Top Kyoto Outdoor Activities

Discover Kyoto’s magical Gion district, which is known for being the city’s Geisha area. Don't worry about language barriers, as a guide is there to help you translate and explain the difference between maiko, geiko, and other Japanese words. The unmarked narrow streets of Gion can make it easy to get lost at night, but this is not a problem with a guide to navigate and lead the way. Upgrade to a longer, private tour for a closer look at Geisha culture.

Kyoto’s traditional neighborhoods and scenic parklands are ideal for exploring by bike. On this tour, save time by cycling around the city and visit five of Kyoto’s most popular attractions in one day. Enjoy stunning views of the Golden Pavilion and the Kiyomizu Temple; pose for photos by the red torri gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine; and hop off to stroll around the Bamboo Forest and explore the geisha district.

Discover the Zen gardens, colorful temples, and ancient shrines of Kyoto on this small-group walking tour that’s limited to just 12 participants. Experience the elegant architecture and religious monuments of this historic Japanese city, once the imperial capital, as you join a guide on visits to the Gion Geisha district, Tofukuji Temple, and more.

Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations and with over 50 million annual visitors, it can get busy. This tour makes an early start so you can avoid the crowds and cram much more into your day. Stroll around the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the tour groups arrive, visit Kinkaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion) right as it opens, and walk through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari (Shrine) before the midday heat.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, as you explore Buddhist temples, shrines and the famous Nara deer park on this excursion from Kyoto. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and home to the country’s largest Buddha statue, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that’s home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Kyoto hotels, a guide and all entrance fees.

Nishiki Market is a foodie’s dream and one of Kyoto’s most loved markets, but it can be tricky as an outsider to know which of the 130+ shops are the best ones to visit. This tour helps you shortlist Nishiki Market highlights by having an insider’s top tips. You’ll try local food, visit souvenir shops, and hear about the market from a local’s perspective.

Take control of your Kyoto sightseeing and visit only the sights you wish to see on this private walking tour. Ideal for first-time visitors, this tour lets you customize a half-day or full-day itinerary. Opt to visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Nijo Castle, or to stray from the beaten path to see an alternative side of Kyoto. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Pedal through the historic streets of Kyoto as you visit its magnificent temples and shrines by bike during this small-group tour limited to 9 participants. Take a spin down the Path of Philosophy on this Kyoto tour that gives you an overview of the city while using a mode of transport preferred by locals: the humble bicycle. See shrines, temples and mountains — this is an enlightening escape from the city.

Spend some time getting acquainted with the food and culture of two historically important and beautiful districts of Kyoto on this guided walking tour. Stroll over the ninth-century Togetsukyo bridge and make stops to sample local snacks. After a visit to the 14th-century Tenryu-ji temple, head to a beautiful bamboo garden and indulge in some traditional Japanese sweets. This tour of Arashiyama and Sagano is a great way to get to know Kyoto.

Get an excellent introduction to the cuisine of Kyoto on this small-group guided tour of the city's best food spots. Start at the deliciously vast 400-year-old Nishiki Market, nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' where over 130 food shops and stalls beckon your taste buds. Stroll through the market with the guide, learning about the history of food in the city and taste many dishes unique to Kyoto, including pickled vegetables, fried fish cakes, Japanese pike conger eel, mochi and Japanese omelet. After the market, visit a shrine dedicated to the god of education.

Explore the intricate temples and serene gardens of Kyoto on this 4-hour guided tour visiting some of the imperial city’s most important religious and cultural sites. Check out Sanjusangendo Temple, the longest wooden structure in Japan and home more than 1000 Kannon statues, Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine, the head shrine of the god Inari and the supreme views afforded from Kiyomizu Temple high above Kyoto. This excursion to Kyoto’s top temples also includes all entrance fees.

Experience the glowing lanterns and lively atmosphere of Kyoto after dark on this evening walking tour with a small group. Experience the ancient Japanese capital after dark as you stroll the city’s serene back streets and visit city landmarks like Yasaka Shrine, the Pontocho restaurant district, and a ‘tachinomiya’ stand and drink shop for included food and drink samples.

Cycle past a mix of Kyoto’s most-famous sights and its lesser-known secrets during this half-day ‘Hidden Kyoto’ bike tour. Take a 4.9-mile (8-kilometer) ride that starts by winding past iconic Kyoto temples and shrines like Kinkakuji, Koto-in, and Kitano Tenmagu. You’ll continue ‘off the beaten path,’ discovering intimate Zen gardens and charming backstreets known only to locals.

* we provide interesting tours !! * If you want to explore Kyoto, you should choose the Biking tour because a bus or walking tour takes much longer time to arrive at your destinations.By riding bikes with us, you will be able to visit some famous spots within relatively short period of time because we use some back streets. You may think this 3 hours bike ride is too long for you ,, but we will guide you with a lot of descriptions of Japanese and Kyoto culture so you will not become bored with us.Also visiting a real temple and trying real Green tea will be one of the most memorable experiences in Kyoto! Let's enjoy riding bikes and take great photos to maximize your Kyoto trip! Jump on a bicycle and enjoy the unique sights of Kyoto.Pedal through temples, stroll among shrines, and sip green tea while viewing exquisite hidden gardens.In addition we will take you to see some delightful unexpected sights.

