Kyoto Gion Night Tour: Experience Japan's Traditional Culture

4.4 (13 reviews) Kyoto, Japan
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Kyoto
Duration4h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 24 travelers

Overview

Experience authentic Japanese culture in historic Gion district with this exclusive evening tour. Watch traditional performing arts at Gion Corner including Kyoto dance, tea ceremony, and seasonal bunraku or noh performances. Stroll through atmospheric streets illuminated by paper lanterns in the preserved historical district.

Enjoy a unique candlelit tea ceremony in a traditional ryokan courtyard, followed by authentic Zen-style vegetarian dinner reflecting Buddhist culinary traditions. Your National Government Licensed English Guide provides expert cultural insights throughout this immersive 4-hour experience.

What's included

  • Other admission fees included in the tour
  • National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter
  • Japanese-style dinner
  • Dinner time drink charges
  • Gratuities

What to expect

  1. Gion Corner
    50m · Admission ticket included
    Take some time to appreciate Japan’s traditional arts such as a traditional Kyoto dance, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto music, bugaku (court dance and music), kyogen (traditional Japanese comic theater), bunraku (Japanese puppet theatre), or a noh play. Each performance is organized into a 5-10 minute show, so it can be enjoyed casually.
  2. Hanamikoji Street
    30m
    Walk from Hanamikoji-dori Street, lined with historic teahouses and restaurants, to Gion Shimbashi, an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Partway through, enjoy the atmosphere of an evening in Gion illuminated by paper lanterns that vary by area, and visit the Tatsumi Shrine, also known as Gion's Inari Shrine, where maiko pray for improvement in their art.
  3. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Enjoy an exclusive private evening tea ceremony with candle light at Gion Yoshi-Ima's tea ceremony room Kurenaitei. Dinner will be served in Zen style, a simple but well-balanced dietetic meal now attracting global attention. Gion Yoshi-Ima is a traditional Kyoto townhouse featuring a long, narrow-fronted style called "unagi no nedoko," which means a bed for an eel. Look forward to its interesting structure including a courtyard that's not visible from the outside.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your guide holding a JTB Sunrise Tours sign at GOOD NATURE HOTEL 1F in front of the hotel entrance. The hotel is a 2 minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Exit 4.

End point

After dinner, the tour ends at the location. Gion Yoshi-Ima is situated in a convenient location in central Gion district, making it ideal for an evening stroll around Gion after dinner.

Additional information

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Gion Corner Programs: Regular Performance (Mar. 15 - Nov. 30) Watch a traditional Kyoto dance, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto music, bugaku (court dance and music), kyogen (traditional Japanese comic theater), and bunraku (Japanese puppet theatre) or a noh play. Either bunraku or noh will be performed depending on the season. Please note that the content is subject to change
  • Gion Corner Programs: Winter Performance (Dec. 1 - Mar. 14) Watch a traditional Kyoto dance, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto music, bugaku (court dance and music), and kyogen (traditional Japanese comic theater). Customers can take a commemorative photo with the maiko. Please note that the content is subject to change
  • Children under 7 years of age (0-6 years old) may not participate
  • Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is served for dinner, so we welcome vegetarian participants. However, bonito stock is used in the tempura dipping sauce. Salt can be used instead of the tempura dipping sauce. The ingredients of tempura are tofu, namafu wheat gluten, yuba tofu skin, and vegetables in season, such as eggplants, lotus root, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms. Miso soup and rice are also served. Requests for Muslim-friendly meals, Indian thali meals, and allergy-friendly meals are not accepted
  • Tour's total duration is 4 hours, though, the total duration listed in the itinerary is 2 hours and 50 minutes. The remaining hours are allotted for the travel time and the waiting time for performance of Gion Corner
  • Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.4 (13)
From
27,000.00 JPY per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc. · Booked through Viator
More activities in Kyoto
From
27,000.00 JPY per person
Check availability