KyoTours Japan
KyoTours Japan
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Don't just see Kyoto, EXPERIENCE it with KyoTours! From cultural walking tours to hands-on experiences, our tours are crafted to show off hidden gems and lesser-visited spots, as well as must-see famous destinations. KyoTours promises to leave you with not only great memories of what you saw, but a deeper understanding of why Kyoto is Japan's most beloved city. See you in Kyoto!
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
260 reviews
Excellent
260
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KMA
Los Angeles, CA14 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Unfortunately, I never got to take a tour with Terin but I still feel compelled to give 5 stars for how he handled our situation. I was confirmed for a tour of Kyoto last week only to find a typhoon tracking right for the city. Terin was the first to give me a heads up on the storm, gave me time to decide what we wanted to do, and kindly refunded me in full when we opted to remain in Tokyo. Given such a pleasant experience, I'll be sure to choose him again when I finally do make it to Kyoto!
Written September 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your honest review. Sorry that we we're able to meet up for a day in Kyoto, but I think you made the right choice to avoid coming down here due to the typhoon storm. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we watched the weather in the days leading up to the storm and had to make the unfortunate call to cancel the tour. Hope you stayed dry in Tokyo and can make it down to visit Kyoto in the future :)
Written September 27, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
astrolaw7
San Diego, CA4 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
Where to start! Kyoto is an amazing and beautiful city! With so many temples and neighborhood that make you feel you're in the Edo era. It pays to have a very insightful, thorough, English speaking tour guide! Terin, hands down made every penny worth it! It started with his knowledge of Shinto, and Buddhism. The back stories to these two religions that define Japan was great. Terin provided us soo much more details in the different temples we visited, that other tour guide patrons ended up following and listening to him instead. And if that wasn't know enough. My friend and I requested to have a traditional Kaiseki dinner. And boy! Did Terin deliver! My pictures will say everything! Thanks again Terin for all the hard work you put to our tour! I will definitely be booking different tours with him when I go back to Japan!
Written October 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for you review! Glad you and your friend enjoyed the days we spent together. You guys were all about food, so I knew you'd be impressed with the kaiseki dinner I arranged for you. Happy to hear that you appreciated some of the quieter, secret spots I took you to as well. I know you'll be coming back, and I'm ready to show you around again and take you even deeper into the amazing culture of Kyoto. Thanks :)
Written October 4, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Faith Kee
Singapore, Singapore9 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
We had an absolutely wonderful time with Terin as our tour guide in Kyoto for a day and covered numerous places with great insight on the history/culture! He offered very sensible options and choices for the customized tour and was a go from the first email exchanged between him and my friend. Terin made sure that we covered most of the places we wanted to go without compromising on time and quality of the tour. We arrived into Kyoto from Osaka taking the express train at 1030am with easy to follow instructions from Terin. We really had fun and enjoyed all the locations he suggested and especially for me was at one of the temples facing the Zen garden with cool breeze - peaceful.... short green tea breaks with delicate desserts, sake/pickle tasting, ice creams, ultra good fried chicken - yum! The pace of the tour was just right for me considering I don't really walk that much on normal days except for shopping :) Terin is also very considerate and even helped carry some of our heavier purchases (bottles of sake) and take photos for us with suggestions on locations and pose. Definitely will look for him again if back in Kyoto or the vicinity again! Terin - Many thanks for having us and such a wonderful time in Kyoto!
Written August 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, and extra thanks for uploading some pics to go along with it! I had lots of fun with you and your friend and I hope you can come back to Japan soon :)
Written August 5, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BTrushin
Miami Beach, FL40 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Absolutely the best tour guide I have ever used, anywhere in the world. We had several personal guided tours in Japan, and while the other guides were lovely people who know their subject matter, Terin offers something different. He provides a highly personalized perspective on Japanese culture and history that left me with the sense that I'd been given a window into this amazing country that few foreign travelers will ever get. He asked me about my interests and seemed to intuitively know which places I would be most interested in, what I would want to do and learn while there, and how much time to spend in each place. He is honest and genuine, extraordinarily well-versed in every aspect of the history, he offers stories and little insights rich with vivid detail that say more about the culture than mere recitations of canned facts, and he is devoid of any pretense. His objectivity and willingness to answer questions and engage in substantive discussions enabled me to understand things at a deeper level, and was unique among the many wonderful people with whom I came into contact during almost two weeks in Japan. Based on this experience, my family and I have decided to return to Japan next year during a different season instead of taking another planned trip in order to spend more time in Kyoto, and we are looking forward to having Terin guide our way.
