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 I'l pick you up in the lobby of your hotel "Hilton Kyoto"
- 10:20 Nijojo Castle
- 11:10 (take taxi)
- 11:30 Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
- 12:20 (take taxi)
- 13:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha
- (take taxi)
- 14:10 in front of Nishiki Food Market
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle and Nishiki Market
1. The guests were visitors from North America, and I picked them up at a hotel in Kyoto that had opened just one week earlier. 2. It was hot again today, so we took the subway to Nijo Castle first, but after that we traveled by taxi at the guests' request. 3. The guests mentioned that they had visited Osaka Castle the day before, so I introduced Nijo Castle while weaving in stories about the Tokugawa and Toyotomi families. 4. There were many students out today, and when I explained that Japan's school year runs from April to March, the guests shared that in their region it starts in September and ends in July. 5. After the tour, the guests wanted to have lunch, so I took them to the entrance of Nishiki Market, where the tour concluded.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | In front of Kyoto City Hall～In front of Nijojo Castle | 220JPY |
| Total | 220JPY | ||
Hello, I’m HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as a famous shogun who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
I was born in Kobe, worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce you Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama.
In Kyoto, I can guide you Nijojo Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Tempe (Golden Pavilion), Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
In Osaka, I’ll show you Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky biilding. We have locall foods such as Kushikatau, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
In Kobe, I’ll take you to former foreign residential area, Sannomiya Shopping Street, Chinese Market, and Arima Onsen.
In Nara, I’ll guide you Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, and Yakushiji Temple.
In Wakayama, I take you to Koyasan, the center of Esoteric Buddhism.
I enjoy guiding foreign tourists.
I can show you Japanese history, especially samurai period, and Shinto and Buddhism.
I’ve been looking forward to guiding you !!
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with…
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with an excellent guide. Just beware that the
different sites may be located at different ends of the city so you will spend time on trains.
Also, in the summer a parasol is probably a good idea as it can get hot.
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with…
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Tour was as promised , well planned and executed. The guide was very knowledgeable and
friendly and went out of his way to make sure we were pleased.
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking…
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking tour excursion from Osaka to Kyoto from our cruise ship. Hideo Yoshida met us promptly and escorted us all day from Osaka to visit 4 of Kyotos most famous sites.
He proved to be a true Japanese gentleman, very polite , very knowledgeable and knew the train system well. We must have changed at least 10 trains and it would have been impossible to navigate this without him. Also we had our most delicious sushi and sashimi lunch in Japan in a restaurant he recommended.
Thank you Hideo for providing us a wonderful insight in Kyotos history.
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with…
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with Hide Yoshi – he made a good plan for us and whisked us around Kyoto to the key sites very efficiently. He had good knowledge about the places we visited and had prepared materials and photos to show us. He really helped us to get the maximum out of our time in Kyoto and is a really nice person. Also took us for an excellent lunch! Highly recommended.