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From start to end, Hide made this tour friendly, intimate and personal.  Very educational and largely away from the larger crowds.  Excellent way to see and learn about some of the Buddhist temple history and view the amazing zen gardens.  The traditional lunch at the end was simply amazing.

The tour was pleasant, the time flew by with a competent and very good person like Hide.

It's a wonderful tour to discover the wonders of Arashiyama and the bamboo forest. Our guide, Hide, illustrated and explained everything to us with patience and dedication. He is also a very good person who immediately made us feel at ease. Highly recommended!!!

An unforgettable excursion with an exceptional guide!
We had a fantastic excursion today with Hide as our guide, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, the tour was wonderfully paced and filled with fascinating, in-depth insights into the historical sites and places we visited.
Hide's extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling brought the history to life, making it both educational and deeply memorable. If you are looking for an informative, well-organized, and insightful tour, we wholeheartedly recommend booking with Hide

An unforgettable excursion with an exceptional guide!We had a fantastic excursion today with Hide as our guide, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, the tour was wonderfully paced and filled with fascinating, in-depth insights into the historical sites and places we visited.Hide's extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling brought the history to life, making it both educational and deeply memorable. If you are looking for an informative, well-organized, and insightful tour, we wholeheartedly recommend booking with Hide

We had an amazing experience with our tour guide Hide. He was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and made the entire tour enjoyable from start to finish. His explanations were clear and interesting, and he made sure we felt comfortable and included throughout the day. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and it made a big difference in our trip. Highly recommend this tour experience!

We had a great guide telling us about history, religion, art and tea ceremony. We walked aroud in Gion and visited many temples. Our guide was Hide. We had a great time.

We had an excellent time taking the tour through Kyotos Buddhist temples guided by our wonderful guide Hide! Not only was Hide a wealth of knowledge but was a genuine joy to have guide us through religious sites and tourism districts. Even at his age Hide was sharp, witty, and quite up to date on modern cultures and opinions held by locals and tourists. His presence through the temple was especially welcomed as he supplied us a seemingly exclusive view and walk through the various buildings and garden paths. Overall if one is looking for an English friendly guide that is a long time local and practitioner Hide is your best bet. 10/10 would book again

Great tour with Hide, he was very informative and really made us feel welcome. I would highly recommend the tour, we got to see parts of the Gion area we may have missed if we were on our own. We also had a wonderful experience at the tea ceremony, our host was so gracious, it finished our tour beautifully.

Hide was an excellent guide. We saw a lot in our time with him. He kept things moving, answered all our questions and was a delightful host. Thoroughly recommend this tour.

Our guide Hide is a very enthusiastic and inspired man who has fascinated us very much with his stories.  Arigatou gozaimasu

Lovely experience walking through the streets of Gion with our knowledgeable tour guide Hide Nakanishi. He married the history behind the experience so well. We also met and really enjoyed the Belgium couple we toured with.

Nice tour with Hide and a super nice couple from Tobago-Trinidad, Kiera and Yuri

We had a great time learning and enjoying the streets and temples of Gion with our guide Hide. It was a peaceful experience. We loved the tea ceremony at the end very much.

We had such a wonderful day. We learned so much about Japanese culture and saw beautiful temples. The tea ceremony to end it all was wonderful!

Got to see old quiet parts of Kyoto.Hide was very friendly and hospitable!

I recently took part in the Wabi-Sabi tour in Kyoto and it was truly a highlight of my trip. The entire experience was beautiful and very well organized.Even though it was raining, it actually made the experience even better—it added a relaxing and magical touch to the whole atmosphere.The absolute best part for me was the DIY Zen garden session. It was so calming and such a unique way to connect with Japanese culture and the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi.A special mention goes to our guide, Hide Nakanishi, who was super kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. Hide really made us feel welcome and shared so many interesting insights.To top it all off, the tour concluded with a traditional tea ceremony, where we enjoyed some delicious matcha. It was the perfect, serene ending to an amazing day.If you are looking for a calm and meaningful experience in Kyoto, I highly recommend this tour and Hide as a guide!

Amazing experience. Hide san and Masa san were both great guides each added a little something to the tour! Overall great

Amazing walking tour. HIde was a fantastic and I think I got the feeling for wabi-sabi.Everything about this was magical.

