Is the Kyoto Getaway tour in Kyoto free?

Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Kyoto in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.

How long does the Kyoto Getaway tour take?

About 1 h for 3 stops, including time at each stop.

Where does the Kyoto Getaway tour start and finish?

It starts at Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and finishes at Gion District.

Which languages is the narration in?

English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.

Itinerarly › City guides › Kyoto › Kyoto Getaway

Kyoto Getaway: free self-guided audio tour of Kyoto

Kyoto Getaway is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Kyoto, Japan: 3 stops in about 1 h. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

Stops	3
Duration	about 1 h, including time at each stop
Difficulty	Easy
Distance	about 8.2 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot)
Start	Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Finish	Gion District
Price	Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket)
Languages	English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese

Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu and Gion in 1h

The stops, in order

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is perhaps the most famous image of Japan. This Zen temple, whose two upper floors are entirely covered in pure gold leaf, is mirrored in a reflecting pond dotted with islets and sculpted pines. Built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it became a Buddhist temple on his death.
Kiyomizu-dera↳ 7.1 km from the previous stop (straight line)Kiyomizu-dera, the "temple of pure water", has clung to a wooded hillside in eastern Kyoto since the year 778. Its vast wooden terrace, supported by hundreds of pillars assembled without a single nail, juts thirteen metres over the void, offering an unforgettable view of the city and the cherry blossoms or maples depending on the season. From this place comes a Japanese expression meaning to take the plunge, to make a bold decision.
Gion District↳ 1.1 km from the previous stop (straight line)Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, a maze of lanes lined with wooden tea houses, the ochaya, and traditional restaurants with slatted façades. As night falls, the lanterns light up and, with a little luck, you may glimpse a geiko or a maiko, a trainee geisha in a shimmering kimono, hurrying to an appointment. Hanami-koji street and Tatsumi bridge are among the most photogenic corners in Japan.

How to take this tour

Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
Open Guided tours, choose Kyoto, then Kyoto Getaway.
Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.

Other audio tours of Kyoto

Planning a whole day? See one day in Kyoto.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kyoto Getaway tour in Kyoto free?: Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Kyoto in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
How long does the Kyoto Getaway tour take?: About 1 h for 3 stops, including time at each stop.
Where does the Kyoto Getaway tour start and finish?: It starts at Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and finishes at Gion District.
Which languages is the narration in?: English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.