Experience Day Trips in Kyoto with Withlocals

"We had the absolute pleasure of doing a guided tour of Kyoto with Eiji, and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very beginning, he was incredibly warm, kind, and welcoming — the kind of person who instantly makes you feel at ease. He’s extremely knowledgeable and shared so many fascinating stories and historical insights about Kyoto that really brought the city to life. What stood out the most was how thoughtful and patient he was with us throughout the entire experience. Eiji went out of his way to take so many beautiful photos of us along the way — such a kind gesture — and even sent them afterward to us, which meant the world to us. It’s little things like that which make a guide truly special. Overall, Eiji is not only an amazing guide but a genuinely lovely person. We were so grateful to have met him and will remember this day fondly. Thank you, Eiji!"

"We had a great time with Eiji in Nara. He showed us lots of great places skipping most of the crowds. He’s a kalm nice man we really loved his way of explaining everything to us. we made an extra stop to see the Fusjimi-Inari! 🤩"

"Better late than never! Teddy-san was amazing. He was very responsive and more than willing to modify our tour to include a location we requested. He also recommended some temple night illumination events, and we’re so glad we followed his advice. The experience was absolutely beautiful! We also lost a souvenir we had bought for our niece and described to him where we had purchased it, but we couldn’t remember how to get back there. At the end of the tour, Teddy went out of his way to take us to the place he thought matched our description. It was such a kind and thoughtful gesture. We highly recommend Teddy—he’s sociable, very nice, and a fantastic guide."

"We had an amazing experience with Guia as our guide in the bamboo forest and Arashiyama! Her deep knowledge of the area’s history added so much value to our visit. Guia was incredibly patient and flexible, seamlessly adjusting the itinerary to suit our needs. As a family with varying ages, we were especially grateful for how well she connected with everyone, making sure each person felt engaged and included. Her warmth and attentiveness made this tour truly special. Highly recommend Guia for anyone looking to explore this beautiful area with an expert guide!"

"We had a great day in Nara with our guide, Sebastian. We met up at the Kyoto train station and from there Sebastian took over. The train ride to Nara was quick (40 minutes) and easy. Once in Nara it’s a 5 minute walk to Deer Park. There are hundreds of deer all over. The best place to feed them is closer to the Todaiji Temple. The Temple is pretty amazing. You will see the largest bronze Buddha in Japan. On the way home we stopped in the small town of Uji. It’s the home of matcha. Lots of small shops and a few temples. Great scenery. I would highly recommend this tour and booking Sebastian if available. "

"Mako completed our day in Kyoto wirh her charm and grace. She knew so much about the city and highlights, (local short cuts also) our day was flawless. I would highly recommend Mako for your day in Kyoto."

"Olli was a very nice and courteous guide. he adapted the route to my wishes and was even able to show me a few hidden corners and paths that weren't so crowded. so we had a little more peace. At the end he showed me a very nice café and gave me a few addresses and tips for the coming days. it was very nice excursion and I recommend it"

"Eiji is a lovely guide, taking us to Arashyiyama and then to two wonderful temples. Eiji is well informed and was eager to meet our needs for both sights and restaurants and to see things at a pace that allowed us to appreciate everything. Thank you for a memorable day."

"Great tour! Shohei was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our party's dietary needs. We say a lot of stuff in a short time and if was great having a guide to help us through the madness and not get too caught up in one place. Definitely recommend."

"My 16 yr old son and I took a tour of Arishiyama Bamboo Forest, a villa, and the town area with Guia. My son was dead set against a tour at first, and afterward he raved about what a wonderful time it was and how he is “now sold on tours”! Guia was knowledgable and a great guide who knew how to pivot when some places were closed due to our need for a late start. We highly recommend a tour with her!"