City of Culture Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan
From USD 52.42
Office phone number: +81 (0)50 5532 5110
City of Culture Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Kyoto may no longer be the capital of Japan, but it’s staged a comeback and is now considered Japan's capital of culture. Take that Tokyo! Join this Kyoto tour to learn about zen gardens, Geisha and all things Kyoto.
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Highlights
- Experience the peacefulness of a Zen rock garden at the Tofukuji Temple
- Experience daily life in a local neighbourhood
- Walk through Kyoto’s famous red tori gates and spot the fox statues at Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Discover the unique Geisha culture in the historical entertainment district of Gion
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour you visit many places with cultural significance, including shrines, temples, Zen Gardens and the Geisha district, which helps protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Kyoto.
- Included in the price of your tour is the entrance fee to Tofukiji, which helps maintain the site.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point: In front of Central post office on the north side of Kyoto station. "Chu-o yu-bin-kyo-ku" (Central post office) is less than a minute walk from the station. Please meet in front of the door closer to the convenience store "Lawson".
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM, 2.00 PM
- Ending point:
Gion neighborhood.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation fare during tour, entry to Tofukiji.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, transportation to/from the meeting and end points, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Experience the temples, shrines and gardens that make Kyoto Japan’s capital of culture on this unique tour of the city. Founded as the national capital more than 1,200 years ago, Kyoto originally developed as a centre of aristocratic culture, and is most famous for its Zen gardens and Geisha traditions.
On this Kyoto tour, you'll discover some of the magic of the city through cultural explorations and local experiences. First we'll head to one of the city’s must-see sights, the Tofukuji Temple. Originally built in the 13th century, and famous for its traditional, yet modern, Zen garden, this is a great place to escape to a relaxed atmosphere in the city. Learn about the origin and inspiration for the garden, and what it means to the monks who continue to live and study here.
Next we walk through a nice local residential neighbourhood to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Home to a seemingly endless stretch of iconic red torii gates spread across a thickly wooded mountain, this shrine is a world unto itself. Walk through snaking corridors of red gates, made famous in the film Memoirs of Geisha, stopping to admire the shrines and many fox statues. Major photo opportunity alert!
As the sun begins to set on the Toriis, we leave behind the foxes and head to Gion, famously known as Kyoto’s Geisha district. This area was the model for Memoirs of Geisha, and it comes alive with people and lights in the evening. Stroll past the 17th-century traditional restaurants and teahouses, many of which are still exclusive establishments for Geisha entertainment, see the theatres and traditional shops, and soak up the atmosphere of this historic quarter.
This iconic neighbourhood makes for the ideal end to this Kyoto city tour, and is sure to leave you completely enthralled with this dynamic city.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation fare during tour, entry to Tofukiji.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, transportation to/from the meeting and end points, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Your Trip: This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +81 (0)50 5532 5110
Email address: info@kyotourbanadventures.com
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