Uncover the best of Nijo Castle the local Way

"Guia is an outstanding tour guide, the epitome of customer satisfaction and going out of her way for us—pleasant, joyful, and a true professional. She is fun to talk to. Her excellent english communication skills and deep knowledge of Kyoto made every moment of the tour informative and enjoyable. What truly set her apart is her dedication to her customers; she goes above and beyond to ensure her clients have the best possible experience. I asked her, a few weeks before we left for Japan, if she knows of a Ryokan with western style beds, near our tour area that was full service including meals; she, on her own, inspected several and emailed her favorite to us, with the estimated price and the website link. I made the reservation and the stay the the Ryokan she selected for us (no charge by her) was one of the vacation highlights for us - is was perfect. With Guia, you’re not just taking a tour—you’re gaining a memorable, enriching journey led by someone who genuinely cares."

"We (millenial couple from the UK) had such a great time with Ryuki as our guide in Kyoto! He was warm, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable — exactly what we were hoping for. We were curious about all the little historical details and Ryuki had answers (and stories) for everything. He also brought us to an amazing local lunch spot and had us tasting all kinds of delicious snacks throughout the day, always honest about what was worth trying. Even though he does these tours often, he was super patient with us stopping for photos at every tourist spot (thanks Ryuki!) and he blended our planned itinerary with his own suggestions perfectly. Plus, being from Kyoto himself, his personal stories really brought everything to life. We would’ve happily done 2–3 more days with him if we could’ve — highly recommend! P.s. we visited like 5 different sites in one day in 8 hours, absolutely insane performance :)"

"We had booked our full day tour with Ahmed, but he was ill and offered a replacement guide instead. It was a little confusing, I wasn't sure who would show up or what the new guide's name was, but Manabu turned out to be fantastic and we had a great day. It was actually serendipitous, he was a former novice monk, so he had a lot to teach us about Shinto/Buddhism, the temples, the omamori, and even looked up our individual Buddhas. He knew a lot of places to go where the crowds were less intense, but being high season, the crowds were still intense. Ahmed had advised us to hire a driver for USD $500+ for the day to avoid packed public transit, but that wasn't in our budget after paying $700+ for the tour itself (for 3 people). We ended up using taxis instead, which was much more cost effective and much easier. We never had a problem finding a taxi, and it was not expensive. I'd recommend that for anyone, it was very convenient and the best of all worlds. We were able to see more and do more without time wasted on buses and trams, and it was nice to get a break from the crowds. The eight hours flew by, we had a wonderful day despite being jetlagged. Really glad we chose the full day tour, and wish we had more time to explore in Kyoto with what we learned! I think Manabu is not normally a Withlocals guide, but if I could choose him again, I would. "

"Let me just say Eiji is absolutely the most amazing person!! He is so knowledgeable about everything and very sweet! He knows all the next places, the best photo spots and was able to find the best place to eat with my friends seafood allergy"

"We had the pleasure of being guided through Kyoto yesterday by Eiji on an 8-hour walking tour and he was terrific. Super friendly and knowledgeable, he showed us city highlights based on our interests and made sure we enjoyed the experience every step of the way. Having an expert navigate us through historic gems and city transit, all while taking amazing photos, created an unforgettable experience. "

"We had such a wonderful time with Sebastian. He had so much knowledge about each stop and created the best schedule to avoid the crowds and make the best use of the time. The meals we had were really special and highlighted local ingredients for super reasonable prices. I would highly recommend him as a guide. "

"She was very informative and she knew a lot of hidden secrets about Kyoto. Also went to really cool Japanese sword shop. Had food a great restaurant and walked a lot and enjoyed every minute."

"Fijne persoon die ons Kyoto op zijn best liet ontdekken overgoten met de juiste commentaren en tips. Een echte aanrader wat ons betreft !"

"We had a wonderful day with Guia. She shared a lot of information about the sites and most of all about tradition and habits of Japan. She is friendly, happy and energetic and she accommodated all our request. Also my daughter of 13 enjoyed her company and the full day was fantastic! In addition her English is absolutely perfect!! "

"We recently had the pleasure of taking a guided tour in Kyoto, and I cannot recommend our guide enough! With years of experience under her belt, she truly brought the city to life with her deep knowledge of its rich history and cultural nuances. Our day was wonderfully organized and flowed smoothly from start to finish, thanks to her meticulous planning. She was incredibly helpful, answering all our questions and providing insightful recommendations that enhanced our experience. From exploring beautiful temples to tasting local delicacies, every moment was memorable. Overall, our day in Kyoto surpassed our expectations, and we are grateful to our guide for making it so special. If you're considering a tour in Kyoto, definitely seek out her expertise for an unforgettable experience!"