--- title: Private Highlights of Kyoto Tour lang: en type: tour city: Kyoto country: Japan price: 133 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.8 reviews: 85 duration_minutes: 420 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 32 of 36 (Sightseeing & City Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-11-08 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/tours/private-highlights-of-kyoto-tour/ --- # Private Highlights of Kyoto Tour **Guidekin's take:** Choose a northwest-bound or southeast-bound route through four Kyoto sights using public transport. A guide and a city bus pass you can keep using that day are included; meals and hotel pickup are excluded. 4.8 from 85 reviews at €133 per person for 7h. In our comparison: #32 of 36 in Sightseeing & City Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview In order to closely feel the local atmosphere of Kyoto, this tour will use public transportation so that you can experience the everyday life of Kyoto locals, unlike other tour groups hastily hopping from one location to another on chartered buses. During the 7-hour tour, your guide will show you around the city covering four major must-see locations. There are two different courses: one northwest-bound and the other southeast-bound. If you participate in both tours, you can efficiently cover eight locations at a relaxing pace. For both courses, you can chose from private option, non-private option and non-private option with apprentice guide (reduced rate). Even if you chose non-private option, we guarantee that the total number of guests will be less than 9 people. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Hotel Granvia Kyoto is located in the… - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - Starts 09:00: one departure a day - Food not included: Food and drinks, Lunch **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €133 per person for the Reduced rate Southeast option; other options up to €170 - Duration: 7h - Rating: 4.8/5 from 85 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: WaRaiDo Guide Networks - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Shared tour · private option available - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:00 - Booking: Confirmation within 48 hours, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08 ## Reviews 4.8 from 85 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 96% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 82 of 85. - 5 stars: 75 (88%) - 4 stars: 7 (8%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 2 (2%) - 1 star: 1 (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 | |---|---|---|---| | Reduced rate Southeast | €133 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Specially reduced rate package of Southeast-bound course conducted by our apprentice guides. Less-experienced yet friendly licensed guides will accompany your group for more reasonable rate. | | Reduced rate Northwest | €133 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Specially reduced rate package of Northwest-bound course conducted by our apprentice guides. Less-experienced yet friendly licensed guides will accompany your group for more reasonable rate. | | Northwest-bound course | €151 / person (for 2+ people) | English | The Northwest-bound course visits the Bamboo Grove, the Rock Garden (Ryoanji Temple), the Golden Pavilion and the Nijo Castle or the Nishiki Market. | | Southeast-bound course | €151 / person (for 2+ people) | English | The Southeast-bound course visits the Sake Brewery, the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Sanjusangendo Temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple and the Ninenzaka or Sannenzaka Slope. | | Private guide for Northwest | €170 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Premium package of Northwest-bound course conducted by our well-experienced guides with years of constantly high reviews by customers. | | Private guide for Southeast | €170 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Private guide for Southeast: Premium package of Southeast-bound course conducted by our well-experienced guides with years of constantly high reviews by customers. | ## What's included - Public Transportation - One-day city bus pass (can be used continuously after the tour) - Professional English speaking guide ## Not included - Food and drinks - Lunch - Hotel pickup and drop-off ## Itinerary 1. **Kinkakuji Temple** (50m; admission included) - Nicknamed as Golden Pavilion, and one of the most popular temples in Kyoto, which is covered by gold leaves. 2. **Kiyomizu-dera Temple** (50m; admission included) - The view of Kyoto City seeing from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera Temple is magnificent. The scene is often depicted in post cards. 3. **Nijo Castle** (50m; admission included) - Only castle in Kyoto built during the Tokugawa Shogunate period in the beginning of the 17th century. The highlight of this place is touring in the original living quarter of Shogun. 4. **Sanjusangendo Temple** (50m; admission included) - Travelers can enjoy astonishing view of 1001 kannon statues. 5. **Gion** (50m) - is known for its Geisha tradition in Japan. The tour concludes at Gion, where you can join our another tour specializing in Gion, which starts at 6PM. The tour is available from TripAdvisor with the tour name, Night-walk in Gion. 6. **Arashiyama** (pass by, no stop) - The place is known for its the Togetsukyo bridge, which is the huge wooden bridge located near bamboo forest. 7. **Sannenzaka Ninenzaka** (pass by, no stop) - Historic path leading up to the Kiyomizudera temple. 8. **Bamboo Forest Street** (30m) - You will have a chance to walk through the world famous Bamboo Forest, the scene of which is often depicted in guide bookes. 9. **Ryoan-ji Temple** (30m; admission included) - One of the best known zen garden known for its world-famous rock garden represented by 15 stones. 10. **Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine** (50m) - The most visited Shinto shrine awarded by TripAdvisor known for its thousands of red Torii Gate covering entire mountain. 11. **Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum** (50m; admission included) - Visit the brewery museum of one of the oldest sake brand in Japan. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00 - 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. ## Meeting point Hotel Granvia Kyoto is located in the Kyoto Station building. Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults - Children must be accompanied by an adult ## Compared with other Sightseeing & City Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #32 of 36** | €133 | 7h | 4.8 (85) | shared | | [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 #32 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/private-highlights-of-kyoto-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/?format=md