Kyoto: Early Morning Fushimi Inari & Gion Walking Tour

4.99

(145 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the red-orange glow of the torii gates at Fushimi Inari. It was so early that even the crows seemed half-asleep, and our guide, Emi, grinned when I asked if locals ever get lost in this maze. (She said yes, but only tourists panic.) The air smelled faintly of cedar and incense. There was this moment where we just stood there—no crowds, just our small group and the sound of our footsteps on gravel. You don’t really get that peace later in the day, I think.

Afterwards, we hopped a train and wound our way up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The climb was steeper than I expected—my legs were already complaining—but then you reach the top and there’s this view over Kyoto that just stops you for a second. Emi pointed out how the city spreads out below, old tiled roofs mixing with modern blocks. She told us about couples who drink from the temple’s springs for luck in love; I tried it (cold, slightly metallic), but who knows if it works. We lingered longer than planned because someone wanted another photo—our guide never rushed us.

The walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka felt like slipping into another century. Shops were just opening, shopkeepers bowing as they swept their doorsteps. At Yasaka Koshindo Temple, I fumbled trying to tie one of those colorful balls for a wish—Emi laughed and showed me how it’s done (her hands are way steadier). The colors here are wild compared to most temples; almost playful.

Gion was quieter than I thought it would be. No geisha sightings for us, but there was something about the wooden houses and lanterns that made me slow down anyway. By the time we reached Yasaka Shrine, my feet were sore but my head felt clear—I still think about that hush under the shrine’s gate before Kyoto really woke up around us.