Hide was so friendly and very conversational. He was a delight to talk with, and was very knowledgeable. I would recommend one of his tours to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Hide was an excellent tour guide! We had a wonderful time going through Kiyomizu and learning the history of these beautiful Kyoto landmarks. We also did a traditional tea ceremony which was beautiful. Highly recommend this tour and Hide! Thank you, Hide!

Hide was amazing! This was our first time and first day in Kyoto! Hide taught us so much! He was kind, informative, and had a great sense of humor. We are so thankful that we booked this tour! We loved each of our stops! We were able to experience both wabi and sabi. We will be back and tell all our friends.

Wonderful and informative tour! Good for the first day of your trip to also hear about more great local spots. Our guide, Hide, was friendly and had many great facts and insights.

Fine tour with a knowledgable guide, Mr. Hide. Saw new areas in Gion and had a very nice tea ceremony whipping our own matcha

We enjoyed our Kyoto Tea Ceremony & Kiyomizu-dera Temple Walking Tour with Hide. He was friendly and knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the temple’s history, rituals, and practices as we explored the beautiful grounds and nearby streets. It was a rainy day, so keeping up through the crowds of umbrellas was a bit tricky, but Hide kept things engaging throughout. The tea ceremony was a highlight—peaceful, elegant, and a wonderful way to learn about this centuries-old Japanese tradition.

Great walking tour with Hide, our local tour guide. Saw some amazing temples and shrines and got to take part in an excellent tea ceremony. Well worth it!

Thank you Hide for a brilliant tour! We learned a lot, it was a fun way to spend our first morning in Kyoto.  The tea ceremony was also a relaxing way to end the experience. Hide is very knowledgable and friendly

Really fun! The tour guide Hide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Gave us lots of information and helped us build memorable experiences. Couldn’t recommend him enough!

We had a fantastic time experiencing Kiyomizu-dera and an authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony with our awesome guides Hide-san and Yuka-san. Both Hide-san and Yuka-san have a deep understanding of the area and its culture. They are easy to talk to and took great care to make our experience a good one. Special shout for a great conveyer belt sushi place recommendation!

Hide was our tour guide. He was impressive and very knowledgeable. We had a great time throughout our tour and the team ceremony.

Had a great time with Hide Nakanishi. Was very knowledgeable and the tour covered a lot of sites, so we really saw the area. Would recommend to a friend

Hide is a great tour guide. We have learned a lot about Japanese culture and traditions. Ending with a matcha tea experience. Takes about 3,5 h

Hide was extremely knowledgeable, showing us many interesting and beautiful places in Kyoto. We would highly recommend him and his company for anyone looking for a tour.

Hide was so patient giving us answers for all our questions. Furthermore I can't imagine see everything what we have than in the tour without our guide. So cool Gio neighborhood

Hide was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and patient. Easy tour, despite the July heat! The tea ceremony at the end was a great way to finish the tour.

Our tour guide Hide was wonderful! He was so knowledgeable about the temples and shrines we visited and he was kind enough to give us coins to offer prayers at the temple. The tea ceremony was beautiful. It was a great way to spend the last day of our honeymoon to Japan

We had a fantastic time on the temple walking tour with Hedi and we loved the tea ceremony as well. Hedi is knowledgeable and engaging; he efficiently navigated us through Shimagyo ward to various temples and shrines, sharing history and context along the way. This was not our first experience at a Japanese Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple, but Hedi still had plenty to teach us, His English is impeccable and he engaged all of us in friendly conversation. Our tea ceremony experience was truly magical as well. The host of the tea ceremony was lovely and kind: she clearly takes pride in her craft and is a gracious teacher. We all enjoyed these experiences; my 16-year old has even purchase matcha and a matcha bowl so she can prepare ut at home,

We had an amazing Gion walk with our tour Guide Hide who has a lot of knowledge and stories to tell about this area. The following authentic tea ceremony was as well a great experience !!!

Great tour guide!! Hide was awesome and took us around and incorporated history with the views!! Good pace and we liked him

Our tour guide Hide-san is amazing! As a Kyoto native, he is truly knowledgeable about the history, tradition, and culture of the city in every way. Thanks to Hide-san we were able to see Kyoto through the eyes and perspective of a local and that made our visit much more meaningful!