Written July 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! Your words of praise are great to hear and make my work all that more worthwhile. So happy to hear you enjoyed yourself and you appreciated the subtle points of Japanese culture I try to communicate. It's not just about seeing great sites and taking some pics for facebook, but understanding the country that you've traveled to. It's clear you walked away with a great impression of Kyoto and Japan, and I'm really excited to hear you guys will be coming back next year. Looking forward to showing you around town (and beyond) again. Thanks!
Written July 29, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AlejoHouston
Houston450 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We toured Arashiyama with Terin two years ago and we had such a great time that we wanted to do another tour with him when we returned to Kyoto this year with our kids who are 10 and 14. Nara is a perfect destination for a day trip with kids- there are tons of semi-tame deer to feed, the grounds of the temple complex are beautiful, and even if your kids have a bit of "temple fatigue", they will be really impressed with the sheer size of Todai-ji and the Great Buddha. The temple complex is very large so it was really nice to be there with someone who knows their way around (especially since we were there during the July heatwave). Terin is a really knowledgeable guide and kept the tour interesting for both the kids and adults. As an added bonus, he always knows the best places to eat lunch!
Written August 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! I can't believe it was already two years since your last trip to Kyoto! We had a great day the first time walking through Arashiyama and enjoying a special lunch at Shoraian. Glad we were able to meet up again for a visit to Nara with your kids. I love how realistic and down to earth you guys are about traveling with kids, and showing concern for what will hold their interest and introduce them to new aspects of culture. Nara was great fun, and that udon lunch together at the end was perfect. I'm hoping you guys will come back for a third round of Kyoto exploration again soon. There's still a lot more to see here! Let me know next time you visit!
Written August 30, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
markpthomas2017
Arlington, TX1 contribution
Aug 2017 • Friends
After reading some very positive reviews on Trip Advisor, we booked a half-day tour with Kyo Tours in August 2017. Andrew was our guide and he was outstanding. Andrew is an American transplant who is intimately familiar with the culture of Japan and the history of Kyoto. He is also a professional gardener who has worked in the gardens around the temples and shrines surrounding Kyoto which gave him a unique insight for some of the places we visited. He customized the tour to our taste and worked hard to maximize what we got to see and provided excellent commentary. He was also very helpful with suggestions for how we could spend the balance of our visit. We travel a lot and normally hire a private guide when going somewhere for the first time. Andrew was among the best guides we've had. I highly recommend a tour with him.
Written August 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with Andrew. The level of expertise and detail he brings to cultural tours is impressive, and - as you saw - he knows his stuff when it comes to gardens! Glad you were able to stop and enjoy some traditional shaved ice at the tea house as well. Hope you can make it back to Kyoto again someday to keep exploring! Thanks!
Written August 24, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kayla H
Hartland, MI6 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
My husband and I went on a half day tour with Terin around Arashiyama last month that ended up being the highlight of our trip! Terin was extremely knowledgeable. Not only did he answer all of our questions, but he did so in a way that was fun and informative. He went above and beyond to make our tour a memorable one. We also appreciated the perspective that he gave as an American living in Japan. At the end of the tour, Terin provided a variety of tips on how to spend the rest of our day, including helping us find a great restaurant for lunch. We highly recommend Kyotours to anyone who will be spending time in Kyoto. Thanks Terin!
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! I specifically remember that you guys had some great questions about the little details of what we saw as we toured, and I really appreciated your inquisitiveness. It's always great fun when I can share what I've learned with people who are interested. Come back and visit again soon!
