• The Cultural Museum of Kyoto - As you walk by this museum, discover its significance in preserving Kyoto’s heritage and showcasing key exhibits on the city’s cultural history.
• Kikusui - This remarkable Art Deco-style restaurant embodies the spirit of European expressionist architecture. Appreciate its exterior as you pass.
• Minamiza: The Kabuki Theater of Kyoto - As you pass this iconic theater, learn about its deep-rooted connection with Kabuki performances and its role in Kyoto’s entertainment history.
• Tohka Saikan - Main Shop - Pass by this building designed by the renowned architect Tohka Saikan, whose work has left a lasting impact on the city.
• Pontocho Park - As you stroll through this quaint park, hear tales of the area’s rich history as part of Kyoto’s renowned geisha district.
• Pontocho Kaburenjo - Walk past this theater, slightly out of place among wooden buildings, and learn how it continues to be a center for traditional Japanese performing arts.
• Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge - Cross this famous bridge while uncovering its role in the shogunate’s harsh history, including tales of executions along the Kamogawa River.
• Sanjo Meiten-gai Shopping Arcade - Pass through this lively shopping street, showcasing the blend of modern and traditional commercial life in Kyoto.
• 1928 Building - Admire the façade of this dynamic, modernist building, as Gavin explains the influence of newspapers on its construction.
• Yabetoku Clock Store - As you pass this clock store, learn how Kyoto businesses adopted Western architectural styles to showcase their modernity.

• Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
• The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
• Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
• Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
• Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

• Smartphone and headphones (please bring your own)
• Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
• Food and drink
• Transportation

Embark on a self-guided tour to uncover how Kyoto’s architecture mirrors Japan’s evolution from a feudal society to a modern nation. Guided by historian Gavin James Campbell, this tour delves into the fusion of traditional and modern design found throughout Kyoto’s streets. Participants will gain knowledge about the city’s transformation and observe buildings inspired by Western styles such as Queen Anne and Art Deco. While exploring the Pontocho District, insights into the architectural trends and cultural changes that have shaped contemporary Kyoto will be revealed.

• The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
• The route is an easy walk but there are steps so it isn’t wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.