Explore Kyoto: Gion, Kiyomizu, Nishiki Market – Private Tour

Overview

Through this tour, you will visit many popular and historical spots in Kyoto including Gion district where you might be able to meet geiko or maiko, Kiyomizu temple, and Nishiki market.

Highlights

Key Information

Description

Kyoto has a rich cultural legacy coming from its 1200-year-long history. We offer special private tours in Kyoto at affordable prices. I will meet you at your hotel, and take you not only to the major tourist spots but also to lesser-known alleys and markets. At the end of the tour, you will agree that the best feature of Kyoto city is the mixture of the new and the old! • Gion Gion is an entertainment district beautifully lined with traditional townhouses and restaurants, you will see encounter geiko and maiko, professional entertainers trained in traditional Japanese dance and music, including the playing the shamisen (like a three-stringed guitar) and singing. They can be seen wearing, beautiful, elaborate kimonos as they walk to and from appointments. Some Japanese entertainment, like kabuki, is performed solely by men, but in Gion, all the entertainment is provided by women. After graduating from Jr. High School, girls enter a preparatory program to become maiko, apprentices of geiko. They learn skills such as dance, music, tea ceremony and flower arrangement to become the ideal traditional entertainer. • Sannenzaka This sloped path leading to Kiyomizu temple was originally paved with stones in about 808 AD and may be the most trod-upon street in Kyoto. It is lined with old wooden houses running restaurants and shops selling pottery, artworks and other traditional goods. You may come across young women dressed in kimono and feel as though you had traveled back in time to the days of 300 years ago. • Kiyomizu Temple This temple predates the foundation of Kyoto and has had millions of pilgrims ever since. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 30 structures, including a huge wooden veranda in front of the main hall that juts out over the cliff and provides you a panoramic view of Kyoto. There is a famous expression: that states "You must jump off the stage of Kiyomizu." It means that you should take the plunge to make your dreams come true. • Nishiki Market If you need a break from temple hopping, Nishiki Market is a great place to visit. Located in the center of the town, Nishikikoji-dori, 400 meters long, is a street lined with around 130 shops selling Kyoto's specialties, such as Kyoto vegetables, dried and pickled foods, fish, and more. That's why it is called "the kitchen of Kyoto". The variety of foods on display is staggering and the frequent cries of Irashaimase (Welcome!) are heart-warming.