Kyoto at dawn: temples, tea and the backstreets
Walk Fushimi Inari’s torii gates before the crowds, then Kiyomizu-dera, a tea ceremony and lunch in Nishiki market.
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Guided in
- English
- Starts in
- Kyoto
Overview
Kyoto’s most famous sights are at their best in the first hours of the day, before the tour buses arrive. This walking tour starts at six, when the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari are empty and the mountain paths belong to monks and joggers.
From there, a short train ride takes you to the wooden stage of Kiyomizu-dera and down the stone lanes of Sannenzaka. You’ll finish with a tea ceremony in a machiya townhouse and lunch among the stalls of Nishiki market.
Highlights
- Walk thousands of torii gates at sunrise, with barely another person in sight
- See Kyoto from the wooden stage of Kiyomizu-dera
- A private tea ceremony with a tea master in a 100-year-old townhouse
- Taste your way through Nishiki market with a local food guide
The route
5 stops, 8 km, about 1 hr 10 min on the move. Times are a guide and shift with the weather and the group.
6am for 2 hr
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Climb through the torii gates to the Yotsutsuji crossroads for a view over the city, with your guide explaining the fox messengers and the merchants who donated each gate.
Train, 15 min, 4 kmJR Nara line, two stops
8:45am for 1 hr
Kiyomizu-dera
The temple’s wooden stage juts out over the hillside, built without a single nail. Drink from the Otowa waterfall for long life, love or learning.
Walk, 20 min, 1.2 km
10am for 45 min
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
Stone-paved lanes lined with wooden shops selling pickles, pottery and matcha sweets, quiet before 10am.
Walk, 20 min, 1.4 kmThrough Gion
11am for 50 min
Tea ceremony in a machiya
A tea master walks you through each step of the ceremony, then you whisk your own bowl of matcha.
Walk, 15 min, 1 km
12pm for 1 hr
Nishiki market
Lunch on the move: tamagoyaki, grilled mochi, fresh tofu and whatever is in season. The tour ends here.
- Meals: lunch
Dates and prices
- Adult £85, Youth £55
- 10% off for groups of 4 or more
Starts 6am
6 hours
Guaranteed to run
Booking closed
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
Guaranteed to run
4 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
Guaranteed to run
8 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
Guaranteed to run
5 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
4 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
10 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
10 seats left
£55
Starts 6am
6 hours
10 seats left
£55
What’s included
What’s included
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Train fare between Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu
- Temple entry at Kiyomizu-dera
- Tea ceremony with sweets
- Tastings at five Nishiki market stalls
Not included
- Breakfast
- Travel to the meeting point
- Tips
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Socks for the tea house
- Water
- A small towel in summer
Good to know
Where to meet
JR Inari Station, main exit
5 Fukakusa Inari, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
Your guide waits outside the exit holding an amber umbrella. The first train from Kyoto Station reaches Inari at 05:44.
Finishes: Nishiki market, a 5-minute walk from Shijo station
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Some long days on your feet and a few climbs.
About 9 km of walking, including 1,000 stone steps on the Fushimi Inari mountain path. You can turn back early and meet the group at the bottom.
Accessibility
The shrine path is steep and has no step-free route. The tea ceremony is seated on tatami mats; a low stool is available.
Cancelling
Cancel up to 7 days before your departure for a full refund. Within 7 days, we can’t refund, but you can move to another date once for free.
Questions
Is 6am really worth it?
Yes. By 9am the lower gates at Fushimi Inari are shoulder to shoulder. At 6am you get photos with no one in them.
Can children join?
Yes, with a youth ticket for ages 6 to 17. The walking suits children who are used to hiking.