--- title: Kyoto Private Custom Tour with Local Guide lang: en type: tour city: Kyoto country: Japan price: 116 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.94 reviews: 201 duration_minutes: 240 duration_max_minutes: 480 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 13 of 36 (Sightseeing & City Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-11-08 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/tours/kyoto-private-custom-tour-with-local-guide/ --- # Kyoto Private Custom Tour with Local Guide **Guidekin's take:** Set a Kyoto itinerary around stops such as Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Gion on a private tour for your party. A local guide is included; entry fees, food and transport are extra, including the guide's food and travel costs. 4.94 from 201 reviews at €116 per person for 4h–8h. In our comparison: #13 of 36 in Sightseeing & City Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Experience the best of Kyoto on a fully customizable full-day private tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Visit Kyoto's most iconic attractions, including Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Gion, and Kiyomizu Temple, while learning about the history, culture, and traditions that make Kyoto Japan's cultural heart. Whether it's your first visit or you're returning to discover more, your guide will create an itinerary based on your interests and travel pace, helping you experience both famous landmarks and local hidden gems. ● Get a complete overview of Kyoto in one day ● Visit Kyoto's top attractions, including Kinkakuji, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Kiyomizu Temple ● Enjoy a fully customizable itinerary designed around your interests ● Discover Kyoto with your own private local guide and receive personalized recommendations ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: no car needed - Entry ticket not included: buy it separately - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - 5 start times: between 09:00 and 13:00 - Food not included: Food and Drinks (For you and Guide) - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Age rule: Specialized infant seats are available **Pickup:** Hotel pickup included ## Key facts - Price: from €116 per person for the 4-Hour Tour option; other options up to €521 - Duration: 4h–8h - Rating: 4.94/5 from 201 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Travel Japan Together - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English - Tickets: Admission not included, pay on site - Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08 ## Reviews 4.94 from 201 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 99% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 199 of 201. - 5 stars: 195 (97%) - 4 stars: 4 (2%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 2 (1%) ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | 4-Hour Tour | €116 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 4 hours Pickup included | | 5-Hour Tour | €145 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Pickup included | | 6-Hour Tour | €156 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 6 hours Pickup included | | 8-Hour Tour | €185 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 8 hours Pickup included | | 4-Hour Private Vehicle | €290 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 4 hours Pickup included | | 5-Hour Private Vehicle | €348 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 5 hours Pickup included | | 6-Hour Private Vehicle | €405 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 6 hours Pickup included | | 8-Hour Private Vehicle | €521 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 8 hours Pickup included | ## What's included - Local English-Speaking Guide - Fully Customizable Private Experience - Private Vehicle (Optional) - Optional Hotel Meet-up within Kyoto City ## Not included - Food and Drinks (For you and Guide) - Transportation Fee (For you and Guide) - Entry/Admission - Private transportation Optional, additional fee applies ## Itinerary 1. **Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine** (30m) - Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, is an iconic Shinto shrine renowned for its thousands of vibrant torii gates, creating winding pathways on Mount Inari. A spiritual site dedicated to Inari, the deity of prosperity, it offers stunning views and a unique cultural experience. 2. **Kiyomizu-dera Temple** (30m) - Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated temples. Enjoy panoramic views of Kyoto from the famous wooden stage while learning about Buddhist culture, Japanese architecture, and the temple’s fascinating history. 3. **Gion** (30m) - , Kyoto, is a historic district famed for its traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. Narrow streets, tea houses, and Yasaka Shrine characterize this area, preserving Kyoto's elegance and charm. It's a cultural hub where old meets new in a captivating blend. 4. **Arashiyama Bamboo Forest** (30m) - Explore the beautiful Arashiyama area, one of Kyoto’s most scenic destinations. Walk through the iconic bamboo forest and experience the peaceful atmosphere that has attracted visitors for centuries. 5. **Nishiki Market** (30m) - Experience Kyoto’s food culture at Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen.” Explore local ingredients, traditional snacks, and specialty foods while discovering the culinary traditions that have shaped Kyoto for centuries. 6. **Maruyama Park** (30m) - is the oldest park in Kyoto, and in early April when the cherry trees start to bloom. In this park, you can enjoy traditional style of Japanese garden as well. You can enjoy photo shooting in the traditional park. 7. **Yasaka Pagoda** (30m) - Yasakanoto Pagoda, is one of the Kyoto's most visible and recognizable landmarks. It's also called "5 storied pagoda", and you can see amazing temple here. We take pictures with this Pagoda, and the pictures will be authentic. Also we will explain the history about Pagoda. 8. **Nijo Castle** (20m) - Step into Japan’s samurai history at Nijo Castle, built for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Discover the elegant architecture, beautiful gardens, and famous “nightingale floors” designed to protect the shogun. 9. **Kinkakuji Temple** (45m) - Visit Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto’s world-famous Golden Pavilion. Admire the stunning golden structure reflected on the surrounding pond and learn about the temple’s connection to Zen Buddhism and Japanese aesthetics. 10. **Higashiyama Hanatouro** (30m) - Stroll through the beautifully preserved streets of Higashiyama, where traditional wooden houses, small shops, and old Kyoto atmosphere remain. Your guide will introduce hidden gems and stories behind this historic neighborhood. 11. **Tenryu-ji Temple** (40m) - Visit Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples. Enjoy its famous landscape garden, designed to blend perfectly with the surrounding mountains. 12. **Togetsukyo Bridge** (20m) - Take a walk across Togetsukyo Bridge, the symbol of Arashiyama. Enjoy views of the Katsura River and surrounding mountains while learning about the area’s history as a retreat for Japanese nobles. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Specialized infant seats are available - Transportation options are wheelchair accessible - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Suitable for all physical fitness levels ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 2 | €232 | €116 | | 4 | €244 | €61 | | 6 | €246 | €41 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Sightseeing & City Tours start at €91 per person. ## Compared with other Sightseeing & City Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #13 of 36** | €116 | 4h–8h | 4.94 (201) | private | | [10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour](/japan/kyoto/tours/10-must-see-spots-in-kyoto-one-day-private-tour/?format=md) | €168 | 8h | 4.98 (1441) | private | | [Kyoto Early Morning Tour with English Speaking Guide](/japan/kyoto/tours/kyoto-early-morning-tour-with-english-speaking-guide/?format=md) | €91 | 5h | 4.95 (2124) | shared | | [Private car tour in Kyoto (up to 4)](/japan/kyoto/tours/private-car-tour-in-kyoto-up-to-4/?format=md) | €261 per group | 7h | 5.0 (147) | private | Ranked #13 of 36 in Sightseeing & City Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €463, median €139; typical length 5h 38m. 31 of 36 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/kyoto-sightseeing-tours/?format=md ## More in Kyoto - All Kyoto tours: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/tours/kyoto-private-custom-tour-with-local-guide/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/?format=md