Uncover the best of Nijo Castle the local Way

"Naoki-San is an incredible, knowledgeable and entertaining guide! We have a certain knowledge about Japan and we even know bits and pieces about Kyoto. Still, Naoki gave us great additional information, gave us a lot of social-historical background and let us see really hidden gems of Kyoto. Great links from the “past” to the “present”. Yet, his tour is extremely entertaining, he fully caters for the needs of his clients and he does this in an entertaining and witty way. We did not only learn a lot, but we also had a lot of fun a good laugh! The tour was brilliant and we even had an immediate second booking with Naoki (a food tour including an extraordinary bicycle tour) that manifested our extremely positive impression of the first day. I strongly recommend Naoki-san. Naoki: YOU ARE BRILLIANT! "

"We were a group of 4 friends and our day with Simone was our first day in Kyoto. Booking with him was one of the best decision we’ve made the entire trip as not only was he one of the only Italian guides in Japan but he was also incredibly helpful, fun and knowledgeable. He contacted us as soon as we booked to make sure our tour was crafted to perfection to our tastes and made sure to include even the smallest thing we were eager to see. In tue end it felt like we spent a day with a long time friend. I’ll recommend him to anyone who asks me! Thanks again to Simone! "

"Tiro was an incredible guide! His passion and energy really made this tour unforgettable. He adapted the tour to our preferences not only in the planning of the day but throughout the day as well. He made incredible recommendations based on our tastes and prioritized our comfort throughout the day with any breaks or detours that we needed. Tito was extremely knowledgeable about every area we visited and we always felt like we were in very good hands. Highly recommend Tiro and this tour to anyone looking to explore Kyoto! "

"We spent a full day with Ryuki exploring Kyoto and it was the best decision we made on our trip. He had a way of reading the moment, knowing when to share the history behind a shrine and when to just let you take it in quietly. Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt scripted. He took us to spots we never would have found on our own and somehow kept us ahead of the crowds the entire day. His English was excellent and his knowledge went way beyond the surface-level stuff you get from a guidebook. He clearly loves the city. If you’re visiting Kyoto, book Ryuki. Worth every yen."

"If you’re expecting a tour guide, Shohei will pleasantly surprise you — because spending the day with him feels nothing like a tour. It feels like exploring Kyoto with a brilliant, hilarious friend who knows everything about it. Shohei took us through Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, and Kiyomizudera with the kind of depth and storytelling that made each site come alive rather than blur together. His knowledge is impressive, but it’s his warmth and humor that set this experience apart. We laughed the entire day. The highlight we didn’t expect: lunch in his local neighborhood. No tourist traps — just great food. This was the best day of our trip to Japan. Book with Shohei, you won't be disappointed. "

"Eiji was a fantastic guide!! We toured on a rainy day and he planned a great itinerary that hit all the needed high points, adjusted for things we had already seen, and pivoted to other options for the rain, while still seeing amazing things. He’s funny, kind and very personable. Very nice and understanding of children. Very educational to talk to a local about Kyoto life and Japanese culture. Kyoto has great sites and a LOT of them. For us, this tour helped us see way more than we could have alone. Lastly, and this was AMAZING, he took lots of great pictures of our group, in all the right stops, avoiding crowds as much as possible. It was an incredible gift to have all these well shot photos of our family all together. All in all, a great experience and many thanks to Eiji!!"

"What a magical day we enjoyed in Kyoto with our guide, Sebastian. He collected us off our ship in Kobe and drove us to Kyoto. We visited four of the most impressive sights and enjoyed the best sushi experience possible. Sebastian is patient, kind and helpful, knowledgable, flexible and informative. I would highly recommend him as a tour guide. "