Experience tomorrow the best of
Kyoto with Withlocals

"We had a great morning with Ted! He took time to share parts of Kyoto with us and we saw parts we wouldn’t have found alone Ted was also awesome with our kids and was patient and told us everything answering questions along the way"

"We really enjoyed our introduction to Kyoto. Guía was great and very knowledgeable about the city and Japan more generally. Thank you for sharing your beautiful city with us!"

"As someone who works in the tourism industry and organizes group experiences around the world, I have very high expectations when it comes to guides—and I can confidently say that working with Tiro in Kyoto was an absolute pleasure. I was planning a tour for three families (5 adults and 5 children), which is no small task. From the very beginning, he was organized, professional, and incredibly easy to work with. Throughout the day, he kept everyone engaged, seamlessly balancing the interests of both the adults and the children. His knowledge of Japan’s history, culture, traditions, and local way of life was exceptional. Every stop came with fascinating stories and context that brought Kyoto to life, and his recommendations—whether for food, hidden gems, or local experiences—were outstanding. What impressed me most, however, was his ability to adapt. When circumstances required our plans to change, he pivoted effortlessly. Not only did he find excellent alternatives, but he managed everything so smoothly that our group never even realized the itinerary had been adjusted. That’s the mark of an exceptional guide. Beyond his knowledge, his personality truly sets him apart. He is warm, patient, personable, and has a natural ability to connect with people of all ages. The children genuinely enjoyed spending time with him just as much as the adults did, which is a rare quality. As a tourism professional, I genuinely believe he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Guides with this combination of professionalism, adaptability, knowledge, and charisma are hard to find. I look forward to working with him on many more tours in the future and would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in Kyoto."

"Marielle guided us through Kyoto, and gave us all the details in a very enthousiast manner. We really enjoyed her laughs! Tour was adapated to our interests, and she gave us plenty of tips for the days to come! Book her, you will not be disappointed!!"

"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! "

"Shohei was a great guide and gave us a perfect short overview of Kyoto. He was especially good with our three tired kids on a hot day!"

"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."

"We had a 2 1/2 hour tour with Ted. Ted was very kind and knowledgeable. He speaks both Japanese and English and gave an authentic and interesting tour of the Gion District. He was able to talk to both adults and children equally well. He went out of his way to give recommendations for things we could do later in the day and week. Can’t wait to return and take another tour with Ted!"

"Ren was amazing from our very first communication. It felt like she committed 100% of her energy—just for us—ensuring our experience was not only memorable but also heartfelt. Her attentiveness, care and personal touch can not be overstated. A gem of a human who we are now very happy to call our friend. "

"Tour with Naoki was the best possible way to experience Kyoto! He is kind and open-hearted, witty and speaks excellent English. As soon as we met, we knew we want to book another tour with him :) he went above and beyond to take care of everyone in our mixed age group. Naoki took us to many amazing places with few or almost no tourists. Authentical Kyoto, magical, interesting, quiet…without the crowds we heard so much about. We appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with a local and talk about everyday life, too. Naoki lived abroad for a while, so he’s very open-minded and easy to connect with. We really enjoyed his company! Don’t think twice, just book any tour with Naoki, he will do his best to tailor it according to your wishes ❤️"