Kyoto · KYOTO TEMPLE TOURS
A temple with a guide is a different building from a temple without one. These 15 visits are compared on how many stops they make, whether entry fees are included, and how much walking sits between them.
Join a 70-minute matcha ceremony at Kyoto’s Jotokuji Temple, learn the meaning behind chanoyu, and make tea in a small English-speaking group.
“We had the most incredible experience and cannot recommend enough!”
Review of Kyoto’s Arashiyama walking tour, with bamboo, temples, gardens, monkeys, green tea, and an optional local sake brewery visit.
“Myself and my partner did the tour with Francis and it was amazing! Such a friendly and kind person that also taught us many things about shrine and temple traditions. I would highly recommend to anybody!”
Review of Kyoto’s Arashiyama tour with Tenryu-ji, bamboo forest, matcha, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Monkey Park views.
“Walking through that bamboo grove felt like entering a natural temple. The towering stalks swaying overhead created such a calming, otherworldly atmosphere. Combined with the actual temple visit, this tour beautifully balances spiritual and natural experiences.”
Review Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, with Omuro sakura, a five-story pagoda, gardens, museum access, seasonal tips, and practical advice.
Walk Kyoto’s Tofukuji temples, learn zazen from a monk, admire a Zen garden, and enjoy a traditional Buddhist lunch in a small group.
“I highly recommend this tour. It was probably one of our most memorable moments in Kyoto. Hikari was our guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the different temples, the organization of them and the history. The tour felt very calm and meditative just from her demeanor and voice. The best part of the tour was the one hour meditation. The monk who led the meditation only spoke Japanese, so Hikari prepped us before with what to expect. There was a brief break in the middle, and she also translated for us some of the additional tips and history he shared. At the end, the monk came over and spoke with…”
Practice zazen with a Zen abbot, learn matcha etiquette, and enjoy seasonal sweets in a 400-year-old garden at Jusho-in Temple.
“This was a great activity. Very kind, sincere guides and chief monk. There was ample time for asking questions and for practicing meditation. Much enjoyed!”
Explore Kyoto’s Arashiyama with Tenryu-ji, the Bamboo Grove, matcha, Togetsu-kyo Bridge, and wild monkeys on a four-hour guided walk.
“Very informative, our guide Chelsea had fantastic knowledge on all aspects of Japanese culture and history. So it was a fantastic opportunity to ask lots of questions and understand how the Japanese culture was built. We loved our group and the monkeys are super cute! Such a fantastic tour.”
Explore Arashiyama’s bamboo forest, gardens, temples, matcha, bridge, shopping street, and monkey park on a five-hour Kyoto walk.
“Tom was a fantastic tour guide. He was helpful and informative and interesting. The pace is not fast and we got to see so many important and interesting sites of the area.”
Practice Zazen with a monk at a private Kyoto temple, enjoy matcha and gardens, and learn about Zen in a calm 90-minute session.
“Nice guide and friendly monk. Very good to get to know the life in a monastery.”
Learn Japanese calligraphy in a Kyoto Buddhist temple, choose your kanji, and take home a handmade shikishi artwork and keychain.
“I had a wonderful time! It was such a fun workshop, although it's definitely more difficult than it looks. I accidentally booked the workshop in Dutch (my native language) instead of in English, but in the end it worked out great because I had great chats with my translator and she taught me a lot about life in Japan. Thank you so much for the fun workshop :)”
Cycle Kyoto’s temples, Kamogawa River, Gion streets, and a traditional lunch in a small English-speaking group.
“I had a great day biking around Kyoto with Yusuke! I wasn’t expecting it to be a private tour but that was a nice surprise because I could go at my own pace. Yusuke was a super friendly and knowledgeable guide - he made sure I was comfoRead more”
Walk Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera with a local guide, sip matcha in a tea ceremony, sample snacks, and explore historic temple streets.
“Our tour guide, Hide with Magical Trips, was incredible. So friendly and knowledgable. The man who gave us our tea ceremony was Haruki and he was so sweet and entertaining. This was a really great tour experience!”
Practice zazen with a monk, tour Kyoto Zen gardens, and enjoy a traditional Buddhist lunch in a small English-speaking group.
“We really enjoy the experience and our guide Yutaka was really funny and made us have good fun. thank you!”
Cycle Kyoto’s Gion streets, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Tofukuji Temple by e-bike with local guide Maki on a relaxed four-hour tour.
“A must have in Tokyo! The e-bike tour with Maki is an absolute MUST in Tokyo. She is the best guide ever - entertainig, simple, interesting. We were two adults and two adolescent kids, we had fun and learned so many things about Japan culture and tradition. The ride is easy, safe and brings you not only to the attractions, but goes along wonderful residential streets that you would normally never see. Book this tour with no doubt, recommended. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟”
Explore Uji’s finest green tea, Byodoin, Ujigami Shrine, and Koshoji with an English-speaking guide on a four-hour Kyoto side trip.
“Our guide, Ferdinand, was exceptional, making the entire experience truly wholesome and deeply enriching. I gained a much greater understanding of Uji and Japan as a whole, including the cultural nuances and serene nature of its people. The selection of temples and the tea experience were impeccable, and the immersive tour was seamlessly executed. This was by far one of the best tours I’ve taken in Japan, and I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking an authentic and meaningful experience.”