Hide was our tour guide and he did an amazing job, very passionate about everyone understanding the culture and history behind Japan

Hide was an outstanding guide through the charming streets of Gion in Kyoto, sharing insights with passion and kindness. The matcha tea experience was both enchanting and deeply relaxing—an unforgettable moment of calm.

Hide is a very good guide who answers all questions patiently and kindly.The tea ceremony was lively and playful. Great experience.I recommend!

This tour was a lot of fun and well worth it.  Our guide Hide (who was super friendly and engaging) took us through Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple and gave us interesting explanations of their history.  After that, we got to see a tea ceremony demonstration and make some ourselves.  All very educational.

Hide gave us a fantastic tour! A great way to walk Kyoto and experience Wabi-Sabi and a tea tour. The old temples were amazing and we got to see a lot of cherry blossoms along the way while winding through old streets.

Hide was excellent as a tour guide and was super helpful. He answered all questions we had and was very helpful in translating. He was very knowledgeable about every place we visited and made our experience wonderful. We highly recommend.

Hide was a wonderful guide! Kyoto is so packed and we could not have done this tour without him! Thank you so much!! We learned a lot and had a blast! The tea ceremony is amazing too!

This was a very nice tour around the Gion district in Kyoto. Hide & Josh were very welcoming and provided us with lots of information, especially taking the time to answer our questions about Japanese culture and history. Walking around, appreciating wabi sabi as we experienced the shrines, and tea shops was a unique experience, and one I'd definitely recommend.We ended the tour with a magical tea ceremony experience with tea master Yukio-san at Chayu in the Kiyomizu area. Yukio-san was so warm and her tea ceremony was beautiful. She explained the purpose of tea ceremonys, and how they are conducted. We took it in turns to grind out matcha, whisk our tea, and taste Wagashi (sweets).Thank you very much, I can't wait to come back!

Hide was a great guide, very friendly and kind; he conveyed all the beauty of the city through his explanations. Patata! :)

Hide was an awesome tour guide. Very informative throughout the day & has a great sense of humour. The tour to the different shrines & temples  along with the tea ceremony was a beautiful way to spend our morning in Kyoto

Hide is a great resource for anything Kyoto. We learned more about the area's temples and shrines in the 3 hours together than we had being a tourist the 3 days prior. Professional, friendly, knowledgable... you can't go wrong with this one

A wonderful experience, very educational and Hidi our tour guide was excellent. I highly recommend this tour for families.

Wonderful tour with Hide, really enjoyed learning about history of temples and shrines, and learning about tea ceremony

Had an excellent tour with Hide, he answered all our questions, was funny and easy to talk to. I would recommend this tour to family and friends.

Hide was excellent as a guide. Funny, inquisitive, and patient with the group. Very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour and guide. Unforgettable!

Hide was an amazing guide. We started by looking and shrines and temples then ended with a traditional tea ceremony. It was nice walking around seeing everything.

Hide was excellent.  Our favorite temple (kiyomozu) experience and the walk from the pickup spot through Gion was a great way to see and feel the history.

Hide, was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable of Tokyo. A great tour with good food and a sake tasting at the end which breaks down a very complicated topic.Highly recommend.

Very knowledgeable host! Very fun time walking the various temples and shrines and participating in the tea ceremony! Hide (the host) was great!

It has been so nice so visit Gion / Kyomizu and attend to the Tea Ceremony.We risked to arrive late to the ceremony because some attendees kept on stopping along the path.Hide has been so kind and professional to manage everything. He is the best.

We had a great experience with tour guide Hide Nakanishi.  He was very friendly and extremely informative as he guided us between the sites.  We learned a lot about temples and shrines and enjoyed the tea ceremony.  I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Kyoto area.

It was a pleasant walking tour. Hide was a fun local guide with good knowledge of the area. I really enjoyed the tea ceremony. 

We had so much fun walking and learning from our guide Hide! He was so knowledgable but also made the day fun! We visited several beautiful temples and shrines and ended the tour with a tea ceremony. Strongly recommend.

Hide was a wonderful guide. He was knowledgeable and very engaging, and made it fun. I have been in Japan for almost 2 weeks, and still learned much from him.

