Kyoto Guides Share How to Beat the Autumn Temple Crowds

Kimasu's private walking and e-bike tours pair Kyoto landmarks at opening time with quieter sites a short ride away.

KYOTO, JAPAN, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Autumn foliage brings Kyoto's biggest crowds of the year to a handful of famous temples. Kimasu, a private guiding company founded by Nicolas Weber and Terence Feliho, plans its walking and e-bike tours around one simple rule: be at the landmark when the gates open, and somewhere quieter by 10 a.m.

A typical example: arrive at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, at its 9:00 a.m. opening to see the reflection on the pond before tour groups fill the narrow path. Then ride 1.5 kilometers along Kinukake-no-michi to Ninna-ji, a former imperial residence where guests can sit on wooden verandas overlooking gravel gardens. By bike, the transfer takes about seven minutes. The guides describe this "neighborhood pairing" approach, with routes for Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera, in their guide How to visit Kyoto without the crowds.

"Kyoto has some 2,000 temples and shrines, yet most visitors even within guided tours end up queuing at the same handful," said Nicolas Weber, co-founder of Kimasu. "We don't skip the famous ones. We change the hour, and what we pair them with."

Private tours on foot or by e-bike

Every Kimasu tour is private: one group, one guide, no shared bookings. There are four formats, each available on foot or by e-bike:

- an express tour of 90 minutes to two hours, focused on one neighborhood or landmark;
- a half day of about four hours;
- a full day of seven to eight hours, with a lunch stop at a local restaurant;
- an evening tour of two hours through Gion and Higashiyama after the lanterns are lit.

On cycling tours, e-bikes, helmets and rain gear are provided, along with children's bikes and baby seats for every age. After each tour, guests receive local recommendations and a selection of photos from the day.

Routes stay flexible. Guests interested in history, food, architecture or daily life can shape the day with their guide, and the pace follows the group rather than a schedule.

Kimasu also runs private day trips from Kyoto to Nara, Osaka and Himeji. Tours are offered in English and French, with Spanish on request. Travelers can book a ready-made tour, or send their dates, pace and interests through the Kimasu contact form to receive a custom proposal within 24 hours.

Travel industry partners

Kimasu works with travel agencies, destination management companies and hotel concierges that need dependable private guiding in Kyoto. Each partner works with one dedicated contact. Partner details are available at kimasu.jp/en/agencies.

"We'd rather work with fewer partners and do it well," said Terence Feliho, co-founder of Kimasu. "Agencies come back to us because they know exactly who will be waiting at the hotel entrance for their guests."

About Kimasu

Kimasu is a private guiding company based in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, founded by Nicolas Weber and Terence Feliho. It offers walking and e-bike tours in Kyoto and private day trips across the Kansai region for independent travelers and travel industry partners. Kimasu provides private guiding and concierge services only; it is not a registered travel agent under Japan's Travel Agency Act. Visit at your own pace: kimasu.jp/en

Nicolas Weber
Kimasu
+81 80-5145-8434
contact@kimasu.jp
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