Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 12 travelers
Overview
Explore northern Kyoto after dark through stories of curses, vengeful spirits and yokai—the mysterious creatures of Japanese folklore. No prior knowledge is needed: your English-speaking guide explains the beliefs and historical context behind the legends.
Discover the stories associated with Daishogun Hachi Shrine, Kitano Tenmangu and Senbon Enmado. Finish at Funaokayama Park with nighttime city views; your guide helps you catch a bus afterwards. Bus fares are not included.
This walking tour lasts approximately 2–2.5 hours, with a maximum of 12 travelers. Guests aged 7 and above are welcome, with no upper age limit. Expect walking and stairs. Dinner, public transportation and pickup are not included. Audio/video recording and live streaming are not permitted.
What's included
The True Dark History of Kyoto
Professional Guide
Public transportation
Pick-up Service
Tips (WELCOMED & ACCEPTED)
Dinner
What to expect
Daishogun Hachi Shrine
20m
Daishogun Hachi Shrine 大将軍八神社
A shrine built to protect Kyoto from supernatural invasion through directional deities and ancient curse-blocking rituals.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
45m · Admission ticket not included
Kitano Tenmangū
A thousand-year-old shrine where ambition meets prayer. Dedicated to the spirit of scholarship, it draws students seeking luck before exams and visitors who come for the early-blooming plum blossoms that paint the grounds in soft pink. Historic, elegant, and quietly powerful, this is Kyoto’s sanctuary for focus, hope, and fresh beginnings.
Injo-ji Temple
20m
Dedicated to Enma, the judge of the dead. Explore how judgment and moral consequence shaped Japanese ghost beliefs.
Funaokayama Park
20m
Rising above northern Kyoto, this forested mound has long been tied to spiritual boundaries and ancient battles. In older times, elevated places like this were believed to attract unseen forces, watchers of the city below. As the light fades, the trees grow denser, the paths quieter, and the wind moves in ways that feel almost intentional.
It is easy to imagine yōkai lingering here, especially near the summit where Kyoto spreads out like a sleeping map. A place of views by day, and whispers by dusk.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
We will meet at the exit of Kitano Hakubaicho station
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gk2nAb7Aa4gyW7qKA?g_st=ic
End point
We finish at a bus stop near Funaokayama park and together head back towards the JR or Randen line.
Additional information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Recording & live streaming are NOT allowed during the whole tour!
Be able to climb stairs
Minimum age: 7 years. No upper age limit; guests must be able to walk the route and climb stairs.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
