Experience tomorrow the best of
Kyoto with Withlocals

"As someone who works in the tourism industry and organizes group experiences around the world, I have very high expectations when it comes to guides—and I can confidently say that working with Tiro in Kyoto was an absolute pleasure. I was planning a tour for three families (5 adults and 5 children), which is no small task. From the very beginning, he was organized, professional, and incredibly easy to work with. Throughout the day, he kept everyone engaged, seamlessly balancing the interests of both the adults and the children. His knowledge of Japan’s history, culture, traditions, and local way of life was exceptional. Every stop came with fascinating stories and context that brought Kyoto to life, and his recommendations—whether for food, hidden gems, or local experiences—were outstanding. What impressed me most, however, was his ability to adapt. When circumstances required our plans to change, he pivoted effortlessly. Not only did he find excellent alternatives, but he managed everything so smoothly that our group never even realized the itinerary had been adjusted. That’s the mark of an exceptional guide. Beyond his knowledge, his personality truly sets him apart. He is warm, patient, personable, and has a natural ability to connect with people of all ages. The children genuinely enjoyed spending time with him just as much as the adults did, which is a rare quality. As a tourism professional, I genuinely believe he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Guides with this combination of professionalism, adaptability, knowledge, and charisma are hard to find. I look forward to working with him on many more tours in the future and would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in Kyoto."

"Marielle guided us through Kyoto, and gave us all the details in a very enthousiast manner. We really enjoyed her laughs! Tour was adapated to our interests, and she gave us plenty of tips for the days to come! Book her, you will not be disappointed!!"

"Shohei was a great guide and gave us a perfect short overview of Kyoto. He was especially good with our three tired kids on a hot day!"

"We were with Ryuki for 2 tours - hidden gems and street food tour. He is absolutely delightful and took us to several shrines and temples. Related stories from past to present. And the food tour was great. We went to a stand up restaurant, with amazing fish, then off to a department store for deep fried goodness. He gave us ideas of places to visit for the rest of our time in Kyoto. "

"We had a 2 1/2 hour tour with Ted. Ted was very kind and knowledgeable. He speaks both Japanese and English and gave an authentic and interesting tour of the Gion District. He was able to talk to both adults and children equally well. He went out of his way to give recommendations for things we could do later in the day and week. Can’t wait to return and take another tour with Ted!"

"Ren was amazing from our very first communication. It felt like she committed 100% of her energy—just for us—ensuring our experience was not only memorable but also heartfelt. Her attentiveness, care and personal touch can not be overstated. A gem of a human who we are now very happy to call our friend. "

"Tour with Naoki was the best possible way to experience Kyoto! He is kind and open-hearted, witty and speaks excellent English. As soon as we met, we knew we want to book another tour with him :) he went above and beyond to take care of everyone in our mixed age group. Naoki took us to many amazing places with few or almost no tourists. Authentical Kyoto, magical, interesting, quiet…without the crowds we heard so much about. We appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with a local and talk about everyday life, too. Naoki lived abroad for a while, so he’s very open-minded and easy to connect with. We really enjoyed his company! Don’t think twice, just book any tour with Naoki, he will do his best to tailor it according to your wishes ❤️"

"My husband and I loved our tour to the Gino district with Yoshihiro. We met at a spot close by and spent about two hours with him. We learned a lot about the world of the Maiko and Geiko (something I found fascinating) plus got to see a wonderful spot in Kyoto, and even made an offering and prayer to a shrine. Loved the experience."

"Simone was very kind speaking in English and Italian as well. He showed us a lot of knowledge about the history of the visited places and very kind in answering our doubts. In case I return to Kyoto I will definitely book with him again. I recomend 100%"

"We loved both yours with Gia!! Very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend Gia!!"