A very informative, light-hearted and good tour. Hide is an amazing guide, we can recommend this tour to everyone! :)And the Tea Ceremony is a highlight on itself

Wonderful tour. Hide was very knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit from him during this tour. He was Very pleasant,  his English is terrific. Hide took beautiful photos and sent them to us in a  very timely manner.

We toured Kiyomizu Temple with our guide Hide, as part of Magical Trip.  Hide was a very interesting and personable guide and did an excellent job explaining all the things we saw.  We also enjoyed our tea ceremony very much.  This tour is highly recommended.

Hide was a fantastic local tour guide and showed us the best of Kyoto despite the rainy day! After rushing over on the bullet train from Tokyo we were remiss about almost missing our tour, but Hide patiently waited for our arrival and it ended up being essentially a private tour for myself and my best friend. As we walked through the streets of Gion Hide kindly answered a barrage of questions about the history of the area and the various shrines and temples we stopped at. The rain couldn’t put a damper on our day as Hide expertly weaved through the crowded streets full of umbrellas, and took us from the Yasaka Shrine all the way to Kiyomizu-dera Temple! We stopped for many great photo ops and selfies throughout the day before being dropped off at an educational tea ceremony. The wisdom Hide shared was priceless, and we found especially positive receptions when using the local “okini” dialect in Kyoto and Osaka that Hide taught us! Although he’s only been touring for a few months Hide leads with the expert wisdom of a Kyoto local, and I can’t recommend taking this tour of the Gion district with him enough!

What a lovely way to spend a morning. We had a great tour with Hide who was so informative and fun. The tea ceremony was a great way to end it all.

Amazing tour with Hide, a great tour guide. It was so interesting to discover parts of Kyoto and Japanese culture with such a nice guy.

Tour was great! Learned a lot. Hide was a great tour guide and was very knowledgeable. I highly recommend the tour. Tea ceremony was good experience to learn about Japanese tradition

Hide was a great guide and showed us around some cool local spots! Tea ceremony was an awesome experience too. Thanks Hide!

Hide was an excellent tour guide! He was very engaging and knowledgeable, making the walking tour of the Gion area and Kiyomizudera Temple a highlight of our trip! We ended with an unforgettable tea ceremony! Highly recommend Hide and this tour!

Hide is a charming gentlemen and I felt so comfortable as a guide.  He was able to navigate us through busy streets and point out key points of interest.

Hidi was a fantastic guide. Friendly, knowledgeable, and very pleasant to spend the day with. The sites were lovely, and the tea ceremony was exciting.

We had a great experience on our Todd with our guide Hide. We saw and learned a lot about the shrines, temples and history of Kyoto. The Tea Ceremony was very cool. Being able to experience an old custom, and make our own tea was amazing. I recommend our guide and the tour to anyone coming to Kyoto!

Hide our guide was very helpful and informative. Tour was as described. Would have liked more time and explanation at the Chion-in Temple. Tea ceremony was the highlight.

The tour took us through many shrines and temples. Hide was a lovely guide explaining the significance of each and giving us enough time to take part in various activities and beautiful photos. The tea ceremony was beautifully explained and very clean.

Our guide, Hide, was very good. Be forewarned, the actual tea ceremony is 40 minutes and it’s half a cup to drink and a wafer to eat. The rest of the tour is interesting and educational about shrines and temples (and how to present yourself at each) and walking through very crowded streets.

Hide was kind funny and knew temples and baseball very well. I enjoyed learning about the temples and the proper etiquette to follow!

Hide was very informative and friendly. He didn't rush us, plenty of time to take photos and ask questions. The tea ceremony was a bit more informal than we expected but was still interesting.One note would be that the meeting point is by the obelisk right by the road and not under the gate itself

Despite it being a rainy day, we were able to walk through the beautiful Gion district and learn about Shinto and Buddhist traditions while visiting shrines and temples. There were so many great views of Kyoto! Our guide, Hide, was very friendly and offered to take photos of our group. After our walk, the Tea Ceremony was very educational and fun. It was a good experience overall.

Hide was a great guide!  Wonderful knowledge of Jyoto sites.  Excellent tea ceremony at Nagomu!  Great choice!

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Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Hidden Garden Half-Day Walking Tour with Michelin Lunch

Kyoto Zen Meditation & Garden Tour at a Zen Temple with traditional Sho-jin lunch

Kyoto Gion Tea ceremony & Wabi-sabi Walking Tour

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