Kyoto Walking Tour Review: Kiyomizu-Dera, Gion & Higashiyama

Okay, so you’re perhaps thinking of checking out Kyoto, right? It’s almost on everyone’s list to see the major sights without quite so much of the effort, and that sometimes includes a walking tour. Kyoto, too, has tons of walking tours on offer. Here’s what I make of one that I did, the “Kyoto Morning Walking Tour: Kiyomizu-Dera, Higashiyama & Gion.” Was it any good? Was it the best way I could have spent a morning? Let’s take a look, that’s what this write-up is for, to give you some thoughts on that very question!

What’s the Deal With This Walking Tour Anyway?

So, the “Kyoto Morning Walking Tour,” it seems, sells itself as a handy intro to some pretty classic Kyoto spots. We’re chatting Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, with all of those wooden stages; Higashiyama, a district stuffed with tradition; plus Gion, basically famous for geishas. That tour I was on proposed that all of that would take about three and a half hours. I think the starting point was near Kiyomizu-Dera, at about 9:00 AM, so that you can have plenty of time to discover the sights.

They almost talk a big game about having an English-speaking guide who knows heaps about local history, and customs, very. You might just get, it is expected, a feel for Kyoto’s cultural stuff without having to worry that you need to read guidebooks constantly or learn Japanese before you go. If I’m really honest, that part appealed to me.

First Impressions and Getting Started

So, showing up, first impressions count, don’t they? Well, that location they gave, basically near Kiyomizu-Dera, wasn’t that hard to find, actually. The guide had this, kind of, flag that was easy to spot, yet. Everything began pretty much right on time, yet, which is a fantastic start if you’re a person who dislikes standing around and waiting. As a matter of fact, the group I was in probably had about fifteen people; it felt relatively personal and intimate.

The tour started off with a little run-down about Kiyomizu-Dera. I found it pretty useful to learn about the place we’d soon see. It’s often neat, clearly, when you can hear some of those key stories instead of just staring at structures.

Kiyomizu-Dera: More Than Just a Temple

Alright, Kiyomizu-Dera. Now, it’s hard to deny that the temple here is absolutely amazing, right? That wooden stage jutting out seems, perhaps, to hover, very. But what I enjoyed on the tour wasn’t the structures. That guide actually got us to understand what it meant to people throughout Kyoto’s timeline, too it’s almost as if the stories helped a bit.

For example, there’s the Otowa Waterfall there; they told this tale, apparently, of what happens when people decide which stream is the “best” for them to drink. I won’t give too much away – because, well, that spoils the fun for when you check it out. That view looking out right there at Kyoto basically made me pause for a sec, and soak it all in.

We did, of course, spend some time pushing through, so many people visiting; but I figure, as I recall, that can’t exactly be helped given that it is very, incredibly, well-known and visited! So you won’t have the place to yourself; but you’re not there to have the place to yourself; you’re there to see what you see, clearly.

Strolling Through Higashiyama

Now, Higashiyama. That bit involved a quieter kind of sightseeing than the temple, yet. The lanes, like, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka? As I recall they’re awesome for browsing the shops, apparently. It might be just what you hoped for as a picture of old Kyoto: think, preserved architecture, little food spots plus craft shops. I will mention this: It did get busy as anything even with our early start, even though the time of our tour was in the morning!

Our guide showed us bits that, perhaps, you don’t instantly clock; so I found a hidden temple, almost tucked back from all the noise. That stuff just makes walking tours a bit more worthwhile, apparently, doesn’t it?

As for food, very well, of course, there’s all those snack opportunities! They almost run the gamut, right from the pickles up to sweets. Of course, as I am, very, sadly, afflicted with needing to follow a more strict set of dietary needs – I didn’t try so many of those tasty opportunities. Yet they’re there for a reason; they have this vibe and I will need to come back!

Gion: Chasing Geishas and History

Gion. A lot of people want to see geishas around, that’s why I mention it, yet. That district, right there, has history just oozing out of those older wooden buildings, still. We had this, so, stroll down Hanami-koji Street. What I got was a vibe of how old-style Kyoto used to feel, basically, probably back when geishas weren’t a tourist attraction.

Our guide described their roles and how geishas fit in with modern-day expectations. Yet you’d probably need to be very lucky to just spot one – they’re quick.

That’s when the tour I was doing just gently wound down. I do appreciate when they’re on time and wrap stuff up, rather. So the end point’s easy enough to get to from public transport, or that sort of thing if you like to take it, still.

The Guide: Making or Breaking the Tour

Guides? I found that those folks can, perhaps, make the entire experience worth your while, right? It can all come tumbling down even with pretty locations. The person I got? Extremely good. I do think this, though: if you have an interest in detail and knowing details behind these buildings – or knowing Japanese expectations – it’ll be what makes the price pay for itself, even though it is an interest of mine.

This tour guide had so many tales and background. The information really seemed relevant. That English felt easy to listen to. So overall? High grade in terms of keeping things alive!

What Could Be Improved?

So what could be improved a little? Well, those areas got a little swamped. I realize, actually, this is Kyoto we’re discussing, so lots of places seem swamped, really. Perhaps having a slight adjustment on where the spots are located or moving off to quiet lanes a touch more could really enhance enjoyment overall. As a matter of fact that would have made things feel less rushed.

One of my, very few, concerns I want to touch on is accessibility; some folks can find those steep slopes tricky down at Kiyomizu-Dera – just keep this, very small, warning up in your brain!

Is This Kyoto Walking Tour Worth It?

Here’s the million-dollar question: So would I give the thumbs up to the “Kyoto Morning Walking Tour” then, as a matter of fact? Mostly. Is it awesome if you fancy seeing several main areas in one sweep, is that? The insights from this guide absolutely put things up, so too it’s almost that just wandering wouldn’t hit the same spot if it wasn’t for his wisdom and insight.

But if big flocks bother you, almost too much, maybe ponder planning separate day trips at strange hours to those spots.

In A Nutshell: If what you hope is a decent general survey along with expert info, then that particular walking tour could prove spot-on. Just manage expectations around tourists!

• What’s awesome: Good value guide and great cultural pointers, as well as some historical wisdom!
• What needs boosting: It can get pretty full during visitor peak times
• Do It? A splendid quick overview assuming tourist tides aren’t a bugbear

Ultimately, your experience on the “Kyoto Morning Walking Tour: Kiyomizu-Dera, Higashiyama & Gion” all hinges on what is essential, too it’s almost, to you! Happy exploring there! Let’s have a great time traveling to Japan!