Recommended Walking Tours in Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's famous for the majestic golden splendor of Kinkaku-ji Temple and the elegant geisha walking through Gion at night. There are numerous important Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for Japanese culture, such as Kiyomizu-dera Templeand Chion-in, so many that you can't see them all even in a week.
Another great charm of Kyoto is the beauty of its alleys and back streets. The traditional Kyoto architecture of machiya townhouses, elegant cobblestone paths, the shrines and temples you encounter while walking, and unique small shops - there's so much beauty in Kyoto that can only be experienced on foot.
In this article, I, a lover of walking around Kyoto, will introduce Kyoto walking tours that allow you to fully enjoy the charm of Kyoto's streets and alleys. I'll cover food tours, night tours, and daytime tours, introducing both paid and free options.
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Recommended Walking Tours
Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour
This tour starts in the morning from Pontocho in Gion. Then, you'll go to Nishiki Market to see and actually taste the gourmet food that locals truly enjoy. You can buy various items, from food you can eat while walking to ingredients you can take home.
The enthusiastic guide's explanation of local traditional ingredients and food culture history is an attractive point of this tour. After enjoying Pontocho, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, and Nishiki Market, you can have a Kyoto-style brunch at a restaurant in the market.
The shops visited on the tour generally accommodate vegans and vegetarians. However, as you'll be visiting small local stores, some shops may have limited vegan or vegetarian options. Please note that gluten-free menus are not available.
Kyoto Bar Hopping Nightlife Tour in Pontocho
A local guide will take you to hidden izakayas, restaurants, and bars in Kyoto's back alleys. All food and drink costs are included in the tour fee, so you can participate worry-free on the day.
Just visiting three bars in Pontocho, famous for its izakayas, is enough to fully experience Kyoto at night. That's because you can dive into the world of Kyoto gourmet that's difficult for tourists to access deeply. You'll visit izakayas serving Kyoto cuisine-inspired dishes and sake, as well as bars where you can enjoy karaoke.
If you're drinking in Japan, you absolutely must try cold beer and yakitori at an izakaya. It's a staple Japanese-style pub that everyone loves. At the end of the day, beer with yakitori is the best.
Note that some Japanese bars and restaurants may not be able to accommodate vegan or vegetarian menus. Also, please be aware that additional orders not included in the tour content will incur extra charges.
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour
Let's stroll through the beautiful bamboo grove and gardens of Arashiyama with a guide. This tour spends half a day visiting Tenryu-ji Temple and Okochi Sanso Garden, famous spots in the Arashiyama area.
Tenryu-ji has a massive Japanese painting of a dragon on the temple ceiling, which is very impressive. When I visit Kyoto, I look forward to viewing the Japanese paintings and sculptures in each temple as art. The garden with a large pond, beautiful with cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, and autumn leaves, is also a must-see.
The guide will explain the history of the temples and how to appreciate Japanese gardens, which are created with an emphasis on harmony with nature. You can also enjoy shojin ryori, the traditional Buddhist monks' cuisine.
As this tour spends a long time in temples, please come in clothing that isn't too casual. Also, this tour passes through areas that may be difficult for wheelchairs or strollers. As you'll be walking for a long time, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
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Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha
source：Viator
This is a night walking tour of the Gion district, famous for geisha. You'll visit the statue of Izumo no Okuni, who is said to have founded the traditional culture of kabuki, Hanami-koji Street, and Yasaka Shrine.
You might encounter real geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha) along the way. Maiko training is famously strict, and the maiko work incredibly hard to understand history and acquire traditional arts. Feel free to ask the guide many questions about the secrets of their training to acquire culture and arts.
Gion is also famous for being the model location for the Hollywood movie "Memoirs of a Geisha." In the movie, the hanamachi (geisha district) is depicted with winding alleys, but the actual Gion only has straight streets due to Kyoto's unique grid-like district design. It's interesting to observe such differences from the movie.
Unfortunately, this course is not accessible for wheelchairs as it includes cobblestone streets and steps. Also, as it's a two-hour walking tour, it's not recommended for those with back pain or health issues.
