoto’s traditional landscape.
Yasaka Koshindo is a small traditional temple near Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to Koshin, a guardian deity believed to protect people from illness and misfortune. The temple is famous for its colorful kukurizaru charms—bright cloth monkeys. Many visitors stop by during their walk to pray for health, protection, and good fortune.
A Shinto shrine in the Higashiyama district, famous as a place to cut negative relationships and form positive ones. The shrine is especially popular for its unique ritual, often attracting long lines of visitors eager to try this unusual tradition.
Kennin-ji is Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple, founded in 1202. Despite its central location, the temple grounds are calm and spacious, offering a peaceful escape from the city. The impressive Dharma Hall stands out with its grand scale, and the temple’s three Japanese gardens each offer a distinct and beautiful atmosphere.
Walk through Gion, Japan’s largest geisha district, and explore its main street, Hanamikoji. Lined with traditional wooden machiya houses, teahouses, shops, and restaurants, the street exudes timeless Kyoto elegance. It is especially known for its well-preserved architecture and deep ties to geisha culture, where you may even catch a glimpse of a geisha walking gracefully by.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- As this is a walking tour, we recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes.
- There could be a delay at when the tour ends, if you have an appointment or plan right after this tour, please let us know in advance
- The tour will take place rain or shine.
Reviews(68)
Excellent experience. Yuki was very knowledgeable about Kyoto and its wonders, and extremely helpful.
A walking tour of the key temples in gion. Our guide was well versed in the history of Japanese temples and Zen Buddhism. Stopped at a few shops and got a nice coffee break.
Paul was amazing friendly and very informative
Yuki was so informative and so sweet
Wonderful walking tour guided by our expert local Akiko! We hit all the places in our itinerary; from kiyomizu-dera, to the backstreets of Gion. Akiko talked about the cultural , historical, religious and in some cases legendary significance of the places and artifacts as we walked through them. She was also our photographer, shopping and food guide. I highly recommend this tour and Akiko as a guide!
Mika was so helpful and informative. I really learned a lot and was appreciative of the pace we went.
We profoundly appreciate your enthusiastic feedback on your recent shrine walking tour. It is incredibly rewarding to learn that Mika was so remarkably supportive and extensively insightful! You clearly gained a wealth of understanding and profoundly cherished the comfortable pace of your exploration. Your excellent comments will certainly be shared with Mika; she will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact she had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptions. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
Very good tour. Hide was a great guide who was very interactive, knowledgeable, and interested in us and our having a good informed time. Took pictures for all of us numerous times, even shared tea with us, and we learned a lot about Japan and the Gion area. Highly recommend him and the tour.
We are truly delighted to receive your exceptional feedback. It's wonderful that your excursion was such an enjoyable and insightful journey. We are especially pleased that Hide proved to be such an outstanding guide, demonstrating remarkable interactivity, profound expertise, and a genuine interest in ensuring you had a well-informed and delightful time. His thoughtful gestures of capturing numerous photographs and sharing tea further underscored his dedication. It's truly gratifying that you gained significant understanding of both Japan and the distinctive Gion district. Your strong recommendation is highly valued. We will certainly convey your high praise directly to Hide. We deeply appreciate you sharing your memorable journey. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back to Japan for future captivating discoveries.
Miki was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. She has an incredible depth of knowledge and brought each location to life with thoughtful explanations and stories that made everything feel meaningful. The pace of the tour was perfect, never rushed, and we had time to truly take in each place. What really stood out was how she went above and beyond. She showed us hidden spots we never would have found on our own and made the experience feel very personal. She also took beautiful photos of us throughout the day, which we will treasure. On top of that, she helped us find and purchase souvenirs. Miki genuinely cares about creating a memorable experience and it shows in everything she does. We left with not just great memories, but a deeper appreciation for the places we visited. Highly recommend!
We profoundly appreciate your exceptionally detailed and heartwarming feedback on your recent Kyoto tour. It is genuinely rewarding to learn that Miki was truly splendid from its commencement to its conclusion, making your exploration of Kyoto so magnificent! Her profound comprehension and extensive insights illuminated each destination with meticulous elucidations and captivating narratives, ensuring every aspect resonated profoundly. The perfectly measured pace ensured a serene exploration, free from any sense of haste, allowing ample opportunity to fully immerse yourselves in each location. Miki clearly demonstrated exceptional dedication and thoughtfulness, notably by revealing exquisite secluded destinations that would have remained undiscovered by independent exploration. This fostered a remarkably personalized and intimate atmosphere. Furthermore, her thoughtful capture of exquisite photographs, which you will undoubtedly cherish, along with her invaluable assistance with locating and acquiring cherished mementos, further enhanced your journey. Her sincere commitment to curating an indelible journey genuinely shone through, leaving you with not merely excellent recollections, but an even more profound appreciation for the destinations. Your outstanding comments will certainly be shared with Miki; she will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact she had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptive insights. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
Chika was very kind, knowledgeable and charming. She was more than willing to answer questions, point out interesting facts and show us places we wouldn’t have found on our own. I would recommend both the tour guide and the tour itself.
We profoundly appreciate your exceptionally enthusiastic feedback on your recent tour. It is incredibly rewarding to learn that this experience was profoundly worthwhile in both time and value! Chika was clearly remarkably amiable, extensively knowledgeable, and genuinely captivating. Her consistent willingness to thoughtfully address inquiries, highlight intriguing facts, and reveal hidden gems you might not have discovered independently truly enhanced your journey. Your fervent recommendation for both her as a guide and the tour itself truly resonates with us. Your outstanding comments will certainly be shared with Chika; she will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact she had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptions. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
Our tour guide was Chika, a local resident of Kyoto. She was very friendly and treated us like friends from the beginning! She took us on a casual but very informative tour of Kiyomizu, pausing to explain the history & purpose of the different structures at Kiyomizu. Chika also took time to take pictures of us and the surrounding scenery. Perhaps more importantly, she explained the culture of Kyoto & how their respect for people & nature made it so attractive on the global stage. Chika then took us on a walk around the backstreets of Gion & sharing with us their humble behind-the-scenes lifestyle. Lastly we made a stop at Kennin-Ji temple and walked through the different buildings & walkways. Throughout our tour we never felt rushed or on a tight schedule. On the contrary - we felt like we were taking a walk in Chika’s backyard; very casual & unstructured yet purposeful. If you are looking for a jam-packed checklist of things to see, this may not be the tour for you. But if you want to take a deep breath & really get a glimpse of life in Kyoto as a local, I highly recommend this tour.
We profoundly appreciate your exceptionally detailed and heartwarming feedback on your recent private Kyoto exploration. It is genuinely rewarding to understand that Chika, your guide and a local Kyoto resident, truly transformed your experience into a cherished connection, making you feel like valued companions. Her amiable and engaging approach, coupled with her profound insights, expertly led you through Kiyomizu, where she illuminated the historical significance and purpose of each structure, thoughtfully capturing numerous cherished photographs. Her explanations of Kyoto's intrinsic respect for people and nature clearly resonated deeply. The subsequent stroll through Gion's secluded thoroughfares, revealing a humble, authentic lifestyle, and the serene visit to Kennin-Ji temple, further enriched your understanding. It is particularly pleasing that the tour flowed organically, feeling akin to a comfortable exploration of "Chika’s backyard" rather than a rigid itinerary. This thoughtful pacing allowed for a truly immersive glimpse into local life, which you found so attractive. Your outstanding comments will certainly be shared with Chika; she will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact she had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptive insights. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
