Gion and Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto Highlights with Government-Licensed Guide

Inclusions / Exclusions

Mobile ticket
Offered in: Japanese, English
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
The pick up/drop off for this tour is on foot.

Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of
Private Vehicle
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Overview

For the time and budget-conscious traveler, experience the Gion district with our government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guides. You'll start your day by meeting your guide at the Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine, the center of Gion. While exploring Gion, your guide will show you the history and culture of geisha―from their kimonos and hairstyles to rules and daily rituals. You'll walk down the cobbled streets of three Geisha areas in total―Gion, Pontocho, and Miyagawacho―while you listen to stories of Kyoto's ancient past. If you're lucky, you may even spot a geisha on the street! This short but value-packed trip is a fantastic way of experiencing a side of Kyoto that most tourists do not get to see. This private tour is a walking day tour with a guide. A private vehicle is not included.

Meeting points

Tatsumi-jinja Shrine (Tatsumi Dai-myojin)
59 Motoyoshichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0087, Japan

Open in Google Maps

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.

1 hour
Gion (Pass By)

Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. Gion attracts tourists with its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. Due to the fact that property taxes were formerly based upon street frontage, the houses were built with narrow facades only five to six meters wide, but extend up to twenty meters in from the street.
Gion Shirakawa (Pass By)

Another scenic part of Gion is the Shirakawa Area which runs along the Shirakawa Canal parallel to Shijo Avenue. The canal is lined by willow trees, high class restaurants and ochaya, many of which have rooms overlooking the canal. As it is a little off the beaten path, the Shirakawa Area is typically somewhat quieter than Hanami-koji Street. Many tourists visit Gion hoping to catch a glimpse of a geiko or maiko on their way to or from an engagement at an ochaya in the evenings or while running errands during the day. However, if you spot a geiko or maiko, act respectfully. Complaints about tourists behaving like ruthless paparazzi are on the increase in recent years.
Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社, Yasaka Jinja), also known as Gion Shrine, is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine is located between the popular Gion District and Higashiyama District, and is often visited by tourists walking between the two districts. The shrine's main hall combines the honden (inner sanctuary) and haiden (offering hall) into a single building. In front of it stands a dance stage with hundreds of lanterns that get lit in the evenings. Each lantern bears the name of a local business in return for a donation. Yasaka Shrine is well known for its summer festival, the Gion Matsuri, which is celebrated every July. Arguably the most famous festival in the whole country, the Gion Matsuri dates back over a thousand years and involves a procession with massive floats and hundreds of participants. The shrine also becomes busy during the cherry blossom season around early April, as the adjacent Maruyama Park is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.

10 minutes
Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine

The inner torii of the Tatsumi Daimyojin shrine in the Gion area of Kyoto. It is located near Shira-kawa, an area famous for ochaya (tea houses) and geisha activity. The story behind the shrine seems vague to me, but it appears that it was built to appease an foul-tempered tanuki who was bothering the geiko crossing the Kamo-gawa.

10 minutes
Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Over 1250 years have passed since the foundation of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Halfway up Mt. Otowa, one of the peaks in Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range, stands the temple, to which large numbers of visitors come to pay their respects to Kannon, a deity of great mercy and compassion. For this reason, our temple is known as a “Kannon Reijo.” “Reijo” is a Japanese word meaning a “holy place” with which the Kannon’s compassion is abundant.

1 hour
Kennin-ji Temple

Kenninji Temple (建仁寺) locates very close to the bustle of Hanamikoji and Shijo streets, the grounds of Kenninji Temple are expansive and pleasant to walk, and the two karesansui (dry landscape gardens) here offer the visitor an oasis of tranquility. It is thought to be the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.

1 minute

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

Free Cancellation

June 18100% refund

June 19No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Do you have a destination in mind, or would you like TravelOne AI to suggest one?

I have a destination 1 Suggest one for me 2

What is your destination?

1 Europe

2 Polar Regions

3 US & Canada

4 Latin America

5 Mexico & The Caribbean

6 Asia

7 Australia & Pacific

8 Egypt & Middle East

9 Africa

Are you visiting Japan for the first time?

