Connecting you to the local side of Kyoto

Go beyond just the touristy stuff with tours designed to connect you to Local Kyoto!

Discover Local Kyoto, a deeper experience awaits.

Hi there, my name is Greg. Working at one of Kyoto’s best hotels, I noticed visitors would return disappointed because they felt they wasted their limited time only seeing the touristy stuff!

Are you sure your clients won’t end up wasting your time on only the touristy stuff, missing out on a deeper side of Kyoto?

I don’t want this to happen to your clients. There is so much to see and do in Kyoto but it’s difficult to find temples, cafes or restaurants, only the locals know about, right?

Working with me feels just like you have a local friend, who happens to be a guide. Clients just like yours have joined my tours. Don’t let your clients get stuck coming all the way to Japan for that trip of a lifetime, only to feel disappointed, not getting a taste of “Local Kyoto” A.K.A. experience a personal feel for Kyoto’s people, culture and history.

Join one of my tours to experience the hidden side of Kyoto, only a long-time resident and person with guide experience like myself, can connect clients to.

I can’t wait to help connect visitors to Local Kyoto!

Want to know more about the tours?

Tour Highlights

Local Kyoto Tours

Tours

Benefits of working with me

No language barriers

Myself along with other guides are fluent in both English and Japanese, helping to smooth out any communication problems

Professional & Experienced Guides

Myself and other guides who I choose, possess the knowledge and expertise to take you beyond the touristy stuff!!

Unique Access to locals

With my access to locals, you are able to connect to Kyoto in ways you'd find difficult on your own.

Join a tour in 4 easy steps:

1. Click JOIN A TOUR

2. Choose your tour

3. Finalize the booking

4. Discover the hidden side of Kyoto

Experiencing Local Kyoto is a once in a lifetime chance, you don't want to miss out on!

Do you really want to risk getting stuck with only the touristy side of Kyoto? Sure your clients could do it on their own but they don’t know the off-the-beaten-track places like I do and how to get there.

Taking a tour with me, this doesn’t happen.

I help your clients connect with Local Kyoto!

My tours help your clients get access to Local Kyoto.

They’ll feel happy and bring home memories of a lifetime.

I've helped these clients discover the Hidden Gems:

"We had walked around Gion the year before without any guidance. We were aimlessly walking down streets. I really didn't expect to see actual Geiko and Maiko on the street. I definitely recommend taking this tour because I felt like I had an insider's view into Gion in a way that simply would not have worked if I was just working from a guidebook."

Jennifer Primosch⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have a much better sense of the history of some of Kyoto’s districts and like I’ve been shown around by a very knowledgeable “insider”/local-one with a deep understanding of Japanese history and culture. What I especially appreciated was that Greg was interested in knowing what we wanted to hear about/know about and really tailored the tour to our interests."

Natalie Young⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Before the tour, I was super overwhelmed by Kyoto and navigating around, trying to hit all the landmarks without getting lost. Didn’t expect to spend time at the Zen temple, just talking about tea ceremony and had no idea it was similar to a martial art. I would definitely recommend this tour to a friend."

Hudson Eddy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Greg’s in-depth knowledge of Japan gave us additional insights into the neighborhoods we walked through and the various stops on our itinerary. Filled with a lot of variety, each day was fun and engaging.
Greg showed us things that we would NEVER have found on our own – a scale model of old Osaka, the fall colors in Mino Park, and even edible maple leaves!"

Lisa Erdos⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Certificate of Excellence 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on TripAdvisor

Discover the hidden side of Kyoto. A simple click away.

What You'll get:

Native English, Fluent Japanese Speakers

Local Kyoto residents

Experienced/Knowledgable Guides

Access to off-beaten-track-places

Access to local restaurants, places only the locals know

Easy to understand and interesting cultural insights

Have Questions? We've Got Answers

Why do I need your services?

You will find many resources but are they still relevant and can your clients actually trust them? And can you guarantee your clients won’t get lost and lose valuable time? I’m a long-term resident and a guide with experience who has personally invested my own time, energy, and money into learning about Kyoto. I’ve also helped many clients discover the hidden side of Kyoto

Why are your tours worth the money?

With my tours, your clients get instant access to off-the-beaten-track places they won’t be able to find on their own. I take out the worry, extra hassles of dealing with language and provide your clients with local insider tips and information tailored to them

What makes you different from other guides?

Hands On Kyoto guides are more like a “local friend” who helps your clients get an insider’s look into Kyoto.

Hands On Kyoto guides are easy to relate to and communicate with since they speak both English and Japanese.

We have personal cultural experiences with Kyoto, providing you insights into Kyoto people, culture and beyond.

How do I book a tour?

There is a booking form we ask clients to fill out. You simply list basic information concerning your tour choice, name and contact details and we reply as soon as possible.

Connecting you to the local side of Kyoto