Uncover the best of Nijo Castle the local Way

"Our family of five had an incredible experience with Ryuki as our guide in Kyoto. From the moment we met him, his warm, jovial personality made the day enjoyable and engaging for everyone. Being a Kyoto native and someone who studied Japanese history, Ryuki’s knowledge of the city, its culture, and its historical sites was exceptional. He didn’t just point out landmarks—he brought them to life with fascinating stories and local insights that gave us a much deeper appreciation for Kyoto. What really impressed us was how expertly he managed the day. He adjusted our schedule on the fly to avoid the busiest times and routes, allowing us to experience even Kyoto’s most popular attractions with surprisingly few crowds. It felt like we had insider access to the city. Ryuki also knew all the perfect spots for family photos, helping us capture some of our favorite memories from the trip. His attention to detail and ability to balance history, sightseeing, and fun made the entire experience seamless. By the end of the tour, we felt like we had not only seen Kyoto but truly understood it. We enjoyed our day so much that I’ve already recommended Ryuki to friends who are planning to visit Kyoto. If you’re traveling with family—or really anyone looking for an engaging, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun guide—I highly recommend Ryuki. He was one of the highlights of our time in Japan."

"Naoki was an amazing guide, we covered so much in our 8 hour tour during a rainy day in June. Without Naoki we would not have understood the history behind the sites and got an understanding of Shinto religion and how to pray properly. My son ended up losing his passport and Naoki made calls to follow up afterwards. He is very thoughtful and kind. We used him the following night for a quick city tour of Osaka. Highly recommend! "

"For not to be a Japanese guide Sebastian know very well their culture and history. Very friendly and respectful with my family 100% recomended!!"

"My tour with Guia was memorable in so many ways. Guia was so friendly and easy to get along with- throughout the day. Our conversations about Japanese culture were very enlightening. We visited many iconic sites and Guia provided historical background and context for each. Her knowledge of Japanese history, religion and culture was amazing. The details she pointed out and the historical anecdotes at each of our stops were fascinating. The pace was easy and the day flew by- far too quickly. I was totally satisfied with the content of the tour and the incredible knowledge of my guide. I wholeheartedly recommend that you select Guia to show you Kyoto- she is an amazing woman and an exceptional tour guide. "

"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! "

"Ryuki was amazing. He’s personable, funny, and planned a really fun day for our family and friends. He was great with both the adults and kids! We felt like we were just spending a day with a very knowledgeable friend. Highly recommend! "

"Naoki has made our first time in Japan as he made it a truly rich and memorable experience! We booked 2 days with Naoki - one in Kyoto and another in Nara. He curated a great itinerary that connected history, culture, nature and food across both cities and was inclusive to my sister who is disabled. We particularly enjoyed seeing the quieter sides of busy tourist sites, and visiting Uji, which we hadn't thought of doing until Naoki had made the suggestion.  His communication was fantastic when organising the tour, even letting us know what the weather would be like on the day! During the tour, he was flexible and adjusted the tour to our pace without it feeling cut short. Even on our days without him, he provided us with amazing recommendations for food, shows and shrines to visit.  Please book with Naoki if you want a guide with great local knowledge and who will go above and beyond! "

"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 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! "

"Eiji is terrific guide to all of Kyoto. We were able to do so much more than we would have on our own. Well worth the investment "