Learn from a real sushi chef in two different types of sushi experiences: nigiri and maki sushi! This is the only authentic sushi experience where you can make, taste, and learn to make sushi in Kyoto. You can also enjoy a sake drinking comparison as an extra option.
Journey to Koyasan, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a serene Buddhist village nestled in the mountains, on this exclusive private day tour from Kyoto. With a personal guide, explore ancient temples, witness a traditional Goma fire ritual, and enjoy an exquisite Buddhist vegan lunch known as Shojin Ryori. Delve into the rich history and spiritual significance of Koyasan, founded by the monk Kukai over 1,200 years ago, while gaining insights into esoteric Buddhism through your guide’s commentary. This experience is perfect for those seeking a deeper understanding of Japan's spiritual culture.
- 10-hour private tour with knowledgeable local guide
- Visit exclusive temples and participate in a Goma fire ceremony
- Enjoy a traditional vegan lunch, beautifully presented
- Comfortable transport with hotel pick-up and drop-off included
At Phoenix Tours & Photography, we create a personalized Kyoto experience that goes beyond typical sightseeing. Here’s what sets our tour apart:
Fully Customizable – Whether you’re interested in history, hidden alleyways, or street food, we tailor the tour to your interests and pace.
Expert Local Guides – Our guides bring Kyoto’s history and culture to life with fascinating insights and stories.
Hidden Gems – We take you beyond the tourist hotspots to discover Kyoto’s quieter, more authentic side.
Balanced Exploration – The tour combines history, nature, culture, and food for a well-rounded experience.
Immersive & Relaxed – With a walking tour, you can take in the details, from temple bells to charming tea houses.
Personalized Recommendations – Get insider tips on where to eat, shop, and explore after the tour.
Rather than just visiting Kyoto, experience it in a way that’s meaningful and unforgettable.
Our guests will be able to kill two birds with one stone by doing exercise while sightseeing. This allows travelers to see more sites than they would on a normal tour and in less time. Travelers will be greeted by our guides, a fitness professional, and an experienced tour guide at Nijojo-mae Station, where they will be led through a warm-up and a brief history of Kyoto City. They will jog east to the Imperial Palace, where they will see lesser-known hidden gems and take part in Tabata-style exercises. We will leave the Imperial Palace grounds and cross the picturesque Kamogawa before heading to Heian Shrine, where we will make a brief stop. On the next leg of the tour, we will pass through the immense torii gate and jog along the banks of the Shirakawa River, lined with mysterious weeping willows and small stone bridges. This leads us to Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine as we wind down to end our tour at the eastern bank of the Kamogawa with some stretches.
Kyoto has been an important place to the world of confectionery as the refined practice of tea ceremony demands first-class sweets to accompany green tea. Meet an artisan who has been up to that task for over decades creating top notch Japanese sweets and give yourself a try to make those edible arts.
This tour covers all famous spots to visit in Kyoto. The itinerary we mention is just a sample. You can customize some parts or even the whole program. Please ask us for the itinerary in advance.
This is the only ramen workshop in Kyoto run by a ramen restaurant, and our classes have many vegetarian and vegan customers.
You will paint your Ramen spoons on the second floor of the restaurant. The ramen bowls and ramen spoons will be baked in a special kiln overnight for free.
You can actually take the bowls home and use them.
You can also display them at home.
After that, you will cook Michelin-starred ramen under the guidance of a chef in the professional kitchen on the first floor.
All the ingredients prepared by the chef are brought in from nearby Musoushin Ramen.
Finally, you will eat the delicious ramen that you cooked yourself.
Michelin-starred ramen that you cooked yourself is the best!
Do you want to explorer the most popular place in Kyoto, Japan?
The knowledgeable guide will take you to cultural walk and explaining about Japanese culture and Fushimi Inari, Shinto Shrine.
Fushimi Inari is the most popular destination in Kyoto. The bright vermilion torii gate looks great in photos. And you will understand the meaning of gates and also differences of Buddhism and Shintoism.
After we saw there, we walk through residential area about 20 minutes to Tofukuji Temple. Tofukuji is the one of Zen temple in Kyoto and we will see the Zen Rock garden.
Tour duration including the walking time from Fushimi Inari Shrine to Tofukuji Temple about 20 minutes and also Tofukuji Temple to Tofukuji station about 10 minutes.
This tour offers a rare opportunity to explore one of Kyoto’s most prestigious Zen temples—Kennin-ji—through the lens of both spiritual heritage and visual art. Unlike standard sightseeing tours, you’ll be guided by an expert who provides deep cultural context, revealing the hidden meanings behind the temple’s architecture, gardens, and centuries-old artworks. Beginning with a stroll through the atmospheric Hanamikoji Street in Gion, the tour seamlessly transitions from the vibrant charm of old Kyoto to the quiet introspection of Zen. With a compact 1.5-hour itinerary, it’s perfect for travelers seeking an immersive, meaningful experience without taking up their whole day.
*The photos of Himeji Castle are of Courtesy of Himeji City
Experience the king of gourmet, Kobe beef, and the majesty of World Heritage Himeji Castle on this exclusive day tour from Kyoto. Travel in style aboard our deluxe bus, offering the comfort of airplane business class. Relax as our professional attendant serves a complimentary selection of premium sake and soft drinks.
For lunch, savor an exquisite Kobe beef meal at a restaurant that raises its own cattle. Afterward, visit the majestic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, guided by a local expert.
After a memorable day, we will accompany you by bus to Himeji Station and provide you with a train ticket to return to Kyoto or Osaka on your own (ticket included in the price).
- Transportation by deluxe bus from Kyoto to Himeji
- Return ticket to Kyoto or Osaka by shinkansen (bullet train)
- Farm-to-table Kobe beef lunch
- Himeji Castle with expert local guide
This Zen workshop offers a truly unique opportunity to experience mindfulness in a calm, natural setting, not inside a temple, but by the riverside, surrounded by trees and fresh air.
It’s designed not just as a tourist activity, but as a genuine introduction to Zen practice. Participants are guided step by step through the basics of zazen (seated meditation) in a way that is easy to understand and approachable, even for beginners.
Rather than focusing on strict formality or religious rituals, the workshop emphasizes how Zen can be part of everyday life. You’ll learn how to carry the mindset of calm and awareness with you. Not just during your trip, but back home as well.
The experience concludes with a peaceful tea time, where you’ll enjoy seasonal Japanese sweets and freshly whisked matcha, allowing your mind and body to gently return to the flow of daily life.
・Spanish Language Guided Tour
・Round trip ticket from Kyoto included (Only From Kyoto plan)
・Enjoy the historical buildings, Todaiji Temple and old streets.
・Take pictures with cute deer
・Choose your departure location: Kyoto or Nara.
Free cancellation
Prices and availability come from Viator and are confirmed on Viator.