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
- 10:00 Meet @ Nazuna Kyoto Gosho
- 10:25-11:15 @ Nijo Castle
- 11:45-12:45 @ Gion
- 13:00-14:20 @ Higashiyama area
- 14:45-15:40 @ Sanjusangendo
- 16:20 Disband @ Nazuna Kyoto Gosho
**Title:** What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like in the Rain? A Licensed Guide's Report
**Body:**
The guests were visitors from North America. They had come to Japan while their children were away at summer camp. They had traveled from Tokyo to Hiroshima and had arrived in Kyoto the day before.
All of the sites the guests had mentioned in advance were outdoor locations, but the forecast called for rain all day, so I suggested some recommended indoor spots and conducted the tour while keeping an eye on the weather.
After meeting the guests, it looked like the rain would continue for a while, so we decided to start with Nijo Castle, where much of the visit is indoors.
In Gion, while I was explaining about the okiya (geisha lodging houses), we happened to encounter a maiko entering one of them, which delighted the guests.
In the Higashiyama area, the guests were mainly interested in shopping, so they stopped at souvenir shops several times and browsed a variety of items. When I mentioned that Higashiyama is famous for Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, they showed great interest, so I took them to Asahido, located right near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. There they purchased four tea bowls. Since I had heard that they enjoyed spicy food, I introduced them to a specialty seasoning shop, where they bought shichimi togarashi (seven-spice blend) and other items.
After that, although the rain had mostly stopped, the guests said they wanted to see the thousand Buddhist statues at Sanjusangendo, so we headed there.
After exploring Sanjusangendo, I saw the guests off at their accommodation and we parted ways.
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 | Bus | Bunkacho Prefectural Office～Horikawa Marutamachi | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Sanjo Keihan | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Yasui Konpira-mae～Museum Sanjusangendo-mae | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shichijo～Jingu Marutamachi | 280JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Marutamachi Keihan-mae～Karasuma Marutamachi | 230JPY |
| Total | 1,190JPY | ||
Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!
My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.
I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.
I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.
I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!
May 19, 2026
498stephenq
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An enjoyable visit
Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…
May 19, 2026
498stephenq
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An enjoyable visit
Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and a pleasure to be with.
Apr 11, 2026
V5131MFjodieh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…
Apr 11, 2026
V5131MFjodieh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic Kyoto. He was flexible when we decided to modify our itinerary on the morning due to rain forecast the next day. Kaz’s English was great which meant he kept my teenage sons engaged with stories about shoguns and samurai battles. We visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Golden and Silver pavilions. The highlight of the tour with Kaz was being shown around beautiful gardens to see cherry blossoms still blooming and views of the city. We highly recommend going on a tour with him.
Oct 14, 2025
Scenic61154406959
Great Historical Perspective
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…
Oct 14, 2025
Scenic61154406959
Great Historical Perspective
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of of the historical aspects of the sites we visit, provided us great guidance on appropriate behavior at each site. He was energetic throughout the tour. More important he was more of a companion which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Sep 29, 2025
Jea L
Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kaz was an excellent tour…
Sep 29, 2025
Jea L
Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kaz was an excellent tour guide! He spent 6 hours showing us around Kyoto including Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-Ji Temple and the bamboo forest. He was very knowledgeable, spoke English well (lived in the US for 3 years), and took lots of photos for us. We are so glad we booked this tour.