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Private Walking Tour · 2 Days

Kyoto Highlights – 2 Day Tour

Two unforgettable days covering all of Kyoto's must-see sights.
Our Classic Kyoto and Ancient Kyoto tours combined in one discounted package.

2 full days • All the Kyoto must-sees • Private guide • Better value than booking separately

At a glance

Duration

2 days (about 8 hours each)

Group size

1–6 people (private group)

Pickup

Free pickup from your Kyoto hotel

Price per tour

JP¥ 103,500

See all of Kyoto's must-sees in two days

Visiting Kyoto for a short time but don't want to miss a thing? The Kyoto Highlights 2-Day Tour combines two of our most popular private tours — Classic Kyoto and Ancient Kyoto — into one discounted package, so you see the city's greatest temples, shrines, gardens and historic streets without rushing.

Day one explores western Kyoto: the Golden Pavilion, the Zen rock garden of Ryoanji, the shogun's Nijo Castle and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. Day two takes you east to Higashiyama — Kiyomizu-dera, the preserved lanes of Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, Heian Shrine, the Silver Pavilion and the Philosopher's Path.

Why choose the 2-day tour?

  • Complete coverage of Kyoto's ten most famous sights
  • Discounted price compared with booking both tours separately
  • A relaxed pace with time for lunch, tea breaks and photos
  • The same private guide where possible, so the story continues on day two

What you will see over two days

Your guide may reorder the stops to avoid crowds and make the most of the weather.

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market

One of Kyoto’s busiest fresh food markets.

Day 1 — Kyoto's kitchen
Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is a historic Kyoto landmark, famous for its elegant palace, beautiful gardens, and “nightingale” floors.

Day 1 — The shogun's castle
Kinkakuji Temple (The Golden Pavilion)

Kinkakuji Temple (The Golden Pavilion)

The Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and mirrored in the pond below. Built as a shogun's retirement villa and turned into a Zen temple after his death, it is one of Kyoto's most emblematic landmarks.

Day 1 — The Golden Pavilion
Ryoanji

Ryoanji

Japan's most famous Zen rock garden: fifteen stones on raked gravel, best seen early, before the veranda fills. The grounds also hold a large pond garden from the twelfth century, which most visitors walk past without noticing.

Day 1 — Zen rock garden
Arashiyama

Arashiyama

Kyoto's western edge, where the Katsura River meets wooded hills. Known for its bamboo grove, and worth the walk beyond it: temples, riverside paths, and the Togetsukyo bridge.

Day 1 — Bamboo grove
Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera

A wooden stage built into the hillside without nails, thirteen meters above the slope, with a panoramic view over Kyoto. Named after the spring that still runs at the foot of the hill.

Day 2 — Kyoto's famous wooden stage
Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka

Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka

Two stepped lanes climbing toward Kiyomizudera, protected as a preservation district. They are among the places in Kyoto where the traditional streetscape is best preserved: wooden façades, stone steps, and no overhead cables.

Day 2 — Historic stone lanes
Heian Shrine

Heian Shrine

A partial replica of Kyoto's original imperial palace, built in 1895 for the city's 1,100th anniversary. Vermilion halls, a vast gravel courtyard, and one of Kyoto's finest gardens behind them.

Day 2 — Heian-era shrine
Ginkakuji Temple

Ginkakuji Temple

Also known as the Silver Pavilion, built in 1482 as a retirement villa for a shogun who modeled it on his grandfather's Golden Pavilion, it was left in plain wood and became the template for Japanese restraint: the tea ceremony, ikebana, and the aesthetics that followed all trace back here.

Day 2 — The Silver Pavilion
Philosopher's Path

Philosopher's Path

A two-kilometer canal-side walk lined with cherry trees, between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji. Named after the philosopher who walked it daily on his way to Kyoto University.

Day 2 — Canal-side walk

Good to know before you go

Everything you need to plan your trip — meeting point, timing, what is included and what to budget for. Still have a question? Send it with your booking request and your guide will reply personally.

Departure point

Your guide meets you in the lobby of your Kyoto hotel or accommodation (please give us the address when booking). Arriving from Osaka or Tokyo on the day? We can meet you at Kyoto Station instead.

Departure time

9:00 AM on both days. If you would like to change the start times, let us know and we will be happy to adjust.

Duration

Two full days of about 8 hours each.

Transportation

Walking plus public transport (trains and buses), with the occasional taxi to save time. Transport fares are not included in the tour price — you can pre-pay them with the add-on in the booking form.

Meals

Your guide will recommend great local restaurants for lunch and spots for snacks along the way (food and drinks are not included). On full-day tours your guide joins you for lunch, and we kindly ask you to cover the guide's meal.

Return

Each day ends back at your starting point at around 5:00 PM.

Family friendly

Yes — children of all ages are welcome. Your guide will adapt the pace, plan rest and restroom stops, and keep the stories fun for younger travellers.

Other expenses

Temple, shrine and garden admission fees are not included (they are usually modest — from a few hundred yen to around ¥1,500 per person per site).
The price is per private group, not per person — the same rate applies from 1 up to 6 travellers. No payment is needed to send a booking request; we confirm availability first and you can fine-tune the itinerary later. All prices are in Japanese yen.

Two-day itinerary

Day one explores western Kyoto, day two the historic east. Your guide may reorder stops to avoid crowds and make the most of the weather.

Day 1 – 9:00 AMClassic Kyoto (west)

Nishiki Market

Begin day one in “Kyoto’s kitchen”, a lively covered market where you can taste pickles, sweets and fresh seafood snacks.

Nishiki Market
Day 1 – MorningUNESCO World Heritage Site

Nijo Castle

Explore the shogun’s Kyoto residence, with its painted palace rooms, “nightingale floors” that chirp underfoot and spacious Japanese gardens.

Nijo Castle
Day 1 – MiddayUNESCO World Heritage Site

Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion

See the gold-leaf pavilion reflected in its mirror pond, one of Japan’s most iconic views.

Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion
Day 1 – AfternoonUNESCO World Heritage Site

Ryoanji Zen rock garden

Sit quietly before Japan’s most famous Zen rock garden — fifteen stones in raked gravel — as your guide explains the ideas behind Zen design.

Ryoanji Zen rock garden
Day 1 – Late afternoon

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

End day one among the towering bamboo of Arashiyama, then return to your hotel at around 5:00 PM.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Day 2 – 9:00 AMAncient Kyoto (east)

Kiyomizu-dera

Start day two at Kiyomizu-dera, whose wooden stage offers sweeping views over Kyoto, especially beautiful in spring and autumn.

Kiyomizu-dera
Day 2 – Morning

Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka

Wander down two of Kyoto’s most charming stone-paved lanes, lined with tea houses, sweet shops and traditional crafts.

Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka
Day 2 – Early afternoon

Heian Shrine

After lunch, visit the vermilion halls and giant torii gate of Heian Shrine, built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto’s founding.

Heian Shrine
Day 2 – AfternoonUNESCO World Heritage Site

Ginkakuji – the Silver Pavilion

Discover the refined moss garden and sculpted sand cone of Ginkakuji, a masterpiece of Higashiyama culture.

Ginkakuji – the Silver Pavilion
Day 2 – Late afternoon

Philosopher’s Path

Finish with a gentle stroll along the canal-side Philosopher’s Path, famous for cherry blossoms, before returning to your hotel at around 5:00 PM.

Philosopher’s Path

Photo gallery

Highlights from both days of the tour.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know before booking the Kyoto Highlights 2-Day Tour.

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