Yes 1 I have visited once 2 I have visited twice 3

Travel Date

City Breakup

Travelers Details

Solo
Family & Friends
Group

Adults

Ages 12 or above

Child

Ages 8-12

Child

Ages 3-7

Infant

Ages 0-2

Adults

Ages 12 or above

Child

Ages 8-12

Child

Ages 3-7

Infant

Ages 0-2

What type of experiences do you seek while traveling?

Culinary Classes and Workshops

Candy Making Classes Chocolate Tours Cocktail Tastings Mixology Classes Paella Making Classes Pasta Making Classes Pizza Making Classes Olive Oil Tasting Wine Making Workshops

Food & Beverage Tours

Beer & Brewery Tours Chocolate Tours Coffee & Tea Tours Culinary Tours Pastry Tours Sake Brewery Tour Sake Tasting Street Food Tours Taco Tours Wine Tours

Food Tastings and Sampling

Cocktail Tastings Olive Oil Tasting Sake Tasting Wine Tastings High Tea

Dining Experiences and Meals

Brunch Dinner Lunch Breakfast Restaurants Dinner and Show Tickets

Food-Related Cruises

Brunch Cruises Coffee Cruises Dinner Cruises Lunch Cruises

Thematic Food Events & Experiences

Donut Walking Tour Markets

Specialized Food Events

Dining Experiences Dinner and Show Tickets

Wildlife Observation & Encounters

Bird Watching Dolphin Watching Whale Watching Shark Diving Wildlife Watching Wildlife Encounters Swim with Dolphins Zoos & Wildlife Parks Aquariums Safaris

Hiking & Exploration

Hiking Tours Glacier Walks Nature Walks National Parks Nature Parks Parks Natural Attractions Outback Tours

Camping & Outdoor Stays

Camping Honeymoon Packages

Adventure & Sports in Nature

Mountain Bike Rentals Mountain Bike Tours Horseback Riding Sandboarding

Boating & Cruises

Sailing Glass Bottom Boat Tours Gondola Cruises

Paddle & Active Water Sports

Kayaking Tours Stand Up Paddleboarding Jet Ski Rentals

Underwater Exploration

Scuba Diving Snorkeling Shark Diving Swim with Dolphins

Fishing & Marine Experiences

Fishing Charters Eco Tours

Sky & Aerial Nature Experiences

Hot Air Balloon Rides Northern Lights

Historical Landmarks & Sites

Ancient Ruins Castles Tours Monuments and Memorials Religious Sites

Museum & Cultural Institutions

Museums Museum Tickets & Passes Attractions & Museums Planetariums

Classic & General History Tours

Archaeology Tours Architecture Tours City Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours

Literature, TV & Film-Based Tours

Game of Thrones Tours Harry Potter Tours Literary Tours TV Tours

Mystery & Dark History Tours

Ghost Tours Crime Tours Underground Tours

Industrial & Commercial History

Factory Tours Plantation Tours

Observation & Structural History

Observation Decks Skyscrapers & Towers Classic Car Tours

Sacred & Religious Sites

Religious Sites Religious Tours

Spiritual & Cultural Rituals

Sufi Whirling Shows Easter Lunar New Year

Traditional & Cultural Bathing Practices

Arab Baths Hammams & Turkish Baths Onsens

Healing & Wellness Experiences

Thermal Spas & Hot Springs Spas Yoga Classes

Immersive Spiritual Experiences

Light & Sound Shows

Nature & Wildlife Conservation

Eco Tours Nature and Wildlife Tours Wildlife Encounters Wildlife Watching

Protected Natural Areas

National Parks Nature Parks Involves Poverty Stricken Communities Involves Animals

