Kyoto River Walk Audio Guide

Follow the footsteps of the samurai, geisha, and kabuki performers who walked along Kyoto's Kamo River centuries ago.
US$20
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1 at US$20 ea
US$20
Listen on your schedule, you will receive a link to access the audio guide online immedately upon purchase.
Audio Guide Details
Duration
1 hour 15 minutes
Product Type
Audio Guide
Preview Kyoto River Walk Audio Guide
Shijo Ohashi Bridge
Photos & Highlights
Audio Guide Description
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. The tour producer, Nick Toven, is a Context Travel expert who gained his PhD in politics during a long stay in Japan.

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. Nick will tell you about the sword-wielding woman who scandalized society on the river’s outdoor stage, and reveal how local birds inspired the paintings in Kyoto’s castles.

As you make your way along the river and back towards the tour’s starting point, you’ll follow in the footsteps of pilgrims who walked from Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto, bringing rice crackers with them. You’ll also walk along the famous Shijo street toward Yasaka Jinga, where the pilgrims would end their 12-day journey. Before finishing the tour, you’ll step across the exquisite stone Tatsumi footbridge, lined with sakura trees that gloriously blossom in the Spring.

On this 75-minute tour, you’ll:

• Peer out over the sandbars and visualize the bygone days of food vendors serving customers in the middle of the flowing river
• Rub shoulders with the cultured patrons of the Minamiza Kabuki Theater as they gather for the latest performance
• Bow at the shrines dedicated to saving Kyoto residents from floods, before the days of modern drainage gates
• Cross the Sanjo Bridge and search for the pylon that bears traces of a sword fight in the waning days of the Tokugawa Shogunate
• 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
• Tip your hat as Charlie Chaplin did when he visited the Pontocho Kaburenjo performance house in the 1930s
• Mingle with kimono-clad visitors in narrow stone alleys filled with bars and grills, featuring terraces overlooking the river
• Search the shop roofs for the “sugidama,” cedar spheres used to mark the aging of alcohol in wooden barrels

By the end of this tour, you’ll have enriched your knowledge of Kyoto’s history. With every step around the Kamo River, you’ll appreciate how this popular destination was a focal point for trade, culture, and spiritual life for centuries, and how it continues to draw curious visitors to this day.

This tour is best taken in the afternoon and early evening to catch the sunset over the water.
Meet Your Expert
Nick

During a decade-long residency in Japan, Nick received his Ph.D. in politics and political branding. He has managed documentary specials in Kyoto’s narrow streets and markets, manned food stalls in the middle of Kyoto’s epic Gion Matsuri, and promoted Japanese tea culture with social media influencers. Nick has a first aid certificate, and worked with NGOs after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami to provide food to disaster victims. He has also interviewed atomic bombing “hibakusha” survivors and written on Japan’s postwar nuclear policy.

How do I access the audio guide and download it for offline use?
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive a voucher code for your Audio Guide. You must download the Voicemap app and enter the code. 
  1. Install VoiceMap from the Apple App Store or Google Play
  2. Create an account
  3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
  4. Enter your Voucher Code
  5. Select Download Now
Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.

How long does each event last?
Our recorded audio guides typically run for 75 minutes.

How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?
You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.

How long does my access to the audio guide last?
Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.

Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.