Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kazu

July, 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　11:30　Meet in front of JR Kyoto Station (Avanti Building)
  • ②　12:00　Daisen-in (sub-temple of Daitoku-ji)
  • ③　13:20　Lunch (near Daitoku-ji)
  • ④　14:30　Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • ⑤　15:00　Tenryu-ji Garden
  • ⑥　16:00　Fushimi Inari
  • ⑦　17:00　Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Hokan-ji
  • ⑧　18:30　Disperse near Hokan-ji

Can You Do a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Kyoto? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting from North America. This was their first time in both Japan and Kyoto, and they made a day trip to Kyoto while staying in Tokyo. They were interested in a great many things, and it was memorable how they asked thoughtful and detailed questions at each spot. Their main goal had actually been to see Nijo Castle and the Ninomaru Palace, but it was closed that day, so instead we visited a Zen temple (Daisen-in, a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji), where they tried hard to truly understand many things while viewing the national treasure dry landscape garden — the tea ceremony, the concept of wabi-sabi, the relationship between the Emperor and the Shogun, and how Buddhism and Shinto coexist among the Japanese people. As a bonus, I taught them the phrase "ookini" and suggested they try using it in Tokyo.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Inari290JPY
Total290JPY

Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

Request Booking

Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu…

Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
Our tour guide…