In this tour, we gather at the bus stop “Ginkakuji-mae” before sunset and go out for a short trekking of about 2 hours. Daimonyama is crowded with tourists and climbing enthusiasts during the day. This Daimonyama Night Trekking Tour is a very popular tour only offered by Kyoto NATURE TOUR. In addition, trekking at a slow pace, you can experience the nature of Kyoto as much as you want. At the top of the mountain, you can take a commemorative photo, so you can make it one of your commemorative trips to Kyoto. We look forward to your participation everyone! Supports both Japanese and English languages.

Active travelers will love the opportunity to explore the northern parts of Kyoto by bike. Your local guide will make sure you don’t get lost, and will show you to back alleys and hidden corners that you might miss otherwise, as well as some of the famous attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Cycle on comfortable bike, and enjoy an authentic Japanese lunch to refuel.

1. Bicycle is by far the best way to get around Kyoto’s crowded streets. Kyoto has a great geography for two wheels. Why wait for crowded buses or be stuck in traffic with an expensive taxi when you have the freedom to move around at will like the locals do. 2. We take you on scenic routes which are chosen with your safety in mind. Riding a bike alone you might get lost or end up on very narrow streets. We know the best way to get around and give you tips on staying safe. We also know quiet side streets with lots of character and charm. 3.We tell you stories of the city’s past and give you background knowledge along the way. ​Learn about the world of the shogun and samurai, the geisha house and even get a background on the shinto and buddhist beliefs. Learning about the cultural legacy of old Kyoto is a great insight to Japanese customs and culture.

-Hike through a secret path into Fushimi Inari Shrine. Even though there is Fushi-inari station, we start the tour from Tofukuji station because we enter Fushi-inari shrine from back side of main entrance. -Journey into a secret bamboo forest We will discover a natural bamboo forest, and a small Inari shrine hidden from tourists. Fushimi Inari's main entrance is hard to navigate due to a lot of people, but by walking through the mountains, we will see Fushimi Inari from a new perspective, away from the crowd. -Return to civilization after a breathtaking view atop the mountains of Fushimi Inari From here on, we will explore tourist areas on the way to the top of the mountain. Tour routes may vary, but it will end somewhere around the main shrine. Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

Kyoto's bamboo forest is one of the city's most visited sites but you can avoid the crowds by joining the early morning bicycle tour. Enjoy the forest and temples at their most serene and also venture to a few off-the-beaten-path spots nearby.

Prepare for battle as you learn the skills of the samurai during this 1- or 2-hour class studying the basic techniques of these ancient Japanese warriors. Take the 1-hour session, providing an introduction to the basics of the samurai art, or choose the 1.5-hour course, practicing more complex movements using a sword and folding fan. When your class ends, enjoy a photo session with your samurai costume and receive a certificate of completion.  This samurai session also includes an English-speaking guide and instructor and a 'tenugui,' a traditional Japanese towel.

Discover the beauty, art and ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony during this private workshop in Kyoto. Experience true ‘omotenashi’ (hospitality) during your visit to the Tea Ceremony Room of Ju-An, observing as your tea is methodically, painstakingly, boiled, poured and mixed with matcha powder using a bamboo whisk. Enjoy your warm drink accompanied by Japanese sweets as you learn about the intricacies of this timeless custom.

In this tour, I will capture the best moments of your trip in Kyoto. The tour route is Hanami-koji⇒Yasuikonpira Shrine⇒Ishibekoji⇒Maruyama park. The main reason why you should choose this tour is that I'm not only good at taking beautiful photos of you, but also I'm very familiar to these area so I will take you to the hidden and secret spots that are less crowd, and do photo session there. I'm very good at taking photos of solo-portrait, couple, honeymoon and family. I will take photos of you one by one, group by group. So I would like you to wait for minutes while I take photos for another group. I will suggest spots, poses, and angles. But you can also tell me your preference. After tour, I will send the photos by data via Email on the SAME DAY or NEXT DAY of the tour. In addition, I will also tell you about local culture, good spots for food and fun, and some tips that help you enjoy Japan more. I will really do my best to capture the beautiful moment of you into the photography.

Fans of samurai and ninja history won’t want to miss wielding a real katana sword while in Kyoto. From the Heian period through the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate, samurai and ninja roamed Kyoto’s streets. Get an immersive tour of these heroes’ history as a professional guide leads you through the Samurai and Ninja Museum. Your hands-on experience includes wearing samurai armor, wielding katana and ninja stars, and posing with replica swords.

Ninja culture is not something visitors to Japan can just easily immerse themselves in, but this 2-hour, hand-on lesson offers an exclusive experience. In a small group of no more than six people, learn ninja techniques including ninja breathing, ninja meditation, and how to wield a ninja sword.