Japan · Castles & Palaces

Three-Hour Private Guided Tour to Historical Kyoto

4 Hours Round trip from Kyoto Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, former residence of the emperors until 1868
02 Explore Nijo Castle, a symbol of shogunal power in Kyoto
03 Learn about Kyoto’s political history on a private guided tour
04 Discover the legacy of the Tokugawa clan and the Edo period
05 Enjoy a walking and public transport experience through historic Kyoto

Discover Kyoto’s political and imperial past on a private guided tour that focuses on two of the city’s most important historic landmarks. Beginning at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the former residence of Japan’s emperors until 1868, this experience offers an engaging introduction to the city’s role at the heart of the nation’s history.

Continue to Nijo Castle, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu and completed in 1626 as a Kyoto residence for the shoguns of the Edo period. Along the way, learn more about the power, symbolism, and legacy of these remarkable sites while exploring Kyoto on a walking and public transport tour.

Beginning at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the former residence of Japan’s emperors until 1868, this experience offers an engaging introduction to the city’s role at the heart of the nation’s history.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

City Kyoto

Languages English, French, Japanese

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Kyoto's Imperial Palace, Kyoto Gosho

To start approaching the city, it is necessary to approach the empire, therefore the imperial palace (Kyoto-Gosho), main residence of the emperors until 1868.

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle represents the absolute power of the shoguns in Kyoto. It is with this in mind that Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo in Japanese) was built. Designed in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and completed in 1626, it served as a Kyoto home for shoguns of the Edo period.

The route