Written August 10, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jeremysschwartz
Los Angeles, CA9 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
We spent 2 days touring Kyoto and Nara with our 10 year old daughter. Terin and I communicated multiple times and worked together on developing an itinerary prior to our arrival. He did a spectacular job of customizing a visit to make sure that it would be of interest to adults and kids. Even at temples that could have otherwise gotten boring for our daughter, he found cool hands on activities for her like being able to draw a fox face on a Buddhist offering or crawling through a hole meant to symbolize the Buddha's nostril (trust me, both were quite fun and funny to watch).
On the tours, he was engaging and knowledgeable. Despite all of our advanced planning, he was also flexible in our schedule like when he noticed some unusual police activity nearby and discovered that the emperor and his wife would be driving by our location. Terin spoke to the police officers and secured for us a prime viewing spot. This was the highlight of our visit given how rare it is to see them. As you can see from the pictures, he got us extremely close! However even with this detour, Terin was able to rearrange our schedule to make sure that we covered at least all of our original itinerary (actually, somehow he squeezed in one extra)!
I have used private guides all over the world and Terin is up there with the best! Touring with an American who understands both Western and Japanese culture added a valuable dimension that I had never previously experienced. I cannot recommend him any stronger!
If you are going to go to Kyoto, make sure to reserve him in advance. It will make your trip a lifetime experience!
On the tours, he was engaging and knowledgeable. Despite all of our advanced planning, he was also flexible in our schedule like when he noticed some unusual police activity nearby and discovered that the emperor and his wife would be driving by our location. Terin spoke to the police officers and secured for us a prime viewing spot. This was the highlight of our visit given how rare it is to see them. As you can see from the pictures, he got us extremely close! However even with this detour, Terin was able to rearrange our schedule to make sure that we covered at least all of our original itinerary (actually, somehow he squeezed in one extra)!
I have used private guides all over the world and Terin is up there with the best! Touring with an American who understands both Western and Japanese culture added a valuable dimension that I had never previously experienced. I cannot recommend him any stronger!
If you are going to go to Kyoto, make sure to reserve him in advance. It will make your trip a lifetime experience!
Written October 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! Glad I was able to rework your itinerary at the last minute to include all the things you wanted to see. We saw A LOT on the first day! And how about the Emperor and Empress? Pretty cool! What a great surprise. It was a pleasure touring with you guys and I hope you can make it back to Japan again some time soon.
Written October 25, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David B
Canberra, Australia87 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We've had guided day tours around the world but Terin's was by far the best. He is an educated erudite guide with a seemingly inexhaustible knowledge of history, the temples and Buddhism/Shintoism. We did two tours, Higashiyama and Arashiyama. Both walks were well structured, tried to avoid the over crowded touristy bits and gave a great insight into Kyoto and its history. We would throughly recommend this tour to our friends and anyone one else who wants to fit in all you can in a few days.
Written October 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your kind review! It was truly a pleasure to tour with you guys. Your choice of the Kyoto Highlights Tour and the Arashiyama Backroads Tour perfectly complemented each other by offering up two very different sides of the city. Most visitors rarely take the time to really explore and appreciate these areas with the patience and attention to detail that you showed, and I'm glad that you got so much out of our time together. As you pointed out, I always try to fit as much as I can into a single tour, while also not rushing things and allowing time for us to really absorb the culture and history. And I LOVE your Instagram shots from our time together! Hope you can make it back again some day. Thanks!
Written October 16, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J D
Dubai, United Arab Emirates8 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Had a wonderful day with Terin and KyoTours. Terin was very mindful and made sure that he would adapt the trip to our desire and needs at all times. He is extremely knowledgeable and clearly passionate about what he does.
Written September 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review! You guys were nice and easygoing and it was a pleasure touring with you! Very interesting to hear the stories from your travels as well. Glad you enjoyed yourselves and hope you can return to Kyoto someday soon :)
Written September 11, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jsjcastro
Manila, Philippines
hi! how do we get a 1day private tour guide on January 1, 2018, for arashimaya bamboo grove, golden pavillion and fushimi inari if we are coming from our hotel near Osaka OCAT?
Written November 18, 2017
Thanks for your question. To discuss booking availability, please contact us via our website or email linked on the top of our Trip Advisor page. Email is always the fastest way to get a hold of us since sometimes Trip Advisor doesn't tell us right away when users ask questions. Thanks!
