Kyoto in One Day: @ Gion & @ Ginkaku-ji — Guide Kaz
September, 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
- 10:30 Meet up @ Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto
- 10:45-11:50 @ Gion
- 11:55-12:20 Lunch @ Kyomen
- 12:45-13:30 @ Nijo Castle
- 14:15-15:00 @ Sanjusangendo
- 15:10-15:45 Cafe break @ Shichijo Kanshundo Main Store
- 16:30-17:20 @ Ginkaku-ji
- 17:25 Dismissal @ In front of Ginkaku-ji taxi stand
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Gion, Nijo Castle, and Ginkaku-ji
The guests were visitors from North America. We started our walk from Gion, which was closest to their hotel. When I explained that Tatsumi Shrine in Gion Shirakawa enshrines a deity associated with the performing arts, one of the guests said they played the piano and offered a prayer. We walked for about an hour under the blazing sun, but partway through one of the guests said they were a little hungry, so we had lunch at "Kyomen" in front of the "Gion" bus stop. At Nijo Castle, the guests said they had both watched the TV drama "Shogun," and when I talked about Ieyasu, they became excited and said, "I know that person!" Since cleaning work was still being carried out in the Ninomaru Garden, we skipped the Ninomaru Garden.
One of the guests collected goshuin stamps and received one each at Sanjusangendo and Ginkaku-ji. After exploring Sanjusangendo, they said they wanted to take a break, so we stopped at the Shichijo Kanshundo main shop to rest.
Both of the guests were very interested in Japanese culture and history. One of them was very interested in speaking Japanese, frequently asking how to say things in Japanese and whether their Japanese pronunciation was correct. They were also familiar with the concept of "wabi-sabi," and when I explained that the garden at Ginkaku-ji is based on that concept, they gazed at it with deep appreciation.
We parted ways in front of the taxi stand at Ginkaku-ji.
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 | Gion～Higashiyama Sanjo | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Higashiyama Station～Nijojo-mae Station | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Nijojo-mae Station～Sanjo Keihan Station | 220JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Sanjo Station～Shichijo Station | 170JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shichijo Station～Demachiyanagi Station | 280JPY |
| Section 6 | Bus | Demachiyanagi Station～Ginkakuji-michi | 230JPY |
| Total | 1,350JPY | ||
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.