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Kyoto Early Bird Tour
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From $102.02
Price varies by group size
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Kyoto Early Bird Tour
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regular temperature checks for staff
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
5 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds
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Overview
Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations and with over 50 million annual visitors, it can get busy. This tour makes an early start so you can avoid the crowds and cram much more into your day. Stroll around the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the tour groups arrive, visit Kinkaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion) right as it opens, and walk through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari (Shrine) before the midday heat.
- Guided visits to three top Kyoto attractions
- Early-morning departure to avoid the crowds
- Stunning views of Kinkaku-ji temple in the morning light
- Finishes before midday so your afternoon is free
Saved to wishlist!
From $102.02
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What's Included
Guide fee
Admission fees. 400yen@Kinkaku-ji Temple
Drink and Food
Transportation fare. 760 yen for JR Lines, 460 yen for City Bus
Departure & Return
Kyoto Station , Kyoto, Japan
This activity will end right where it started.Kyoto Station
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Stroller accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessible for those with limited eye sight
- Accessible for those with limited mobility
- Animals or pets allowed
- Infant seats unavailable
- Not recommended for people with heart conditions
- Not wheelchair accessible
- comfortable shoes for walking; quite a bit of walking required
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- OPERATED BY KAMNAVI Tours
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Learn more about cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Kyoto Early Bird Tour?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Kyoto Early Bird Tour?
A:The policy on sanitization is:
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Kyoto Early Bird Tour?
A:The policy on staff health & safety is:
- Regular temperature checks for staff
Traveler Photos


Reviews
5.0
48 Reviews
5 stars
44
4 stars
4
3 stars
0
2 stars
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Reviews by Viator travelers
We perform checks on reviews
Showing 1-10 of 48 reviews
Kyoto
Lisa_W
, Jun 2022
I really enjoyed the whole tour. I especially liked the bamboo grove. My tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Great experience
Nikki_M
, Mar 2022
We had a great experience! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of all the areas we saw. I would recommend this tour guide company to anyone visiting a new area.
A perfect day in Kyoto!
Andy_T
, Oct 2021
A perfect day in Kyoto! Meg was an amazing, knowledgeable guide who provided us with wonderful memories. She’s also a great photographer! Meg took several photos of my family and emailed them afterwards. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour!
Excellent Early morning Kyoto tour
Terry_T
, Mar 2020
Kiyomi was excellent guide. She is such a sweet helpful person. We learned so much about the sites we visited. I highly recommend the tour and especially Kiyomi
Excellent tour
Xuanji
, Feb 2020
Excellent tour with our guide Koichi Wasa. He was so amazing and taught us so much about Japanese culture in addition to showing us the sites.
Kyoto in the morning
cslee57
, Feb 2020
Sackicho was very informative and gave us inside information about the sites we visited.
We enjoyed the tour and will recommend this trip to our friends
Early bird tour is the way to go - especially if you are jet-lagged!
mortecarla
, Jan 2020
Great tour. I recommend doing while you are still jet-lagged as you will be up early regardless. We went to Fushimi Inari first and it was nice to experience this beautiful shrine in its true essence without the selfie/instagram crowd. Unfortunately, by the time we got to Bamboo Forrest, the area was overwhelmingly crowded with tourists. Lucy was great. She spoke perfect English and was a lovely guide to spend the day with. Our only complaint is that the tour operator did not tell us to bring our JR pass on this tour and we ended up having to spend additional money on top of the JR pass we already paid for.
Response from Host , Feb 2020
Thank you very much for booking with us and for taking the time to write a review!
At least you could enjoy one site of these very popular sites without the crowds.
It is mentioned in the tour itinerary that JR passes can be used for part of the transfers, but we will tell travelers one more time from now on.
Thank you for your valuable comment!
One of this highlights of our trip!
brianparel
, Jan 2020
Sachiko was an amazing tour guide. Meet up was easy and the day was an amazing experience for my wife and I.
We took many free tours on this trip to Japan, but it was worthwhile paying to have a tour guide for this day in Kyoto.
Highly Recommend
Jessica M
, Jan 2020
Our tour with Koichi Wasa exceeded my expectations. He was very knowledgeable about all of the sites that we visited, shared great stories and gave us a very warm reception in Kyoto.
Golden Temple
Craig_B
, Jan 2020
Excellent tour in Kyoto with our guide Meg
Milada_B
, Dec 2019
With my mother we booked an Early Bird Tour in Kyoto. It was really great decision we made. Thanks to that we visited exciting places with the great guide Meg, who provided us with plenty of interesting information during just the half of the day. She also adapted the tempo of the tour to our needs and thanks to her we moved through Kyoto very quickly and could dedicate most of our time to places we wished to see. It was unique experience how to learn more about Japan.
Fantastic tour
amy_J
, Nov 2019
Koichiro is one of the best guides we’ve ever had. He was kind and informative and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He took pictures for us throughout the day and sent them to us, too. What an amazing and personal touch! Plus, he drew several maps to recommended restaurants from our hotel in Kyoto. Couldn’t have asked for a better day!
Kyoto Early Bird Tour
Ruth_K
, Nov 2019
We met our guide Tohru, after being sent very clear photos , instructions and information of the meeting point, which was very impressive. Being very knowledgable, he pointed out information that otherwise we would not have not known. Always adapting to a pace suited to whoever he was taking care of, he was always at our side and made sure we didn’t get separated. The early morning tour helped to avoid the crowds and freed up the rest of the day. This tour was perfect to see the most important things in a short space of time. Be prepared to walk a fair bit including public transport in between places, as is the norm in Japan – having said that, it’s not that bad and the route easy, plus the guide does the thinking for you! We saw 3 impressive places, and this tour was our favourite. We also passed a river and then passed many interesting traditional little shops where we saw countless young women in Kimono’s and Rickshaw’s on our way back from Arashiyama Bamboo Grove not far from the train station – time was limited and shopping time not allocated, so we returned the next morning to hang out around the shops and admire this little area- a bonus we would not otherwise have found! Having a tour guide also simplified getting to these places, which was a relief in itself. We would definitely highly recommend this tour.
Awesome tour with an awesome guide!
Lori V
, Nov 2019
Kommy was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Excellent communication - even texting me right up until we met at the Kyoto train station so we could find each other! These are the 3 sites you definitely want to see while you're here. Even though it was only a 1/2 day we felt like we had ample time at each location. And earlier is definitely better as the crowds got larger as the morning went on!
Excellent Tour by Koichi
KristineM20192019
, Nov 2019
We really enjoyed the tour by Koichi Wasa. We went to the Inari Gates,the Bamboo Forest, and the Golden Pavilion. Koichi took us not only to the main sites, but provided us with historical information, additional insights, and local knowledge. He took us off the beaten track and the tour was truly memorable. We felt this was one of the best tours we have ever been on and highly recommend it.
A great way to see the main highlights of Kyoto
rt16012019
, Nov 2019
The early start was great to see the Inari Gates before the crowds. Our guide had a wealth of knowledge and made it easy to get around. The only negative was by the time we got to the Bamboo Forest it was very crowded and difficult to get around. Still worth it though.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Early bird tour
Jade T
, Nov 2019
Great tour with the 3 top attractions in Kyoto
PerTore_S
, Oct 2019
Fantastic insight into Kyoto
Kernowirons
, Oct 2019
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Kyoto Early Bird Tour
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Free Cancellation
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