Written November 19, 2017
Krevin Mark D
San Juan, Philippines
Hi. We are visiting Kyoto this coming week. Maybe you could help us with our 2Full Day tour? How much would it cost us? We are 8 in the group. 7 adults. 1 child. Hope to hear from you. Thank you :)
Written November 10, 2017
Hi! Thanks for you question about booking a tour with us. Please send us an email through the email address linked at the top of our Trip Advisor page or through our website, and we can discuss booking options via email. (We don't discuss scheduling in public here on Trip Advisor for privacy reasons) Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks!
Written November 11, 2017
Krevin Mark D
San Juan, Philippines
Hi. We are visiting Kyoto this coming week. Maybe you could help us with our 2Full Day tour? How much would it cost us? We are 8 in the group. 7 adults. 1 child. Hope to hear from you. Thank you :)
Written November 10, 2017
Hi! Thanks for you question about booking a tour with us. Please send us an email through the email address linked at the top of our Trip Advisor page or through our website, and we can discuss booking options via email. (We don't discuss scheduling in public here on Trip Advisor for privacy reasons) Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks!
Written November 11, 2017
Hi, I will be visiting Kyoto in Apr 2018 and would like to know more the types of tours provided by KyoTours, can you provide an email address for me to send my enquiry?
Thanks!
Written October 26, 2017
Hi Lavina. Trip Advisor is currently having some problems displaying website links for some listings (and we're not allowed to include a website address link in this answer, which is really stupid), so please google KyoTours Japan and you'll see our website where we list all of our tours. An email link is provided at the top of our Trip Advisor listing, and you can get a hold of us through the contact page of our website as well. Hopefully Trip Advisor will fix this issue soon. Thanks!
Written October 27, 2017
Hello! We are looking to do The Grand Tour of Kyoto on either 11 or 12 October if there is space available. We are wondering, do you see more on the taxi tour then on the walking tour? Or are you able to stay longer in some places if you take the taxi instead of walk? Thank you!
Written September 21, 2017
Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for your question. The taxi option that we offer for some tours allows us to travel more comfortably around the city and saves us some time. We can then either finish a bit early or enjoy ourselves without rushing at the places we visit. Sometimes we can squeeze in an extra location if scheduling allows. Please contact us via the website or email linked on our Trip Advisor page to discuss schedule availability details in private. Thank you!
Written September 21, 2017
Good day! We are planning a trip and book your company to a 2 day trip walking trip to Osaka and Kyoto/ Narra . Its our first time on these areas. Deciding either October 28- Nov 03 or on 3rd to 4th week of December. We are a family group of 15pax. Age ranging from teenagers to 77 (2pax). Is the weather relatively same by Nov to Dec? Which is better Nov or Dec?
Are temples, shrines other attractions like Universal Studios open even on Dec 25 ( Christmas day) ?
Thank you.
Written July 23, 2017
Hi Melissa. Thanks for your question. Please contact us via our website or email linked at the top of this trip advisor listing and we can discuss your tour request via email. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Written July 23, 2017
Hi! I'm traveling to Kyoto this week and was wondering if you have group tours I could join. Looking for a 1 day tour to have a taste of Kyoto if possible. Thanks!
Written May 1, 2017
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, we're already fully booked for the busy Golden Week holiday in early May and can't add any more tours at this time. Sorry about that. Please contact us through our website linked on our Trip Advisor page if you have any more questions. Thanks!
Written May 1, 2017
Hi there! I will be traveling with a group of nine to Kyoto on August 1 in the afternoon. I am looking for a private tour guide for that afternoon as well as all day August 2 and the morning of August 3. Please let me know if you have a microbus available for nine persons plus luggage. I would also ask to please include the price of pick ups and drop offs at the train station. Thank you so much.Cristina Pereyra Alvarez
Written April 16, 2017
Hi Cristina. Thanks for getting in touch with us via Trip Advisor public questions. We can certainly handle groups of that size and can arrange for a microbus. Please email us through the email or website link on our Trip Advisor listing to discuss this booking further in private. Thanks!
Written April 16, 2017
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