NIGHT WALKING TOURS IN KYOTO
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 5 night walking tours in Kyoto worth the money, each with its price, its length and the one thing to know before you commit.
Spend 100 minutes walking through nighttime Gion with an English-speaking guide such as Mia, Mie, or Chako. Learn how geiko and maiko dress, train, and work, see streets linked with Memoirs of a Geisha, and get clear advice on respectful behavior. Encounters with geiko or maiko can happen, but are never guaranteed.
“Great experience and our guide was incredibly knowledgable about the geisha culture!”
Walk through Gion after dark with an English-speaking guide such as Naoki, Jasmine, Miyake, or Raphael. In about three hours, you’ll see lantern-lit lanes, Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine, and lesser-known stops. The tour suits curious first-time visitors, though expect steady walking and no guarantee of seeing a geisha or maiko.
“This was one of our favorite tours of our trip! Naoki was very nice and shared so much information about Kyoto and the culture. We learned so much!”
Walk Gion for about two hours with an English-speaking guide such as Mia, Mai, or Cheko. You’ll follow narrow lanes beside the Shirakawa River, learn about Geiko and Maiko culture, and visit places linked with Memoirs of a Geisha. The group tour starts at 5:30 pm, with a smaller-group option available.
“Our guide was the most experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to Gion and Geiko Maiko and their life and history which is amazing. Mia was very sweet and seemed to know what she is talking about. I was so mesmerized by her stories I signed up for a private dinner with Maiko San the very next day.”
Walk Kyoto’s Gion district from Kyoto Kawaramachi Garden to Sanjo Bridge in about three hours. Your English, Spanish, or French-speaking guide may be Jasmine, Vincent, Alex, Raphael, or another local guide. Expect Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Pontocho, temple and shrine stops, cultural stories, and a local snack.
“Everyone in our group loved the tour with Jasmine! Recommend it! :)”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Fushimi Inari’s main entrance for a two-hour evening walk beneath thousands of vermilion torii gates. Guides such as Hiro, Jem, Tammy, Vincent, and Caleb explain Shinto customs, shrine history, and photo spots. The tour visits only part of the mountain, not the summit.
“The tour was awesome. Caleb was knowledgeable and passionate about the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. Yes it is free to go yourself, but it’s worth it to book this tour to get the historical significance of it. I would recommend, thank you!”
Pick a city, a century or a supper.
