Geisha districts, Zen gardens, and 2,000 temples
Explore Kyoto with Wexplo, an AI audio guide that narrates the 2,000 temples and shrines, the geisha traditions of Gion, and the Zen philosophy behind every raked gravel garden. Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years, and its cultural density is unmatched.
Get started
Free on iOS and Android. No sign-up needed.
Stories play automatically when you reach a place. No route to follow.
Hands-free narration about every place you pass. Ask questions, go deeper, skip ahead.
Highlights
Why it works here
Kyoto's temples can blur together without context. Wexplo narrates the specific Buddhist or Shinto tradition behind each one, explains the design philosophy of Zen gardens, and tells the geisha stories that make Gion's lantern-lit streets come alive.
March to April for cherry blossoms along the Philosopher's Path, or November for fiery autumn maples.
Japanese, English
Compact center — everything on foot
Walk the Philosopher's Path from Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji in the early morning. This two-kilometer canal-side path passes through quiet residential Kyoto, and Wexplo narrates the philosopher Nishida Kitaro who walked it daily for contemplation.
FAQ
Yes. Download the app, open it in Kyoto, and start listening. No account required. A premium plan adds offline mode and deeper content layers.
Yes. Save stories before your trip and listen without internet. Useful if you're on roaming or in areas with spotty coverage.
14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Hindi, and more. Switch anytime in the app.
No group, no schedule, no fixed route. Wexplo plays stories when you reach a place — you walk wherever you want, at whatever pace you want. Completely hands-free.
Free app. Works offline. Stories in 14 languages.