Private Tour, 10 Must-See Spots

Private Tour, 10 Must-See Spots, 8 hours, rated 5 across 1,373 traveller reviews.

Overview

Eight hours, ten stops, one guide just for your group. This private tour by EE tour starts at 09:00 from Kita-oji Station on the Karasuma subway line and works its way through the city's headline sights, ending in Gion. The guide handles the route, the transit decisions and the timing, which matters here because the day covers ground in both the north and the west before finishing in Higashiyama.

The route takes in Kinkaku-ji first, then moves to the Arashiyama side for the bamboo street, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge and the Kimono Forest. After that the tour crosses to Fushimi Inari-taisha, then Kiyomizu-dera, the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka slopes, Yasaka Pagoda and finally Gion. Getting between these clusters means a mix of trains, buses and taxis, and the listing asks guests to have Japanese yen on hand because many temples and taxi operators do not take cards.

It suits travellers with one day in Kyoto who want the famous sights covered efficiently and who can walk a lot. The listing is blunt that the itinerary, lunch spot and starting point cannot be changed, and reviewers repeatedly describe the day as long and walking heavy. In return, they say, you get a guide who explains the history at each stop, finds photo spots away from crowds and can steer the family to a good lunch.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Kita-oji StationThe guide meets your group at the south ticket gate of Kita-oji Station, subway number K04, at 09:00. Pickup from hotels is not part of this tour.
2. Kinkakuji TempleThe first stop is Kinkakuji Temple, with 40 minutes on site. Admission is not included in the tour price.
3. Arashiyama clusterThe tour then moves west for the Bamboo Forest Street, 20 minutes, Tenryu-ji Temple, 30 minutes with admission not included, Togetsukyo Bridge, 10 minutes, and the Arashiyama Kimono Forest, 10 minutes. All four are free to enter except Tenryu-ji.
4. Fushimi Inari-taishaOne hour at the shrine, which has no admission fee.
5. Kiyomizu-dera and the slopesOne hour at Kiyomizu-dera, admission not included, then one hour walking Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, which are free.
6. Yasaka Pagoda and GionFive minutes at the pagoda, then 20 minutes in Gion, where the tour ends. The guide explains how to reach your next destination from there.

What To Expect From The Tour

Reviews and the listing agree on what the day actually feels like, and most of it comes down to walking, cash and weather.

• Fitness and footwear. The listing recommends comfortable shoes, and several reviewers warn that the tour involves lots of walking, stairs and ramps. A reasonable fitness level is needed to enjoy it.
• Bring cash. The listing notes that many temples and taxis do not accept credit cards. Guests should carry Japanese yen for entrance fees, transit and lunch.
• Summer heat. The listing offers a Plan B on very hot summer days that involves fewer steps and visits Chishakuin Temple, an indoor temple, and Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for its forest of Buddhist statues. Ask the operator about switching if the forecast looks punishing.
• Photos and crowds. Multiple reviewers say their guide knew where to take pictures away from the crowds and even photographed the family. Ask the guide for photo spots, since this comes up again and again in reviews.
• Lunch along the way. Reviewers often mention being taken to a good lunch spot, from okonomiyaki to an excellent local restaurant. Tell the operator at booking about any food you cannot eat, as the listing requests.
• Private group feel. Only your group participates, and reviewers say guides tailored the day to their interests and kept the pacing comfortable. The fixed stops stay the same, but the pacing flexes.

Common issues. The day is long and walking heavy. The itinerary, lunch place and starting point cannot be changed, so anyone hoping to swap stops should book a different tour. Entrance fees, transit and taxis cost extra, and a cab seats three guests plus the guide, so a group of four needs two cabs. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing does not recommend it for travellers with back problems. Cruise passengers must reach Kyoto Station on their own.

Common Questions