Top Kyoto Religious Tours

Exploring the historic city of Kyoto with a local guide gives you an experience you won’t get by following a guidebook itinerary. Discover local neighborhoods, see iconic attractions, and get recommendations from a guide who creates a personalized route based on your interests and needs.

Discover both modern and traditional sides of history-rich Kyoto during this full-day private tour. Travel like a local by public transportation as you tick off the city’s most celebrated sights, from UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle to the well-preserved neighborhood of Higashiyama and streets of Gion, otherwise known as Kyoto’s Geisha district.

Follow a customizable itinerary through Kyoto during this bespoke half-day private tour. Simply select with attractions you’d like to visit and enjoy an in-depth visit in the company of your own personal nationally licensed guide. Tours include a front-door pickup at the front of your hotel. Travel like a local by public transportation or taxi; upgrade to include a private car at an additional cost.

Start your day right on a fun small-group breakfast walking tour of Kyoto’s Nishiki Market. This is a great opportunity to learn more about local Japanese food while seeing some sights that you might otherwise miss. Start with a stroll through historic Gion before tucking into the delicacies on offer in the 400-year-old market that’s known as the “kitchen of Kyoto”. The walking tour lasts around 2.5 hours.

If your time in Kyoto is limited and you want to see lots of its famous sights in a day, then this private guided tour is an excellent choice. Explore the city with a private guide to take care of navigating. Along the way, tick off 10 top sights, including the beautiful temple of Kiyomizu-dera, the geisha district of Gion, the lush bamboo groves, and plenty more scenic surprises.

Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations and with over 50 million annual visitors, it can get busy. This tour makes an early start so you can avoid the crowds and cram much more into your day. Stroll through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine before the big tour groups get there, see Kinkaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion) right as it opens, and have a chance to see the bamboo forest of Arashiyama before the midday masses arrive.

The subway system and local bus network can be very confusing for tourists visiting Kyoto, so save yourself the risk of getting lost and opt for this worry-free private tour instead. Door-to-door hotel transfers are included, and a guide takes you to a selection of key sights, such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, or Nishiki Market.

Active travelers will love the opportunity to explore the northern parts of Kyoto by bike. Your local guide will make sure you don’t get lost, and will show you to back alleys and hidden corners that you might miss otherwise, as well as some of the famous attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Cycle on comfortable bike, and enjoy an authentic Japanese lunch to refuel.

Discover hidden hiking routes that you likely wouldn’t find alone on this guided tour near the spectacular Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine—a place known for its bright orange torii gates. Following a guide, venture off paved paths and onto secret forest trails to the famous attraction, passing a natural bamboo forest, and a small shrine that’s off the usual tourist trail. The trip also reveals scenic views of Fushimi-Momoyama Castle.

Experience the tranquil beauty of Arashiyama as you venture beyond the iconic Bamboo Forest Immerse yourself in the practices of Zen Buddhism as you learn the art of meditation and sacred chants from a qualified monk Trek to the mountaintop temple of Daihikaku Senkoji and marvel at panoramic views of Kyoto, Arashiyama, and the Hozu River valley Delight in a traditional tea ceremony amidst the serene surroundings Explore the Bamboo Forest, Nonomiya Shrine, and Randen Keifuku Arashiyama station

Hire a good guide for your special trip in Japan. Our tour covers Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. Drive you to must-see amazing places in each area by big van (up to 8pax), English fluent local Jpanese guide, who's happy with cultural interaction. If you stay in Kyoto, hotel pickup is available and taken to sites directly. Also, it's possible to choose any dropoff location and go to some nice restaurants after the tour. Itineraries are follwing. KYOTO Fushimi Inari shrine Kinkaku-ji (Golden pavilion) 2 secret temples (trust me, they are amazing) Nishiki market street Gion etc Nara Todai-ji Kofuku-ji Jikoh-in (Hidden temple) Nara park (feeding deer) etc Osaka -Dotombori, walking, eating Kushikatsu (deep fried skewers) and Takoyaki (Okutopus ball) -Abeno harukasu observatory, the highest tower in Osaka -Shinsekai etc

Discover Kyoto’s hidden gems with our 10-hour private tour. Led by an English-speaking guide, explore ancient temples, vibrant markets, and serene gardens. Experience the heart of Japan! The best part? You get to customize your day. Spend more time at the places you love and discover some hidden gems along the way. Whether you’re into history, nature, or food, we’ve got you covered. Lunch will be at a local restaurant where you can sample some of Kyoto’s famous cuisine (at your own expense). After lunch, continue your exploration of Kyoto, perhaps visiting the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its famous torii gate pathway, or the Philosopher’s Path, a beautiful walk along a canal lined with hundreds of cherry trees. As the day draws to a close, your guide will escort you back to your hotel, ending a day full of discovery and adventure.

