Find your bearings and check off the city’s top attractions with a guided bus tour, taking in famous sites such as Nijo Castle, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. For more flexibility, create your own itinerary with a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

Enjoy a taste of Kyoto’s food culture on a tour of sprawling Nishiki Market, known as “the kitchen of Kyoto.” Explore the market’s many vendors, sample their dishes, and learn about both typical and lesser-known Japanese ingredients—then conclude your tour with a cooking lesson and lunch.

Kyoto is known for its traditional culture, but you can experience the more contemporary side of the city with a guided evening tour that takes you off the tourist track and into locals’ favorite bars and restaurants. Tours typically include a few dishes and drinks along the way.

Begin your day with a walking tour featuring a serene stroll among the bamboo groves and temples of Arashiyama and Sagano. Or join a food-focused tour through these districts, visiting many of the same sites and stopping by restaurants and stalls to try local dishes.

Delve deeper into Kyoto’s rich culture, heritage, and history. Don a kimono and participate in a tea ceremony, discover ancient samurai traditions, or attend a Kembu sword performance. Some hands-on experiences include swordsmanship and Zen meditation.

Conclude your visit to Kyoto with a guided walking tour of the famous Gion district, known for geisha and teahouses. Watch a performance by maiko (apprentice geisha) accompanied by traditional Japanese music, followed by a multicourse dinner. Or, book a private meal with a geisha who entertains you with song and dance as you dine.