The Best Guided Tours of Kyoto

Kyoto Japan is an ancient city located on the island of Honshu. It is one of the most culturally significant cities in the world. This popular tourist destination is home to beautiful temples, shrines, and imperial palaces. With so much to see and learn, many visitors opt for guided Kyoto tours of the city’s most interesting sites. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best guided tours of Kyoto for every type of traveler.

Best Matcha Tour in Kyoto

matcha tour kyoto japan

The umami taste of matcha has become a favorite of tea lovers all over the world. If you want to try the real deal, though, the Matcha Green Tea Tour in Kyoto’s Uji Market is for you. With the help of an expert Kyoto tour guide, you’ll follow the journey of matcha from field to market. You’ll even get to participate in the making of matcha. The best in Kyoto food tours finishes with the opportunity to sample teas and matcha-flavored sweets from the matcha capital of the world. Matcha food and drink and matcha making are included in the price of this ultimate Kyoto matcha tour. Lunch is also included.

Most Adventurous Kyoto Tour

cycling tour kyoto japan

Some travelers would take fast-paced over relaxing when it comes to their vacation. If this sounds like you, the Kyoto Historical Cycling Tour with the Golden Pavilion may pique your interest. You’ll see the absolute best of Kyoto by bike in just three and a half hours. As you pedal back in time on one of the most adventurous day tours in Kyoto, you’ll see and learn about Nijo Castle, Seimei Shrine, the Golden Pavillion, and the Imperial Palace. You’ll also enjoy lunch at a Japanese tea house. This exciting option for Kyoto bike tours includes lunch, water, entrance to the Golden Pavilion, and all the cycling gear you need.

Best Sake Brewery Tour in Kyoto

sake brewery tour kyoto

Made from fermented rice, sake has almost three times the alcohol content of one beer. Up to the challenge? Take the Sake Brewery Tour in Kyoto. You’ll spend three hours in the sake brewing district of Fushimi learning about this Japanese national beverage. You’ll learn just how the brewers have been crafting this drink for centuries and how to pair it with local cuisine. And your tour certainly wouldn’t be complete without a tasting. The sake tasting and lunch at a local restaurant are included in the cost of one of the best sake tours Kyoto has to offer.

Best Kyoto & Nara Guided Tour

deer grazing grass in nara park sakura cherry blossom trees

Located in such close proximity, it would be a shame to visit Kyoto and not pay a visit to the nearby deer city of Nara. For those with limited time, this Kyoto and Nara Day Tour from Kyoto is the ultimate way to see the highlights of both cities and enjoy a convenient transfer between them. Starting the morning in Kyoto, you’ll visit the world-famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and explore the Kikaku-ji Temple. Then head over to Nara, where you’ll admire the Todai-ji Temple and interact with the local deer. By 6pm, you’ll be back in Kyoto with an incredible day’s worth of memories.

Most Comprehensive Kyoto Tour

best guided tours of kyoto

If you have more than a few hours or a day to spend in Kyoto, why not make the most of it? The Kyoto 5-Day Tour Package is sure to give you the best experience of the city. This tour is truly comprehensive, covering the highlights of most of the tours listed above. You’ll try matcha, cycle, visit UNESCO world heritage sites, and more. The tour also includes the added experiences of a 10-course dinner and overnight stays in Kyoto, making it the best in Kyoto foodie tours, cultural tours, adventure tours, and everything in between. Accommodations, entrance fees, and food and tasting costs are included in this incredible tour.

Best Japan Tour Package

japan tour package

For the traveler with a lot of time who needs lots of places to visit, the 8-Day Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka Tour Package will paint the perfect picture of Japan. In Kyoto, you’ll experience the Arashiyama District and the Pontocho and Gion Shirakawa, sampling the Japanese fish delicacy sashimi. You’ll also see the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Great Buddha statue in Tokyo. Travel from Kyoto to Nara and Osaka, where you’ll indulge your senses even more through tastings and sites like the Grand Temple. The tour includes the cost of accommodations, food, and entrance fees at hand-picked locations. 

Say “Hello” to Kyoto with Tourist Japan!

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced traveler, taking one of these Kyoto guided tours is a great way to learn more about the city’s history and culture. From trying teas and sake to strolling around the Imperial Palace grounds, there are tours available for all interests.

Your friends at Tourist Japan offer all of the Kyoto tour packages listed above, as well as plenty of other Kyoto tours to suit every time frame, budget, and interest. And if you want to take planning into your own hands, we also write great guides to the area and tips for those traveling to Japan on a budget. We have incredibly helpful travel, bar, and hotel guides to Kyoto so you can travel in the know. We also have guides to specific locations, like the Yasaka Koshin-do Temple and the Imperial Palace.

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