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
- 8:30 Osaka Port Cruise Ship Terminal
- 9:40~9:55 Travel from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station by Shinkansen
- 10:30~11:40 Nijo Castle
- 12:20~13:20 Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 14:00~15:20 Gion – Lunch
- 16:13~16:30 Travel from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen, see you off at the Shin-Osaka taxi stand and disband
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour from Osaka Cruise Port to Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America whom I met at the Osaka Port cruise ship terminal before heading to Kyoto. Unfortunately, it rained heavily during the day and the footing was unstable, so sightseeing took longer than expected, but we used taxis for most of our movements. One of the guests had lived in Japan for three years about forty years ago and spoke Japanese fluently, and having visited Kyoto before, enjoyed the nostalgic changes and atmosphere of the city.
At Nijo Castle, the guests admired the Karamon Gate, the architecture of the Ninomaru Palace, the carved transoms, and the painted sliding doors. While talking about the process by which Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the country, and about "Shogun," which is currently popular in North America, the guests said they would buy a book and read it after returning home.
At Kinkaku-ji, although the view was slightly hazy from the rain, the guests were moved by the scenery of Kyoko-chi Pond, the Golden Pavilion, and Mount Kinugasa, and took many photographs. They also remarked that, thanks to recent restoration work, the pavilion was even more brilliant and beautiful than it had been forty years ago.
Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shin-Osaka～Kyoto | 1,450JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Kyoto～Nijojo-mae | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Kyoto～Shin-Osaka | 1,450JPY |
| Total | 3,160JPY | ||
Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Shige.
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a…
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a wonderful guide. He helped us navigate the public transit system and provided
keen insight into Japanese cultural practices and the role of religion in modern day
Japan.10/10
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent…
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent tour guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and patient. He kept our tour
moving, but also make sure we rested when needed and we stayed hydrated.
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion during our time in Osaka. He explained everything clearly and made the experience both informative and enjoyable. He was very accommodating, always attentive to our needs, and incredibly polite and respectful. His subtle and thoughtful approach made us feel comfortable throughout the entire tour. Highly recommended!
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting information about the places we visited. He was also very friendly and approachable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The length of the tour was just right for us—especially on such a hot day—and we still managed to find time to take some great photos.