Tours You Can Join for Tips Only
KYOTO FREE WALKING TOUR
source：TripAdvisor
KYOTO FREE WALKING TOUR is a walking tour you can join just for tips. It explores Gion and Fushimi Inari, must-see spots in Kyoto.
You can hear about the history and stories of geisha and hanamachi in the Gion district, and strange myths and ghost stories about the old fox god at Fushimi Inari from an English-speaking guide. These shrines dedicated to the fox god called Inari are actually found all over Japan.
It has been worshipped as a familiar, approachable god for common people since ancient times. Among them, Fushimi Inari Shrine, which you'll visit on this tour, is particularly popular, and almost all Japanese people recognize its name and famous thousand torii gates.
This tour is free to participate. Please give the guide a tip according to the value you feel. Reservations are required and can be made from the booking page on the website.
The Original Free Walking Tour of Kyoto
source：Kyoto Localized
This tour covers the main tourist spots in the Gion and Higashiyama districts. You'll visit Gion Shirakawa, Maruyama Park, Chion-in Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto. You can overlook the city of Kyoto from the deck built on a cliff. It's surrounded by nature with beautiful greenery, and there are many souvenir shops in the surrounding area.
During this tour, you won't enter places that require an admission fee. However, as the tour ends at Kiyomizu-dera, those who wish can visit the interior on their own after the tour. Please try to explore inside based on the information you gained during the tour.
Reservations are required for participation. Please note that you cannot participate by waiting for cancellations on-site on the day. Also, the Higashiyama area has many slopes, and tourist spots like Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Pagoda are located on top of hills. As you'll be walking a lot, please prepare comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and water.
Kyoto Night Free Walking Tour
source：Kyoto Localized
This is a free night walking tour that covers the Gion hanamachi, Yasaka Shrine, Kamogawa River, and the Minamiza Kabuki Theater. First, you'll stroll through the fantastical Gion district at night. Yasaka Shrine is my recommended spot, with food stalls and a very lively atmosphere.
You can learn about geisha and their apprentices, maiko, over two hours while enjoying Gion at night. Feel free to ask the guide many questions about the secrets of their training to acquire culture and arts. You'll understand that their graceful atmosphere is actually supported by blood, sweat, and tears.
The tour ends at Shijo Ohashi Bridge. As Pontocho, which has many bars and restaurants, is close to Shijo Ohashi Bridge, it's recommended to extend your visit there after the tour ends.
Although tipping is not customary in Japan, if you enjoyed the tour, please give a tip to the guide. This tour requires a reservation, so please make sure to book through the website. Also, please note that the tour may be canceled due to weather conditions.
Kyoto Machiya Free Walking Tour
source：Kyoto Localized
This tour departs from Kyoto Sanjo Station and explores traditional Kyoto machiya houses, which are cultural heritage sites, south of Kyoto Imperial Palace. You'll visit Takase River, Yata-dera Temple, and Honno-ji Temple.
Kyomachiya is an architectural style historically used in Kyoto, a city with a long history. To suit urban living in densely populated areas, the buildings are long and narrow with depth. They are characterized by uniquely shaped windows, fences, and inner courtyards.
Kyomachiya, which symbolize the streets of Kyoto, are filled with unique culture and ingenuity. Let's take a close look with the guide. After the two-hour tour, it ends at a cafe near Kyoto Imperial Palace. Afterward, you can enjoy a Japanese lunch at a cafe in a traditional house.
As there will be a lot of walking, please participate in comfortable shoes. Also, Kyoto can be very sunny and hot from spring to summer and on clear days. Don't forget water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Which is recommended, free or paid?
Free tours are basically free to participate, but you'll need to pay for guide tips and food and drinks during the tour. Please note that they are not completely free. The advantage of free tours is that you can easily participate. Although reservations are required for most tours, they are recommended if you want to casually participate and get simple information about various districts and cultures in Kyoto.
The advantage of paid tours is that there are no additional costs beyond the tour fee. You don't need to tip the guide, and food and drink during the tour are usually included in the tour fee except for additional orders. You can also have direct conversations with the guide, so you should be able to gain deeper knowledge and information.
The experiences you can have differ greatly between free tours and paid tours in terms of tour content, atmosphere, and closeness to the guide. Compare and consider the characteristics of each when choosing a tour.