Kyoto Private Night Tour: From Gion District To Old Pontocho, 100% Personalized

based on 39 reviews

Duration:4 hours (approx.)
Location: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

From $197.86

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ADULT (Age : 13 to 99)

Free Cancellation

Upto 24 hours in Advance.

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

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Join one of our hosts to explore Kyoto after dark. Amble through the wooden alleyways of historic Gion and see the picturesque streets of old Pontocho. Discover sacred shrines hidden in cosmopolitan shopping areas and share small dishes and beers with your host in a traditional izakaya or tachinomiya (standing bar). Kyoto after dark is more a feeling than a place, and with your host by your side, you’ll tap right into that.

Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Yasaka Shrine
Founded over 1350 years ago, Yasaka is the guardian shrine of the Gion entertainment district in Kyoto. It is well known for its summer festival, the Gion Matsuri (July), arguably the most famous festival in the whole country. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
2. Gion
Kyoto’s most famous Geisha’s district (however, if you spot them, please act respectfully).  Make sure to pay a visit to Hanami-koji street and then cross Tatsumi Bridge to reach Shimbashi, the most picturesque part Gion, with elegant traditional wooden houses of Kyoto housing high-class restaurants, cafés, and tea-houses. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
3. Hanamikoji Street
Hanamikoji Street is the main hanamachi street of Gion-Kōbu in Kyoto. The machiya (traditional Kyoto’s houses) lning proudly along this small cobbled road are wonderfully preserved treasures. And passing by at dusk, may get you the chance to catch the glimpse of a geisha leaving a tea house (ochaya). An appearance as magical as it is furtive. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
4. Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine
Stop by a small but very characteristic shrine in Gion area. An authentic hidden gem! IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
5. Gion Shimbashi Bridge
Cross Tatsumi Bridge to reach Shimbashi, the most picturesque part Gion, with elegant traditional wooden houses of Kyoto housing high-class restaurants, cafes, and tea-houses. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
6. Pontocho District
Pontocho Alley is considered to be the most beautiful street in Kyoto. It’s lined with traditional shops and restaurants, and no cars, modern buildings or gaudy signs are allowed. At dusk, with the red lanterns lining down the narrow street, Pontocho becomes a magical place. And, if you are lucky, you may have the chance of spotting a maiko (apprentice geisha). IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
7. Kamogawa River
It is a long stretch of river running from the Kyoto Basin down south. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the sound of the river flowing and for a breath of fresh air; what better than sit on the bank of the river to relax with a drink in your hand -like locals fancy to do?  During the summer, restaurants open their balconies looking out onto the river. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
8. Kiyamachi?Street
Lined with restaurants, cafes, and bars, this is a great place to have a drink before heading back to your hotel. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Sandra_K
Guid Nehal very helpful and agreed to modify the trip to suit elderly people. Thoughtful and considerate guide. No one should miss this trip when in Kyoto. The food and drink venue unique - good fun.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-02 03:50:40

Posted By : David_B
We had a fantastic time and Michael was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable and showed us parts of Kyoto that we would not have seen. He was extremely friendly and chatty, which made us feel so at ease. Loved the whole experience and could not fault anything. We would definitely recommend Michael as a guide. Thank you
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-16 09:06:09

Posted By : Ed_S
Nehal was an amazing guide for this tour. Our family loved it. He was very knowledgeable about Gion and great company! Thank you!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-04 20:14:14

Posted By : cesareceni
Amazing night walk with stunning Vanessa, highly recommend 🙏
visiting Kyoto after 5pm gives a different feeling of this magnificent town
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-01 21:12:20

Posted By : Linda_D
Wonderful tour with Brenda. She has a deep knowledge of the area, and pointed out and took me to places I never would have found or noticed on my own. We had a wonderful drink and snack at a LOCAL izakawa, that didn't offer any English translations ... absolutely delicious.
Highly recommend.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-31 12:14:11

Posted By : Bethany_R
We are really grateful for the opportunity to have Hanako as a tour guide! We saw historic streets and enjoyed drinks by the river like the locals do! Hanako shared with us many fascinating stories and insights about Japan ranging from hundreds of years ago to modern times. She was also very kind to those of other faiths like myself as a Christian when opting not to pray at a shrine, and she was good at explaining the biggest religions of Japan. She gave us great recommendations for restaurants and stores to shop, letting us know that Kyoto is home to Nintendo’s main office (we later walked past it after the tour and knew the building’s significance)! Hanako was super fun to meet, and it was special being able to share time together. I was quite sad to see her go at the end, but she had recommended to us a super yummy place for dinner after the tour so it was time. Thank you so much for the hard work and friendliness! Hanako, we so appreciate you!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-30 11:44:12

Posted By : Rafidah_O
The guide assigned to us changed the timing of the tour 2 times in 2 days leading up to the tour. The first change was the day before the tour and the 2nd change was a few hours before the tour. We only have 4 days in Kyoto and have set all our activities prior to coming here so that we could cover as many attractions as possible. Changing the timing of the tour just mess our plans up.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-29 11:26:10

Posted By : Ebony_L
Our tour guide, Toga, was great. He responded promptly to our discussions prior to our tour. He was knowledgeable about the city. I asked to go to speakeasy bars and even had my own specific request which he incorporated and even took us to a very cool bar. I would recommend Toga and this tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-27 21:31:56

Posted By : Jordan_L
Sam was a fantastic tour guide and we had a lot of fun! We were able to see a lot and visit several shops and try a lot of new foods. We also went to Yanaka shrine and it was beautiful to see at night. Would highly recommend Sam, he was great and made a very memorable experience!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-27 08:56:39

Posted By : ADAM_L
Absolutely excellent. Super interesting. Relaxed vibe. Quality locations. Guide was a real professional and very knowledgeable. Thanks 🙏
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-01-04 20:53:56