Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Toshi

June, 2024

This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 10:45 Hotel
  • 2. 11:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 3. 12:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • 4. 13:30 Ryoan-ji Temple
  • 5. 14:00 Tenryu-ji Temple
  • 6. 15:00 Bamboo Forest
  • 7. 15:30 Kameyama Park
  • 8. 16:00 Togetsukyo Bridge
  • 9. 16:15 Dismissal at Togetsukyo Bridge

What Does a Private Kyoto Day Tour Include? Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama by a Licensed Guide

I met the guests at the Hotel a little earlier than the scheduled meeting time and discussed the day's itinerary with them. Since they had already visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we decided to tour Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ryoan-ji Temple, Tenryu-ji Temple, Kameyama Park, the Hozu River, and the Togetsukyo Bridge. We traveled to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine by subway and train. I explained Shinto shrines and the Shinto religion as we visited the main hall, and we descended while the guests enjoyed the Senbon Torii path. The guests suggested that we use taxis for transportation after Fushimi, so we used taxis to move between all the remaining destinations. As a result, we were able to visit many sightseeing spots despite the heat, which seemed to work out well for the guests. In particular, at Ryoan-ji Temple, I gave a philosophical explanation of the teachings of Zen while they took their time savoring the rock garden, and they truly enjoyed it. From Ryoan-ji we visited the gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple, then came out to the bamboo grove and took photographs while going around Kameyama Park, the Hozu River, and the Togetsukyo Bridge. At that point the guests said they would like to explore Arashiyama a bit more on their own, so we parted ways there.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayGojo Station～Kyoto Station220JPY
Section 2TrainKyoto Station～Inari Station150JPY
Total370JPY

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

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Apr 26, 2026
39ferdinandr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Exceptional and entertaining
Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

Apr 9, 2026
X1429XKclaudiam
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sehr zu empfehlen
Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

Jun 28, 2025
WilliamAlfonso_R
Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi was…

May 30, 2025
Z
ZevP5
Best Tour Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…