Kamo River’s Timeless Tales: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Kyoto

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Starting at the historic Shijo Bridge, which has watched over Japan’s ancient capital since the Shogun era, you’ll discover how bridges evolved from footpaths to modern transport routes. You’ll hear tales of intrigue from the Gion District’s teahouses, including a famous Winter revenge plot.

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2. Next to the Kamo River, you'll pass by the statue of Izumo no Okuni and hear about the sword-wielding woman who scandalized society on the river’s outdoor stage.

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3. On this tour, you'll have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the cultured patrons of the Minamiza Kabuki Theater as they gather for the latest performance.

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4. On this self-guided tour, you’ll step across the exquisite stone Tatsumi footbridge, lined with sakura trees that gloriously blossom in the Spring.

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5. On this tour you'll cross over the Shirakawa Canal and hear about the history tied to the land around it.

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6. On this walking tour of Kyoto, you’ll stroll along the Kamo River to hear about the heart-stopping events that happened on its shores.

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7. On this self-guided tour, you'll have a chance to cross the Sanjo Bridge and search for the pylon that bears traces of a sword fight in the waning days of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

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8. On this self-guided tour, you'll have a chance to silently step into the Dainichinyorai graveyard where dozens of women of the Toyotomi clan were murdered so that another male claimant to the dynasty wouldn’t be produced.

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9. On this self-guided tour, you'll have a chance to tip your hat as Charlie Chaplin did when he visited the Pontocho Kaburenjo performance house in the 1930s.

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10. This self-guided audio tour ends close to the Pontocho Park. You'll pass the park on your way to the tour's end point and as you do, you'll hear its history.

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Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Kyoto

• Its from-price is 88% below the median of the 171 city tours we list in Kyoto.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years, is a city of temples, gardens, wooden townhouses and refined traditions.

The city holds many of Japan's most treasured sites. Fushimi Inari Taisha's thousands of vermilion torii gates climb a wooded mountain, Kinkaku-ji's Golden Pavilion shimmers over its pond, and Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage juts from the hillside above the city. The rock garden of Ryoan-ji and the mossy grounds of Ginkaku-ji invite quiet contemplation.

Top-ranked sights in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

See all 1713 experiences in Kyoto