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
- 9:30 Hotel
- 10:00-11:00 Fushimi Inari
- 11:30-12:30 Nijo Castle
- 12:45-13:30 (Lunch)
- 13:45-14:45 Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- 15:30 Arrive at hotel
- Hotel: Matsubaya Ryokan (across from Higashi Hongan-ji)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Fushimi Inari at 10:00, Nijo Castle at 11:30, (Lunch) at 12:45 and Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) at 13:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Subway Gojo Station to Subway Kyoto Station by subway (220JPY); JR Kyoto Station to JR Inari Station by train (150JPY); JR Inari Station to JR Kyoto Station by train (150JPY); Subway Kyoto Station to Subway Nijojo-mae Station by subway (260JPY); Subway Nijojo-mae Station to Subway Nijo Station by subway (220JPY); JR Nijo Station to JR Enmachi Station by train (150JPY); City Bus Enmachi Station to City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi Station by bus (230JPY); City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi Station to City Bus Enmachi Station by bus (230JPY); JR Enmachi Station to JR Kyoto Station by train (190JPY). Across 9 sections the fare came to 1,800JPY per person.
Title: What Does a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji
The guests were a group visiting from Asia. As of late the previous night, the forecast had predicted rain all day, but fortunately not a single drop fell, and it turned out to be a comfortable day for traveling.
The itinerary followed the classic route: Fushimi Inari, then Nijo Castle.
Since there was not much time for lunch, I chose a curry restaurant in front of Enmachi Station.
As a result, the guests were very pleased, and they said they would definitely like to visit again even after moving on to Tokyo.
I was told that they used to frequent a curry restaurant when living abroad in the past.
After that, we went to Kinkaku-ji, and then returned to the Hotel to end the tour.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Subway Gojo Station～Subway Kyoto Station | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | JR Kyoto Station～JR Inari Station | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | JR Inari Station～JR Kyoto Station | 150JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Subway Kyoto Station～Subway Nijojo-mae Station | 260JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Subway Nijojo-mae Station～Subway Nijo Station | 220JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | JR Nijo Station～JR Enmachi Station | 150JPY |
| Section 7 | Bus | City Bus Enmachi Station～City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi Station | 230JPY |
| Section 8 | Bus | City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi Station～City Bus Enmachi Station | 230JPY |
| Section 9 | Train | JR Enmachi Station～JR Kyoto Station | 190JPY |
| Total | 1,800JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle, (Lunch) and Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,800JPY per person across 9 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?
Ichiro 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.
Hello!
I’m Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
(I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )
In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.
I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.
I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.