The Top 11 Kyoto Prefecture Tours, Ranked

Kyoto: Zen Meditation and Garden Tour at a Temple with Lunch - Meeting your guide near Tofukuji Station

1.Kyoto: Zen Meditation and Garden Tour at a Temple with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4h 30m · from $107Our pick

Spend four and a half hours at Kyoto’s Tofukuji temples with zazen meditation, Zen garden commentary, and a traditional Buddhist lunch.

“I’m so happy I added this tour to my trip. It was so nice having someone explain not only the background of the temples we visited but also answer my questions about Buddhism, symbols and all their meanings. Eri was a great guide and so helpful with recommending places to go and see after the tour. She was so knowledgeable and showed a true passion for the topics she shared. Not to mention her amazing photography skills and capturing some great memories on tour. Thank you!”

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Kyoto: Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama - Starting the climb through Kurama’s sacred forest

2.Kyoto: Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 hours · from $80Top rated

Hike sacred Mount Kurama from Kyoto, visit Kurama Temple and Kibune Shrine, then unwind in a mountain hot spring for $80.

“This tour was incredible! Nature was on our side with some light snow on a sunny day. We even saw two deer on our way up. Our guide Philippe was great and so knowledgeable. We learned so much, and Philippe took us to some lesser known spots on the mountain, which made for an unforgettable tour. Would highly recommend!”

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Itajime Shibori Scarf Class at Kyoto Shibori Museum - What the instructor does during the class

3.Itajime Shibori Scarf Class at Kyoto Shibori Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1 hour · from $42Best value

Make a silk shibori scarf in Kyoto, explore a focused museum, and learn a traditional dyeing art five minutes from Nijo Castle.

“I loved it. Lots of personal help. And lots of choices of patterns and color ways.”

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Shibori Furoshiki Course at Kyoto Shibori Museum - What happens during the one-hour class

4.Shibori Furoshiki Course at Kyoto Shibori Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1 hour · from $42

Make a 100% cotton sekka-shibori furoshiki near Nijo Castle, then explore Kyoto Shibori Museum while your handmade souvenir dries.

“The scarves we made were so beautiful! And it was not too difficult to make. The staff was very helpful and enthusiastic. Seeing the museum was interesting while the scarves were drying. Definitely recommend this activity for people interested in fabric art and having a nice souvenir to bring home.”

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Kyoto Satoyama Cycling with Lunch and English Guide - Ikimi Tenmangu Shrine and the god of learning

5.Kyoto Satoyama Cycling with Lunch and English Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $78

Cycle Kyoto’s quiet Sonobe countryside by e-bike, visit shrines and castle ruins, and enjoy handmade soba or a local lunch with an English guide.

“I led a school group from the US to participate in this bike tour. I'm from Kyoto, but it was my first time visiting Sonobe and making soba on my own. The nature in Sonobe was so beautiful and my friends told me that the view looked like a Read more”

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Kyoto 1 Day Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour and Asahi Art Museum - The walk to Yamazaki Distillery

6.Kyoto 1 Day Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour and Asahi Art Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $163

Pair Monet’s Water Lilies with rare Yamazaki whisky on a small Kyoto tour that solves the distillery lottery problem.

“Sachiko was our host. She was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area and pointed out a few things on the walk to the distillery. The tour was fantastic, and since tickets are based on a lottery system, a tour gets you in without that haRead more”

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Kyoto Half Day Yamazaki Whisky Museum and Asahi Art Museum - Meeting at Oyamazaki Station

7.Kyoto Half Day Yamazaki Whisky Museum and Asahi Art Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $65

Pair Monet and Japanese art with Yamazaki whisky history on a guided Kyoto half-day tour from Oyamazaki Station.

“Our guide was Fuji-San and she was excellent in taking us through the Asahi museum and then the Yamazaki Distillery Tour. She gave us excellent tips about the local history and what to order from the tasting bar menu. In the end, she gave us a couple of parting gifts that truly made this day excellent.”

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Kyoto: Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arrangement) - Photographing the finished work by the garden

8.Kyoto: Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arrangement)

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 1h 30m · from $122

Learn beginner ikebana with a Kyoto master, then explore a 140-year-old machiya at Tondaya for $122 per person.

“Our guide and instructir were so kind and knowledgeable, and the venue itself was extraordinary. We first had a short history of ikebana, exolaining its historical roots and how it developed into the flower areanging which we now know today. We then made our own flower arranging, the instructor and translatir detailing every step needed. This was followed by many photo opportunities; then, to crown the visit, we were invited (at a small extra cost) to wear traditional kimono and take a small tour of this historic venue. Highly recommended!”

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kyoto:Experience creating one-of-a-kind special fragrances - Talking through your preferred fragrance style

9.kyoto:Experience creating one-of-a-kind special fragrances

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · from $47

Create a personal perfume in Kyoto with an expert advisor, choosing your favorite scents, blending the formula, and naming your finished bottle.

“Ok, the end product seems promising. Lack of introduction to the art of parfume making, poor guidance, staff talking amongst themselves and not helping. Do not recommend”

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