Walking tours in Kyoto
A walking tour gives you Kyoto at street level, with someone to explain it. The most comfortable months are April and November, with highs around 66°F (19°C) and about 9 rainy days a month.
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top walking tours in Kyoto
Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of GeishaFrom $24View 
Kyoto: Gion and Geisha District Walking TourFrom $13View 
Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Garden & SecretsFrom $61View 
Kyoto Gion & Higashiyama Historical Walking TourFrom $28View 
Kyoto Fushimi-Inari Night Walking TourFrom $42View 
Kyoto Geisha District Walking Tour in GionFrom $29View
Tours from Viator. Good Outing may earn a commission when you book, at no cost to you.
Kyoto neighbourhoods
The city's main districts, a good way to choose a route or a theme:
- Arashiyama
- The bamboo grove, Togetsukyō bridge and monkey park.
- Higashiyama
- Gion, Kiyomizu-dera and preserved old streets.
How to pick a good walking tour
- Free tours are paid in tips at the end. Paid tours cap the group size and usually go deeper into one theme.
- Wear shoes you can walk in for two to three hours, often on cobbles or hills.
- Book an early start in hot months. Guides keep to the shade, but midday streets still bake.
- Pick one theme (old town, food, history, street art) rather than a tour that tries to cover the whole city.
Kyoto month by month
Averages for Kyoto.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 48 (9) | 50 (10) | 57 (14) | 68 (20) | 77 (25) | 83 (28) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 85 (29) | 74 (23) | 63 (17) | 53 (12) |
| Low °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 35 (2) | 40 (4) | 49 (9) | 58 (15) | 67 (19) | 74 (24) | 76 (25) | 69 (21) | 58 (14) | 47 (8) | 38 (4) |
| Rainy days | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Sunset (15th) | 5:08 pm | 5:39 pm | 6:04 pm | 6:29 pm | 6:53 pm | 7:12 pm | 7:12 pm | 6:46 pm | 6:05 pm | 5:23 pm | 4:52 pm | 4:46 pm |
Questions
When is the best time for walking tours in Kyoto?
April and November. Expect highs around 66°F (19°C) and about 9 rainy days a month. The least comfortable months are August and January.
Where can I book walking tours in Kyoto?
The tours above book on Viator. Compare group size, duration, what is included and the cancellation terms before you pick one.
