Uncover the best of Kyoto Day Trip the local Way

"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"

"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. "

"We had a wonderful morning treading the very busy path of Gion in Kyoto with Naoki! We honestly wouldn't have managed to see so much without his guiding us through the bustle of tourists everywhere! His knowledge of temples, shrines, Japanese history, along with his very upbeat personality, was a pleasure to experience, and all the more positive as his English is so good! At the end of our tour he even managed to take us to a food emporium which stocked all the Japanese ingredients I had been interested in. We found out we had a common love of good food! Don't hesitate to book him if you can - he's the real deal! Hope our paths cross again Naoki! Best wishes..."

"Meeting Ted was a highlight of our time in Kyoto. We spent 3 hours with Ted exploring Nishiki Market - he guided us through the very best places to eat, the history behind some of the long standing market stalls, which tourist traps to avoid, all whilst getting hands-on and experiencing all the unique foods to Japan. Ted was the most incredible host and his English is fantastic! It was super special to have Ted exclusively to ourselves on our own private tour. He answered all our questions and even suggested some great foodie spots for our time coming up in Osaka. Thank you, Ted, for making our time so special! "

"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."

"I can’t say enough wonderful things about this private tour through Osaka and Kyoto. From beginning to end, the experience was exceptional. Our guide was incredibly patient, thoughtful, and thorough, making sure every part of the tour felt comfortable, personalized, and stress-free. What truly stood out was his kindness and the depth of knowledge he shared—everywhere we went, he provided fascinating insights and stories about Japan that made each location come alive. It made the entire experience so much more enriching and engaging. He also allowed us to fully customize the tour to our interests, which made it feel uniquely tailored to us. Traveling with my mother, I especially appreciated how attentive and caring he was toward both of us over the two days. This was easily one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a meaningful and memorable experience in Japan!"

"Yoshihiro was the 6th guide on our vacation in Japan. His fluent English was truly impressive. He was very attentive and caring. About a month in advance, he prepared a tour based on my requests. He also gave me great tips about special things to do in Kyoto, even if they weren’t part of his own tour. He provided excellent recommendations on where to eat and what to see. More importantly, he was the first guide who truly knew the places he showed us in depth. He is very knowledgeable and highly professional at what he does. Even after his tour ended, he continued to advise us on where to go next, and thanks to him, we had a wonderful day. If you explore Kyoto with him, you’ll be very lucky. "