Secret Kyoto is an independent guide to the most authentic experiences in Kyoto: tea ceremonies, geisha culture, hidden temples, bike tours, food and day trips. Our goal is simple — help you spend your limited time in Kyoto on the experiences that are truly worth it, and enjoy the famous places without the crowds.
Who we are
Aiko Nakamura was born in Kamigyo, the old heart of Kyoto, between weavers’ workshops and neighbourhood shrines. She worked for ten years as a licensed guide, taking visitors from all over the world through Gion, Arashiyama and the backstreets most tours never reach.
Lucas Martin is a French travel writer who moved to Kyoto eight years ago « for six months ». He has since cycled every lane of Higashiyama, sat through more tea ceremonies than he can count and still believes the best hour in Kyoto is 7 a.m. at Fushimi Inari.
How we choose what we recommend
- Independence: we don’t run tours, and no operator can pay to be listed or ranked.
- Evidence: we only recommend experiences we know first-hand or that have a strong record of verified reviews (generally 4.5/5 or higher, with hundreds of reviews).
- Respect: we favour experiences run by local people and avoid those that disturb residents, such as chasing maiko in Gion.
- Freshness: prices, opening hours and access are re-checked every 30 days. Prices are always given as « from » or « approximately ».
How the guide is funded
Secret Kyoto is free to read. When you book an activity through our links to GetYourGuide, we receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Contact
A correction, a new address, a question about your trip? Write to us at contact@secret-kyoto.com. We read every message, and our readers’ tips regularly end up in the guide.
Start exploring with our guide to the best things to do in Kyoto.