Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — 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. 9:30 Meet at Dhawa Yura Kyoto
  • 2. 10:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple (including Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka)
  • 3. 11:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 4. 13:30 Lunch @ Arashiyama Udon
  • 5. 14:00 Bamboo Grove (including Nonomiya Shrine)
  • 6. 14:45 Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • 7. 15:45 Disband @ Hotel

Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Tour by Taxi? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests today were a group visiting from Oceania. We met at the Hotel on time, confirmed the destinations we had discussed in advance, and began sightseeing in Kyoto. All transportation was by arranged taxi, which made everything very smooth. The itinerary started with Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Bamboo Grove, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. It was unfortunate that, for one of the guests who had trouble with their knees, places involving uphill walks such as Kiyomizu-dera, the Senbon Torii path at Fushimi Inari, and Kinkaku-ji had to be visited while that person waited outside rather than joining. However, at the Bamboo Grove, the guests enjoyed the scenery with smiles. Today was a hot day, warm enough to break a sweat all day long, and the guests were tired by the time we reached Kinkaku-ji, so we decided to head straight back to the Hotel from Kinkaku-ji.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

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…