KYOTO · TICKETS
Every Kyoto itinerary has one slot too few. These 15 tickets & entry passes justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in a minute and get back to planning.
Hop-on hop-off Kyoto bus connects Kyoto Station to Gion and the Golden and Silver Pavilions, with audio in 7 languages and open-top views.
“Staff were very friendly and super helpful... They spoke excellent English. I got a one day ticket, but next time I will get a 2 day ticket... one day was not enough.”
Learn Uji tea culture in Kyoto with a Chazuna museum ticket and matcha grinding workshop, plus whisking and a guided tasting in 1 hour.
“Our family of 5 enjoyed this hands on experience getting to grind and prepare our our own matcha. The small museum attached, which is included in the price, also helped in building our understanding of green tea . Easy 15min walk to the station . 10min walk to the main market street(great for matcha foods and souvenirs)and the Byodoin temple (also well worth visiting)”
Skip-the-line guided visit to Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum with samurai armor try-on, shuriken throwing, and a fun expert guide.
“This felt like a middle school trip. Very small place. No air-conditioning. A short history of samurai and ninja was given. The whole experience was very quick, did not feel like a museum at all.”
View Kyoto from 131 meters up at Nidec Kyoto Tower near Kyoto Station. Spot Kiyomizu and Toji for about $5, with easy timing.
Kyoto’s GEAR non-verbal show mixes Kabuki-style acting, high-tech stage tricks, and a robot-doll story in 90 minutes for $46.
“Absolutely amazing performances, performers were very amusing and very talented at each of their specialties.”
Practice Iaido with a blunt replica sword in Kyoto, dress in samurai hakama, throw a ninja star, then tour the Samurai Ninja Museum.
“Was disappointing and commercial. Not a real samurai experience. Very rushed and instructor wanted to get it overwith”
GEAR in Kyoto is a 90-minute non-verbal performance with breakdance, mime, juggling, projection mapping, and LED costumes. $47.57.
“This was a fantastic, modern show with no dialogue (so our lack of Japanese skills made no difference). There were lots of special lighting effects and great performances by 5 very talented actors. It was a lot of fun and really well done - we very much enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a non-traditional Japanese performance.”
Watch Kembu samurai sword rituals in Kyoto, get an English talk, then take your own sword and fan photos. One hour, $33 mobile ticket.
“Take your shoes off to enter have two types of chairs low to grown and normal. Performance was really good. Taking pictures afterwards was fun”
Visit Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Edo-period Japan, dress as a samurai or ninja, explore Cinema Road sets, and watch filming for $18.
“Lo que más me gustó fue el Eva 01 y la casa fantasma”
Kyoto Railway Museum ticket for 1 day of interactive train history with 53 real trains, a steam locomotive ride, and roundhouse turntable views.
“nice to see the history of the train in Japan and of course see the bullet train”
Kyoto KITSUNE nightclub ticket with 2 drinks, two themed floors, top DJs, late-night hours, and strict passport and age checks.
Kyoto Aquarium ticket in Umekoji Park. See dolphin shows, penguins, giant salamanders, and satoyama rural scenes.
“My son and I thought we would only be here a couple of hours but that stretched out to a few more. So much to see and so well presented - all time favourite was the jelly fish aquariums with the seals a close second. Excellent souvenir shop. Worth every cent, thank you.”
Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji with tickets in Kyoto, including monk-led chanting, Main Hall access, and a calm Imperial Residence finish.
“Great tour! Authentic tour! We visited two world heritage sites for three hours. Golden Pavilion was awesome. The borrowed landscape garden makes the Golden Pavilion outstanding. More impressive is Ninnaji Temple. Our guide Ellie wRead more”
Enjoy matcha and Kyoto garden views from tatami at the Old Mitsui Shimogamo Villa. One-hour visit with a mobile ticket for $15.
“Calming experience. Insight to the traditional architecture. Well preserved and cared for house. Not much English translation available other than the standard leaflet. Tea on the living room looking out over the garden made it feel like we were alone and living history.”
Enjoy a 25 to 30 minute one-way Sagano Romantic Train ride through Kyoto’s Hozugawa River Valley across seasonal scenery.
“Tour operator made a mistake when booking our departing train tickets causing us to miss out as the tickets were fully booked for that day. The only consolation was that they did respond promptly.”
Every kind of day in the city, and the best-reviewed way to book it.
