Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Sam
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
- ①9:00 Hotel, travel by bus
- ②9:45-10:45 Kinkaku-ji Temple
- ③11:30-12:30 Nijo Castle
- ④13:00-14:00 Lunch (Cafe Tyrol)
- ⑤14:30-15:20 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

What Does a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari
The guests were a group visiting from North America. We toured three sightseeing spots they had requested in advance (Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari Taisha) using the bus and JR. On the way from Nijo Castle to JR Nijo Station, we had lunch at a retro café adjacent to Shinsen-en. It has recently become popular with inbound visitors, so it took some time to be seated, but the guests seemed to enjoy it very much. Although it was hot, everyone walked energetically and appeared very satisfied. As they wished to return to their accommodation from Fushimi Inari Taisha, I had them board a taxi and saw them off.
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 | Kumano Shrine~Kinkaku-ji Temple | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kinkaku-ji Temple~Nijojo-mae | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Nijo~Inari | 200JPY |
| Total | 660JPY | ||
Hello! I am Osamu Kitagawa , National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter(English). Please call me SAM.
I love Japanese culture, history, and visiting historical places, scenic spots, and fashionable spots as well. I can guide you all over Japan as I have ever visited all prefectures in Japan. I have a global experience in international banking business including residing in Hong Kong and Jakarta. So I’m able to have daily conversations in Indonesian language, too. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
Certification
Certified Travel Services Manager
Authorized Tour Conductor
Kyoto Expert Certification
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