Uncover the best of Kyoto Day Trip the local Way

"Ahmed was an excellent tour guide in Kyoto. He gave us a private tour - we were a group of four people. He had a solid command of Japanese history, culture and politics. He took us on a fascinating walking tour of Kiyomizu-dera and Gion. We were interested in the history of Japan - imperial and modern - and he did a wonderful job of explaining the connections between Shintoism and Buddhism in the context of Japanese history, politics and culture. His unique background allowed him to provide a fresh perspective on the sociocultural norms in Japan, providing his inside experiences as a newcomer. He was able to answer all of our questions in-depth, and adjust the course of the tour to accommodate our unique interests (e.g., the rituals involving Gaishas). We found Ahmed a very knowledgeable and thoughtful tour guide with exceptional communication and storytelling skills. "

"Perfect. Here's a draft: --- **Ren – Kyoto Local Guide | Kodai-ji Temple & Hidden Bamboo Forest** We booked Ren for an afternoon in Kyoto with our four-month-old daughter and my wife Amelia, who was temporarily using a wheelchair but able to walk short distances and stairs when needed. Ren didn't miss a beat. She adapted the tour completely around our pace and circumstances — unhurried, unflappable, and genuinely warm throughout. She took us to Kodai-ji Temple, which was beautiful and far less crowded than the main tourist trail. The hidden bamboo grove within the grounds was a genuine surprise — quiet, serene, and nothing like the chaos of Arashiyama. Ren's knowledge of the temple was exceptional; she clearly has a deep, personal connection to this city. What made the afternoon feel special was Ren herself. Learning that she'd spent years designing video games at Nintendo — including working on Mario Kart — before moving into life coaching gave us plenty to talk about. She's curious, funny, and easy to be around, and the conversation flowed naturally between the history of Kyoto and her own fascinating story. She also went well beyond the tour itself — sharing tailored restaurant and shop recommendations based on our tastes both before and after the walk. Our only regret was not having more time to explore them all. And the photos. Ren quietly took dozens of family shots throughout the afternoon with a real eye for composition. They're some of the best pictures we have from the entire trip. Highly recommend Ren — especially if you're travelling with young children, or anyone with mobility considerations. We'd love to meet again someday!"

"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 had a fantastic nighttime tour of the Gion district in Kyoto with our guide, Naoki. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating insights about Shinto shrines, demonstrating how to pray there, which deepened our understanding of Japanese spirituality. Naoki also enlightened us about the lives of Geishas, discussing the evolution of this traditional art form. He led us to beautiful photo spots and provided excellent restaurant recommendations, enhancing our experience even further. Overall, Naoki's enthusiasm and expertise made this tour unforgettable. I highly recommend him for anyone wanting to explore Kyoto's rich culture! Kim & Dario"

"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! "

"Ryuki took us to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Our friends had been there the day before, but Ryuki took us to a completely different part they'd not been. We saw a hidden bamboo forest, a shrine stone garden (which was absolutely fascinating), and finished up with some amazing dining recommendations, both in Kyoto and beyond. It was a fantastic experience and we really appreciate Ryuki's knowledge and time helping us to understand his city a bit better. Thank you so much, Ryuki!!"

"My wife and I had a wonderful tour of Kyoto with Simone off our recent Asian Cruise. He took us to some beautiful landmarks but at the same time kept us away from the crowds. We enjoyed some amazing food in local markets and felt totally at ease on our very full and fulfilling day. Simone has a genuine and engaging personality, and we could not have wished for a better guide. Footnote. Our Cruise offered a group excursion to Kyoto for not much difference in cost. They spent over four hours in traffic on the bus and saw one temple. Even though our next tour with them was not as good we still cannot recommend With Locals highly enough. "