Sustainable & Responsible Travel

Sustainable Tours Volunteer Tours

Land-Based Exploration

Hiking Tours Nature Walks Walking Tours Self-guided Tours

Cycling & Eco-Friendly Transport

Cycling Cycling Classes Bike Rentals Bike Tours E-Bike Tours

Nightlife & Entertainment

Adults-only Shows Bar Tours Burlesque Shows Cabaret Casino Tours Comedy Shows Night Cruises Night Tours Nightlife Pub Tours

Live Music & Performances

Concerts Jazz Shows Musical Shows Opera Performances R&B/Soul Concerts Rap & Hip-Hop Concerts Samba Dance Shows Theater Shows Live Concerts Music Tours

Festivals & Seasonal Celebrations

Festivals Mardi Gras Carnival Christmas Halloween Oktoberfest Packages & Special Events

Dance & Cultural Party Experiences

Disco Dance Shows Luaus Samba Dance Shows

Spectacle & Family-Friendly Entertainment

Children’s Shows & Concerts Circus Shows Family-friendly Shows Fireworks Shows Shows

Unique & Themed Experiences

LGBT Friendly Tours Street Art Tour Theme Parks Universal Theme Parks

Performing Arts & Live Shows

Acoustic Concerts Ballet Tickets Ballroom Dance Shows Belly Dance Shows Broadway Shows Cirque du Soleil Shows Classical Concerts Classical Music Flamenco Performance Live Concerts Musicals Opera Performances Sufi Whirling Shows Tango Dance Shows Theater Shows Traditional Dance Performances

Cultural & Heritage Experiences

Cultural Tours Culture Costume Dress Up Experiences Fashion Shows Fashion Tours Lantern Festival

Art & Creative Workshops

Art Classes Craft Classes Painting Classes Pottery Classes Photography Tours

Dance & Music Participation

Dance Lessons Dance Shows

Language & Cultural Learning

Language Classes Spanish Lessons

Historical & Traditional Skills

Archery Classes Swordsmanship Classes

City Exploration

Hop on Hop Off Buses Trolley Tours Tuk Tuk Tours

High-Adrenaline Aerial Adventures

Air Tours Hang Gliding Helicopter Tours Heli-Hiking Helicopter Transfers Paragliding Parasailing Skydiving Ziplining

Land-Based Extreme Driving

4WD Tours ATV Tours Buggy Rentals Dune Bashing Hummer Tours Motorcycle Tours Off-Road Tours Performance Car Driving Motor Sports Go Kart Road Trip Vespa Rentals

Air & Water-Powered Thrill Rides

Airboat Tours Jet Boat Rentals Jetpacks Flyboarding

Climbing & Vertical Challenges

Climbing Ice Climbing Rock Climbing Caving Sea Caving

Snow & Ice Adventures

Dog Sledding/Mushing Husky Dog Tours Ice Fishing Ice Skating Snowboarding Snowmobiling Snowshoeing

Water & Surf Sports

Freediving Kitesurfing Rafting Scuba Diving Surfing Lessons Wakeboarding Waterskiing White Water Rafting

Sand & Desert Adventures

Camel Rides Sandboarding

Unique & Unconventional Challenges

Bungee Jumping Escape Rooms Flight Simulator Shooting Shooting Ranges Tubing Zorbing Scavenger Hunts Fun & Games

Spectator Sports & Events

Baseball Tickets Horse Racing Rugby Soccer Sporting Event Tickets & Passes

Ball Sports

Golf Tours & Tee Times Lacrosse Classes Softball Classes Tennis

Winter Sports

Skiing Skiing Classes

Combat & Tactical Sports

Martial Arts Classes Paintball

Extreme & Challenge-Based Sports

Obstacle Courses

Sports Training & Lessons

Sports Lessons Cycling Cycling Classes

Exclusive & VIP Experiences

Private and Luxury Viator VIP Tours Once in a Lifetime Experiences Viator Experience Award 2022 Viator Experience Award 2023 Viator Experience Award 2024 Viator Exclusive Tours

Private & Personalized Travel

Private Day Trips Private Drivers Private Sightseeing Tours

Romantic & Scenic Experiences

Romantic Tours Sunset Cruises Helicopter Tours Limousine Tours Luxury Car Tours Photo Shoots

