---
title: Gion Kyoto Walking Tour - Free Geisha District Tour
description: "Discover Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district, on our free walking tour. Walk historic streets, visit Higashiyama temples & learn about geisha culture. 2.5 hours, English-guided, tip-based."
image: "https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com/img/Geisha.webp"
---

![Kyoto](/img/NeneNoMichiOld.webp)

# Gion & Higashiyama Tour

Our main tour since 2015

[](https://www.facebook.com/KyotoFreeWalkingTour/)[](https://www.instagram.com/KyotoFreeWalkingTour/)[](https://www.tripadvisor.com/g298564-d8747123)[Review us!](https://g.page/r/Cax7MXwnRAWDEAI/review)

## Get to know the real Kyoto!

Begin your journey in Kyoto and learn about the ancient capital's history, culture, geisha world, religion, local food, and life. Learn fun facts & stories that you won't find in a guide-book.

2.5 hrs tour Available in English Tip based

![Geisha walking in Gion district](/img/Geisha.webp)

**During the walk with us,** you will explore some of Kyoto's most beautiful Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, experience the enchanting geisha quarters of Gion, and stroll through the beautifully preserved Higashiyama district.

**Our knowledgeable guides** will help you discover the real Kyoto, providing insights into the city's ancient culture, religious life, and local foods. You'll learn fun facts and stories that go beyond what you'll find in a typical guidebook, offering a unique Kyoto cultural experience.

**After the tour,** your guide will be available to answer questions and provide recommendations for things to do in Kyoto. Whether you're planning a Kyoto day trip or creating a longer Kyoto itinerary, our tour is a must-include for a comprehensive understanding of this marvelous city.

### Our Walking Route

1 Gion Shimbashi

2 Main Gion District

3 Kennin Temple

4 Yasaka Pagoda

5 Ninenzaka

6 Nene No Michi

7 Maruyama Park

8 Yasaka Shrine

Trusted by Thousands

## Kyoto's Original Free Walking Tour Since 2015

Join over 50,000 travelers who've explored Kyoto with our expert local guides. We're proud to be the original free walking tour in Kyoto, consistently rated among the top activities by travelers worldwide.

-   Check 1,000+ verified reviews on TripAdvisor from real travelers
-   See real-time availability in our schedule below - book instantly
-   Questions? Our local team responds within 24 hours

[TripAdvisor Reviews](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d8747123) [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11wwhfwtr5&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMu7XDtZyTAxUbklYBHSrYDfgQqdYPegYIAQgCEAI) [Contact Us](/contact)

## Meeting Location

In front of the Izumo no Okuni statue on the bank of the Kamo River.

Next to Keihan Gion Shijo station, or 3min walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi station across the bridge.

We will meet in front of the statue

![Izumo no Okuni statue - Meeting location](/img/MeetingSpot.webp)

Look for this statue

## Schedule

Check our available tour times and book your spot today.

Loading tours...

No more upcoming tours

Check back later for new dates!

## Things To Note

**What's a "free tour", you ask?** Well, it's a fun way to explore a city, where you get to learn about its history, culture, food, current happenings, and the way people live there. It's become a top pick for travelers visiting any city.

**Now, the term "free tour" might be a bit puzzling.** "Free" here doesn't mean you don't pay anything. It's more like a "pay-what-you-want" tour. You decide how much to tip the guide at the end based on how much you enjoyed the tour. It's a cool system that puts you, the traveler, in control and helps improve the quality of the tour.

**We just want to make sure** you understand this "free" concept and appreciate the hard work of our guides. This way, we can ensure that you have the best experience possible.

**How much should you pay?** That's totally up to you! We suggest deciding based on your experience and what you can afford. Our guides are locals who work hard every day to boost their knowledge and make the tours fun and engaging. We're confident they're the best guides you could ask for in any destination.

**Most travelers usually tip** between ¥1000 and ¥2000 per person. But remember, it's your call! You can give more or less depending on how much you enjoyed the tour.

## Check out other things to do!

 [![Fushimi Inari Night Tour](/img/InariNight.webp) Night Tour

### Fushimi Inari Night Tour

Walk Fushimi Inari's torii gates after dark — fewer crowds, ghost stories, and urban legends. Free tip-based night tour (~1h 45min) with an English-speaking guide.

Learn more](/fushimi-inari-night-tour) [![Things to Do](/img/macha-tea-2.webp) Experiences

### Things to Do

Our local guide's picks for hidden gems, secret spots and authentic experiences in Kyoto, from traditional tea ceremonies to exciting pub crawls.

View all](/things-to-do-in-kyoto)

![NinenZaka](/img/NinenZakaOld.webp)

## Help us grow!

A few words can really do a lot for us. Your support helps us keep going.

[

Review us on TripAdvisor

](https://www.tripadvisor.com/UserReviewEdit-g298564-d8747123)[

Review us on Google

](https://g.page/r/Cax7MXwnRAWDEAI/review)

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Kyoto Free Walking Tour","url":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com","logo":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com/img/KFWT.svg","email":"info@kyotofreewalkingtour.com","sameAs":["https://facebook.com/kyotofreewalkingtour","https://instagram.com/kyotofreewalkingtour","https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d8747123","https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11wwhfwtr5&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMu7XDtZyTAxUbklYBHSrYDfgQqdYPegYIAQgCEAI"]}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TouristAttraction","name":"Gion Kyoto Walking Tour - Free Geisha District Tour","description":"Discover Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district, on our free walking tour. Walk historic streets, visit Higashiyama temples & learn about geisha culture. 2.5 hours, English-guided, tip-based.","image":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com/img/Geisha.webp","url":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com/gion-walking-tour","isAccessibleForFree":true,"touristType":["Walking tour","Kyoto visitors"],"availableLanguage":"English","containedInPlace":{"@type":"City","name":"Kyoto"},"provider":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kyoto Free Walking Tour","url":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com"},"offers":{"@type":"Offer","price":"0","priceCurrency":"JPY","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","url":"https://kyotofreewalkingtour.com/kyoto-tours-schedule","category":"Tip-based free tour"},"additionalProperty":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"duration","value":"2.5 hrs"}],"publicAccess":true,"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Kyoto","addressCountry":"JP","streetAddress":"Gion"}}
```
