Kyoto

Treasures of Kyoto: Geishas & Traditions Private Tour

Badge of ExcellenceKyoto, Japan
Geisha Private Tour Kyoto
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Kyoto is known for its Geisha culture, stunning temples, and ancient traditions—but without insider knowledge or comprehensive research, it can be tricky to design a whistle-stop itinerary. With this tour, enjoy the company of a private guide to take you around Kyoto and showcase its hidden treasures. Find out about the city’s history, and tick off highlights, such as Minamiza Theatre, Shijo Dori, and Yasaka Shrine.
  • Private tour of Kyoto that’s ideal for time-tight travelers
  • Tick off Gion, Maruyama Park, and Yasaka Shrine in a day
  • Learn about Geisha culture, ancient shrines, and Japanese traditions
  • Explore Kyoto’s backstreets with a guide to navigate so you don’t get lost

What's Included

  • Private Tour
  • Local Guide
  • This tour is carbon neutral
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • Food & beverages not listed as inclusions

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Kawabatacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0076, Japan

    The host will meet you in front of the statue of Izumo no Okuni.

End point

  • Yasaka Kamimachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0827, Japan

    Yasaka no To temple

What To Expect

Statue of Izumo no Okuni

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Minamiza Theater

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gion

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Shinbashi Dori

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chion-in Temple

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Maruyama Park

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Yasaka Shrine

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Shijo Dori

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nene-no-Michi

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Yasaka Shrine

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

5.0
27 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 27 reviews
BEST Experience learning about the Kyoto Gion District!
Jack_M, Apr 2024
We had a great experience with our tour guide, Ted-san! He was an amazing guide who had so much passion and knowledge of Kyoto. He really went above and beyond to make our experience the best possible. Would 10/10 recommend him to anyone traveling to Kyoto!!
Highly recommend
RALUCA_G, Mar 2024
Lovely afternoon spent with Ted, our guide, in Gion. Learned a whole lot about the geiko traditions and differences between Buddhism and Shinto. Highly recommend!!
Ted was Wonderful
Megan_M, Mar 2024
Ted was a wonderful tour guide with extensive knowledge and respect for Kyoto and the Geisha community. We learned a lot. He was fantastic with our children (age 10 and 14) who asked many questions. He had a detailed answer for every inquiry. We would explore with him again in the future.
Very knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly
Emily_M, Mar 2024
Ted was a lovely guide and we had a lot of fun with him on this tour. He’s very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the history and tradition of Kyoto, and you could tell he was passionate about passing on Japanese culture to us. He even gave us a ton of suggestions for more places to visit and restaurants to try for the rest of our time in Kyoto, based on our interests and how much time we had left on our trip.
Loved our tour with Maha.
Jennifer_F, Dec 2023
We saw a beautiful temple and grounds we would not have found on our own. Our tour guide steered us away from the crowds which we appreciated. She was kind and informative and we enjoyed our time with her.
Awesome tour!!
Robert_D, Sep 2023
Kako was very knowledgeable and interesting! We loved all three stops and Kako made them fun in spite of the rain. Our first stop at The Shinto Shrine was our favorite, the Second one was the Buddhist Temple (wow, we couldn’t believe how many hundreds of Buddhas there were)! Shogun palace was educational and we were fascinated by the nightingale floor in particular and understanding the role of the Shogun.
An enjoyable tour through Gion’s history/Geisha culture
Estelle_E, Jul 2023
Ted was an informative and knowledgeable guide to Gion and the Geisha life. He had a good understanding of the history and conveyed that during the tour. Highly recommend!
Fantastic tour guide
Briony_C, May 2023
Guia was a sensational guide. She had so much knowledge and her stories really brought the tour to life for us.
Fantastic experience, informative and fun
Madalina_L, Mar 2023
Ted was an amazing guide, he was very informative, provided a great cultural background to the sites we visited, was engaging and given the fact that I was with my 12 year old son, he adapted the script to include my son into the conversations...great tour!
A great tour to familiarise yourself with Gion!
Jasmine_N, Nov 2022
Shohei was very warm and friendly, which characterised our tour: it felt like being lead around Gion by a very knowledgeable local friend! Our meeting spot was easy to find, the pace of the tour was very relaxed, and we had plenty of time to stop and take photos, ask questions, and just generally meander and get to know more about Japanese culture, customs and history through conversation as we walked and explored the neighbourhood.
Likely to Sell Out

From $116.36

Price varies by group size

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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