Weddings & Special Celebrations

Wedding Ceremonies Wedding Packages Weddings & Celebrations Photo Shoots

Classic & Scenic Cruises

Canal Cruises Catamaran Cruises Dhow Cruises Gondola Cruises Sightseeing Cruises Water Tours

Themed & Specialized Cruises

Dinner Cruises Night Cruises Submarine Tours

Multi-Day & Extended Water Journeys

Multi-day Cruises Ports of Call Tours Shore Excursions Worry-Free Shore Excursion

Private & Adventure Boating

Boat Rentals Power Boats Sailing

Unique & Alternative Water Travel

Duck Boat Tours Pack Animal Tours Ferry Services Water Transfers Water Parks Water Equipment Rentals

Travel by Season

Autumn / Fall Spring Summer Winter Spring Break Winter Sports

Great day out in Kyoto

Published on Nov, 2023

Our guide was Kazuo and he was very helpful in advising on what we should see on our full day tour of Kyoto. He was knowledgeable about all the sites and kept an eye on us as we negotiated trains and buses! Very enjoyable day.

Wonderful Gion evening...

Published on Mar, 2022

Wonderful Gion evening tour! We had a great night with our friends taking great pictures during the tour and getting to know the history of Gion district, the difference between Maiko and Geiko. Very informative tour! specially we had an awesome tour guide name: Mari san! Thank you so much!

Excellent tour!

Published on Mar, 2020

Our tour guide was Kazo and he was very knowledgeable about the gion area. He came prepared and had pictures to show us of the geiko and maiko in case we didn't see any (but lucky we did see one!). You get to see lots for only an hour including Yasaka shrine, gion entire area, gion corner, Yasaka temple etc. Highly recommend.

Gion and Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto Highlights with Government-Licensed Guide | 6 hours

Inclusions / Exclusions

Overview

Meeting points

Open in Google Maps

End point

Itinerary

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

Gion (Pass By)

Gion Shirakawa (Pass By)

Yasaka Shrine

Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kennin-ji Temple

Sample Menu

Additional Info

Free Cancellation

What type of experiences do you seek while traveling?

Next Submit Prev RESET

Japan

View Reset

Current

Gion and Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto High ...

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour

Private Kyoto Tour with a Local, Highlig ...

Kyoto Early Morning Tour with English-Sp ...

Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-L ...

10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Priva ...

Kyoto 1 Day Tour - Golden Pavilion & Kiy ...

Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-L ...

5 Top Highlights of Kyoto Full Day Bike ...

Full Day Biking Tour Exploring the Best ...

From Tokyo 1-Day Kyoto English-guided To ...

Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour

Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour

Private Kyoto Tour with a Local, Highlig ...

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour

Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in ...

Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Bike Tour Exploring North Kyoto plus Lun ...

Kyoto Samurai Experience

Kyoto Early Morning Tour with English-Sp ...

Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-L ...

World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authenti ...

Best & Most Exciting Things to Do & See ...

Half day- from Fussen to Neuschwansteinc ...

Combo 3 Best Tours In La Fortuna

Do you have a destination in mind, or would you like TravelOne AI to suggest one?

What is your destination?

Are you visiting Japan for the first time?

Travel Date

What is your general interest for this trip?

City Breakup

Travelers Details

Accommodation Preferences

Preferred Star Rating?

Property Preference?

Property Location?

Preferred Hotel Chain?

Meal At The Hotel?

Dining Preferences

Which meal package would you like to choose?

What are your meal preferences?

Dining Style Preferences?

Cuisine Preferences?

Dining Atmosphere Preferences?

Preferred Meal Times?

Transportation

What are your preferences for arrival/departure transfers?

What are your preferences for internal transfers?

Guide Support

What kind of guide support do you prefer during your trip?

Preferred Language for Guide?

Preferred Type of Guide?

Group Size for Tours with Guides?

Desired Role of the Guide?

Specific Guide Personality/Style Preference?

RESET