Looking for a deeper side of Kyoto that takes you into the strange, dark, and quirky sides of this ancient city? Kyoto is a historic wonderland, filled with beautiful shrines and peaceful temples, but there is so much more to Kyoto than the guide books will have you believe. Before you brave the tourists at the city’s major attractions, join us on a guided walk through streets even the locals don’t know about, (or would rather ignore). Pleasure quarters, organised crime, haunted hills and restless demons, the streets of Kyoto whisper of a history that’s hidden just below it’s beautiful surface. We guarantee you’ll never see Kyoto the same way again!
WHAT WE DO : Starting at the historic Higashi Hogan-ji Temple, just north of Kyoto Station, we’ll weave through old Buddhist streetscapes largely untouched for 150 years, past little known Shinto shrines and local shops. We’ll pass by an ancient spring with mystical properties (don’t forget to bring an empty bottle!) and visit the old Gojo Rakuen ‘Sixth Street Paradise’ - what was Kyoto’s premier hotspot for gambling and pleasure after dark. Crossing the Kamo River we’ll visit monuments to Kyoto’s gruesome war history, commune with restless Korean spirits, and visit the work places of some of Kyoto’s local crafts people and artists. The tour will end with a stroll down the beautiful Miyagawacho Geisha district, hidden just beside the tourist mecha that is Gion. At the conclusion of our tour, your guide will be only too happy to assist with the rest of your Kyoto adventure, recommend local bars and restaurants to enjoy or other alternative sights further afield should you be interested in more of the weird and unusual sights in Kyoto! So come join us for a relaxed and informative walk through the back streets of this ancient city, and experience the shadier side of Kyoto.
*** PLEASE NOTE : In this tour we discuss themes that may not be suitable for young children, such as s*x work and violence including war crimes. Please use your own discretion in this matter.
MEETING POINT : The tour begins at the Lotus Fountain just in front of Higashi Hogan-ji Temple’s western main gate, located about a 5 minutes walk north from Kyoto Station, or 2 minutes walk north from Karasuma Nanajo bus stop. Scroll back to the top of this page for the map location. See our Facebook event’s page for a list of upcoming tours and availabilities. Our tours will be made available as soon as we have confirmed guide’s availabilities, so if there is no tour listed for your preferred day, check back closer to the date!
IS IT REALLY FREE ? : Yes! The tours are completely free, because unlike regular tour providers, there is no set price for taking a tour, no prescribed fee to pay regardless of the tour experience itself. Instead, you are free to 'tip' your guide as you see fit after your tour. For those who have taken free walking tours around the world you will be familier with the benifit of this style of touring! As the tour guides don't receive any other income for giving these tours (from any organizations or local bodies), this means they must really earn their tips. As their income will tend to fluctuate from tour to tour, the guides’ motivation to deliver a top-quality tour is ever-present, meaning far less room for complacency on their part than if they were being paid a set amount for a guided tour. The tour itself must be great for the concept to work!
TIPPING - Furthermore, tipping your guide at the end of the tour means the power is yours. Although not obligatory, you decide what the tour was worth or what you can afford, if anything. The value-for-money ratio is determined by you so there is no risk of being 'ripped-off' or feeling like you didn't get your money's worth.
HOW DO I JOIN ? - Simply choose the available date from our events postings on this page, then click on the “going” button. As long as we have one person confirmed “going”, then our tour will depart as planned.
FAQ
WHAT FITNESS LEVEL IS REQUIRED? - The course we take in predominately flat throughout the tour. The distance covered is approximately 3.5kms and we will do approximately 6,000 - 8,000 steps during the course of the tour. Please wear comfortable footwear, bring a water bottle, and wear suitable protection from the sun or rain. There will be a stop halfway for use of the toilet or to buy refreshments.
IS THERE AN AGE RESTRICTION ON THIS TOUR ? - Our tours are open to all ages as long as infants and children under 16 are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please bare in mind though - in this tour we discuss themes that may not be suitable for young children, such as s*x work and violence including war crimes. Please use your own discretion in this matter.
WHAT LANGUAGES ARE THE TOURS PROVIDED IN ? - The alternative KYOTO free walking tour is conducted in English. Although it is not necessary to be a native English speaker to participate, a good grasp of the English language would be advisable to make the most of your tour with us.
DO YOU EVER CANCEL TOURS ? - Cancelling a tour is always a last resort, and we try as much as possible to avoid this action. Having said that, occasionally due to very bad weather or natural disasters, we have found it necessary to cancel certain tours. If this is the case, we are committed to posting the cancellation notice on our website as soon as possible to avoid causing our guests any inconvenience. As always we encourage you to check the appropriate event post on this page before making your way to our meeting point.
CAN I LEAVE THE TOUR AT ANY TIME ? - Yes. Although we would like you to enjoy the whole experience, we understand that some guests may have other commitments and need to leave the tour early. Just be sure to let your guide know before leaving the tour.
WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL AT THE LAST MINUTE ? - We understand that circumstances beyond your control may prevent you from participating in our tour at the last minute. As this is a FREE tour, no action is required on your part, and we hope you can join our next scheduled departure. If you would like to reschedule, please ensure you express your “interest” on the appropriate event, listed on our page.
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DISCLAIMER - alternative KYOTO free walking tour is a free English speaking tour available to anyone who wishes to participate. Although our guides we will take every precaution to ensure your well-being during the tour, AKFWT is not responsible for the safety of it’s participants, and strongly encourage guests to ensure they have the appropriate travel insurance for Japan.
THANK YOU! We look forward to welcoming you on our next tour.
“alternative KYOTO free walking tour”
