AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

Things to do in Kyoto

Book unique activities hosted by local experts on Airbnb.

Top-rated activities

View our most highly rated experiences, loved by guests.

4.91 out of 5 average rating, 215 reviews

Kyoto Sumo Experience: Sumo Challenge with Meal ※The 6:00 PM session includes a meal, while the 9:30 PM session does not.

At Sumoan Kyoto, you can experience sumo, one of Japan's oldest traditions, in a unique, fun, and informative way. You can enjoy an authentic sumo-style meal while watching demonstrations of the various "morning training" sessions that the wrestlers perform every day. After watching an actual sumo match live, why not try a sumo experience? After the show, take a photo with the sumo wrestlers to create a wonderful memory. ※This is not an official sumo tournament

4.9 out of 5 average rating, 2042 reviews

Explore Kyoto in a Kimono

Choose a kimono, get styled, and explore Kyoto's historic streets. *Please note that we cannot dress pregnant women

4.74 out of 5 average rating, 159 reviews

Kyoto: Traditional Kintsugi Gold Repair Experience

A calm, small-group kintsugi-inspired repair experience using safe materials, with a carefully selected ceramic piece completed and wrapped for take-home on the same day.

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 180 reviews

Osaka: Sumo Experience & Audience Challenge

Experience the power and tradition of sumo wrestling in Osaka. Watch a live show with retired wrestlers, learn about the sport's history, and even step into the ring yourself.

4.71 out of 5 average rating, 72 reviews

Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Walking Tour

Enjoy a Dotonbori River Cruise, discover Osaka local street food in Japan’s culinary capital, and learn about the city’s history along with the basics of Shintoism and Buddhism as you explore.

4.93 out of 5 average rating, 68 reviews

Kyoto Arashiyama Chopstick Making Workshop

Create your own wooden chopsticks in a hands-on workshop in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district. Learn about the cultural significance of chopsticks in Japan and take home a unique souvenir.

4.99 out of 5 average rating, 2289 reviews

Off The Beaten Path Osaka Local Bar Crawl

Top rated local foodie bar hopping tour in Japan! #1 food tour in Osaka on Airbnb 2023/2024/2025.Dive into deep local spot! Let's get away from TOURIST TRAPS Dotonbori Namba Shinsekai area!

4.99 out of 5 average rating, 131 reviews

Kyoto Gion Walk with Local: Culture & Geisha World

Explore Gion with Michael’s local guide team, from Shirakawa and geisha culture to historic temples, shrines and Nene no Michi. Discover the stories and traditions behind Kyoto’s iconic district.

4.93 out of 5 average rating, 1765 reviews

Kyoto Foodie Night Tour

Wander through hidden alleys, visit cozy izakayas, and enjoy authentic dishes with drinks. Tours in English. All food tastings are included in the price. Limited vegetarian & gluten-free options.

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 639 reviews

Kyoto Samurai Experience

Kyoto Samurai Experience offers a rare, hands-on look into the world of the samurai. Explore the link between swordsmanship, meditation, and the philosophy behind Japan’s warrior tradition.

Latest Activities

Explore new local experiences, activities for everyone.

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Nara Highlights: Great Buddha & Shrines

Discover Nara historic icons on a guided walk. Visit the sacred forest of Kasuga Taisha, stand before the Great Buddha at Todai-ji, and enjoy sweeping views from Nigatsu-do on a downhill route.

New place to stay

Close to Shin-Osaka. Concentrate with the scent of ink. Learn about the history of calligraphy and create a hanging scroll or a white fan.

Hello. I'm Akita, your host. I have loved calligraphy for over 50 years, and I hope to share the tranquility and beauty of the spirit with many people. Calligraphy is an art of the soul that goes beyond mere letters. I will help you find time to face your own mind. Just one stop from Shin-Osaka Station. Would you like to experience the depth of Japanese culture? You can spend a mindful time that begins not only with writing characters but also with the act of grinding the ink.

New place to stay

Osaka Castle, Kimono & Tenma Street Walk

Explore the scenic grounds of Osaka Castle and its grand keep, then dress in a traditional kimono at a life-sized Edo-period museum. Stroll Japan longest shopping arcade at Tenjinbashisuji in Tenma.

New place to stay

Nara Food & Sake: Naramachi Alleys

Discover Nara culinary soul on a walk through Naramachi, a preserved Edo-period merchant district and birthplace of sake brewing. Sample regional sake, taste fresh mochi, and see old machiya.

New place to stay

Kobe Sake Brewery, Chinatown & Waterfront

Discover Kobe traditions on a guided walk. Tour the historic Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum in Nada with a tasting, wander vibrant Nankinmachi Chinatown, and admire the red Kobe Port Tower waterfront.

New place to stay

Osaka to Arashiyama: Kimono & Bamboo

Travel smoothly from Osaka to Arashiyama, Kyoto most scenic district. Dress in authentic kimono with pro styling, stroll Tenryu-ji zen garden in traditional attire, and walk the iconic Bamboo Grove.

New place to stay

Osaka to Kyoto Twilight: Fushimi & Gion

Experience Kyoto twilight magic on a walk from Osaka. Wander Fushimi Inari crimson torii in the quiet afternoon, watch dusk from Kiyomizu-dera stage, and stroll lantern-lit alleys through Gion.

New place to stay

Discover Gion and the Geishas with an Italian guide

I will accompany you on a discovery of Gion and Higashiyama, strolling through alleys, shrines, canals and ancient wooden houses. We will talk about the history of Kyoto and the world of the Geisha.

New place to stay

30 minutes from Osaka and Kobe. High-quality private meditation and a special tour for adults, surrounded by the tranquility of Heirinji, a 1,400-year-old temple.

Heirinji Temple, a 1,400-year-old temple, is located 30 minutes from Osaka and Kobe, where a tranquility far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city prevails. Prepare your mind and body with a luxurious private meditation session led by a qualified instructor and a soul-stirring bell-ringing experience. After enjoying a special tour of the hall, which is usually closed to the public, and a commentary on the Buddha statues, you will also be guided to the adjacent shrine to experience Japan's deep spiritual culture. With a private, chartered tour, we offer a special experience that satisfies the intellectual curiosity of adults, including the view of the train running alongside the temple grounds.

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A Special Ikebana Experience in Osaka’s Hidden Gem

Enjoy intimate ikebana in a hidden traditional space in Osaka. Learn from a professional ikebana instructor, choose a vintage Japanese vase to take home, then relax with seasonal sweets and tea.