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
- 12:30 Yakinikudokoro Hiro Kyoto Tower Sando Branch
- 13:00 Kinkakuji (600) by taxi
- 14:00 Ryoanji (600) by taxi
- 15:30 Bamboo Grove by taxi
- 15:40 Tenryuji (500 + 300) by taxi
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- 16:30 Kyoto Station from JR SagaArashiyama Sta
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Yakinikudokoro Hiro Kyoto Tower Sando Branch at 12:30, Kinkakuji (600) by taxi at 13:00, Ryoanji (600) by taxi at 14:00, Bamboo Grove by taxi at 15:30, Tenryuji (500 + 300) by taxi at 15:40 and Kyoto Station from JR SagaArashiyama Sta at 16:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto by train (240JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 240JPY per person.
What's a Half-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like Before Returning Home? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests came from North America. They had flown into Tokyo, traveled to various places by cruise ship with Tokyo as the final stop, and then came for a half-day tour of Kyoto on the day before returning home, taking the 18:02 bullet train back to Tokyo and flying home the next day. We met at the food court in the basement of the Kyoto Tower building and carried out the tour almost exactly as scheduled. One of the guests loves animals, especially turtles. At the Kyoyochi Pond of Ryoan-ji Temple we saw turtles basking on the rocks, at the Sogenchi Pond of Tenryu-ji Temple we spotted a large soft-shell turtle, and in a small stream we saw a bullfrog, which everyone found very exciting. At a specialty bamboo goods shop in Arashiyama, the guests purchased a bamboo turtle ornament. It was a short tour of four hours, but I believe the guests enjoyed it.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Kyoto | 240JPY |
| Total | 240JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Yakinikudokoro Hiro Kyoto Tower Sando Branch, Kinkakuji (600) by taxi, Ryoanji (600) by taxi, Bamboo Grove by taxi, Tenryuji (500 + 300) by taxi and Kyoto Station from JR SagaArashiyama Sta.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 240JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazz is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!
Jul 14, 2026
T6871WWricharde
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…
Jul 14, 2026
T6871WWricharde
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour of Kyoto
Ryoich Kazuma (Kazz) was an amazing guide! He picked me up at my hotel and expertly guided me around Kyoto, showing me a custom set of sites. His background revealed interesting facts about the sites and related Japanese culture. He photographed moments for me and later shared all the pictures, allowing me to enjoy the sites rather than focusing on taking all my own pictures. He prepared an itinerary in advance and gave me useful information about how much local currency would be needed as well as estimated admission and transportation costs. Basically have 15000 yen ready and use a Suica card and everything is easy! We had a lovely lunch around midday as well. I highly recommend the tour and can’t say enough good things about Kazz! Love every moment!!
Jun 5, 2026
mateoe216
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Would book again
The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…
Jun 5, 2026
mateoe216
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Would book again
The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone who has never taken a private tour before, I was unsure what to expect. Kazuma-san met us at our hotel, was very friendly and knowledgeable. His English is also good. As me and my mother took more time than planned at the different sites we visited, Kazuma-san was able to provide us with interesting explanations and history facts throughout it all, even smells of local flora, and he took photos for us even after the alloted 4 hours were over and we were on our way back. One highlight for me was a high end porcelain shop near kiyomizudera.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to get a feel for Kyoto’s temples and history.
May 27, 2026
Leah_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely recommend!
I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…
May 27, 2026
Leah_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely recommend!
I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a guide, we learned so many things we would’ve been clueless about had we done some of the temples and castles on our own. Kazz was a wonderful guide and took pictures of us with his nice camera everywhere we went, so we had a little photo album of our day at the end of it! We had so much fun and are extremely glad we did this. Thank you so much!!
May 26, 2026
sheilacL3330KS
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
Kazz was an excellent guide…
May 26, 2026
sheilacL3330KS
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
Kazz was an excellent guide – very enthusiastic about everything and happy to explain not only the meaning of the ‘golden pavilion’ but also the different properties of bamboo, and the meanings of anything pertinent he noticed in various shops He also took multiple photographs which he sent to us via email .