Experience the highlights of eastern Kyoto by train and on short walks, and let an expert with M.A. introduce studies in the history and culture of Kyoto in Japan. This type of transport gives you the opportunity to experience the most famous sights of Kyoto while feeling the pulse of local life. After a short train ride we reach the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its hundreds of scarlet shrine gates. Then we come to Manpuku-ji Temple, the main temple of the Obaku Zen School, which has retained a distinctive Chinese appearance; Uji is associated with green tea in Japan, and Fushimi is a traditional center for sake brewing . We visit the Sake Museum with sake wine tasting. The area of traditional sake breweries and has often served as a backdrop in films. The final walk through the geisha district of Gion and the old town of Kyoto rounds off this tour.

Discover some of Kyoto’s best temples and shrines in this 3-hour tour Visit the iconic Kiyomizudera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site See the stunning gardens and interiors of the Kodaiji Temple Learn about Shinto history and culture when at the Yasaka Shrine Stroll along Murayama Park, known for its famed cherry blossom tree Marvel at the magnificent Chion-in Temple Sanmon Gate

In this tour, we will visit Arashiyama district in Kyoto and discover its different sides: history, nature and city. We will walk a while and climb a mount. I hope you like to hike. Old town, temple and nature with bamboo forest. A refresh in the nature!

Visit a non-public area of a Zen temple and learn about its garden from a garden expert. Become familiar with Zen Buddhism while engaging in Zazen meditation, a popular form of Buddhist seated meditation. After meditating you can enjoy a traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine prepared for Zen monks called Shojin Ryori.

You will experience burning incense while listening to a Buddhist monk's sutra. Only participants of this tour will be asked to write their wishes on special strips of paper and deliver them to Yokihi-Kannon under the prayer of the monks. At the main Buddhist hall, an important cultural asset, you will listen to explanations about Buddhist statues. You will also have the opportunity to see the service (a ceremony in which Buddhist monks read sutras and pray), which even Japanese people rarely have the chance to see. Then, you will have the opportunity to visit Shariden (The hall that houses the bones of Buddha. It is unpublished cultural property .), where you will be able to try Shabutsu (Buddhist sutra copying) and view the garden. This tour is very special because you will be able to hear directly from and experience together with a monk of the only imperial family temple in Japan. Please come and discover the profound history and culture of Kyoto!

We aim to transform your travel experience from ordinary sightseeing to meaningful encounters. Undoubtedly, you'll have the chance to cherish precious moments that go beyond typical visits to famous tourist spots. During this tour, you will engage in a dialogue with Mr. Shoin Onishi in the Jojuin Garden of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is normally a private area. Through conversations with selected individuals, you can uncover the essence of Kyoto. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to explore several usually non-public areas at Kiyomizu-dera, such as the West Gate, accompanied by the temple's monk. For each segment of the journey, a professional interpreter guide will accompany you, and a private taxi will provide transfers from your accommodation.

Let's visit famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine, Kiyomizu Dera temple and Kinkakuji temple on a one day! This tour will depart from Kyoto Station and travel with experienced guide with a strong knowledge about Kyoto! We will take you to go 3 popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto with English speaking guide. Let's explore together on foot! Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the most popular place in Kyoto nowadays. You can go through the one thousand Torii gates. Kiyomizu Temple is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. This temple is one of the most and popular temples in the Kyoto city. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kyoto city from the temple. Kinkakuji is temple of the golden pavilion is one of the Buddhist temples in Kyoto and a must visit landmark in Kyoto.

1/KYOTO – 8 billion people on Earth. One life-changing encounter in Kyoto. Our 1/KYOTO tours give you the opportunity to meet and spend a truly meaningful day with people who drive innovation in the historic city. We aim to transform your travel experience from ordinary sightseeing to meaningful encounters. With us, you’ll be able to find precious moments that go beyond typical visits to famous tourist spots. During this tour, speak, discuss, and connect with Mr. Kanbe, a maker of juzu – Buddhist prayer beads – through a dialogue at Shosei-en, a centuries-old Japanese garden. You’ll even be able to explore Mr. Kanbe’s store, and if you’re lucky, see how juzu are put together. For each part of the journey, a professional interpreter will guide you. A private taxi will also be available for transport from your accommodation.