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.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet @ Dhusi Tani
- 9:30 @ Kiyomizu-dera
- 11:30 @ Fushimi Inari
- 12:20 @ Sanjusangendo
- 13:15 Disband @ Kyoto Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ Dhusi Tani at 9:00, the group explored Kyoto until the tour ended at 13:15. The day ran to 4 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Kiyomizu-dera at 9:30, Fushimi Inari at 11:30 and Sanjusangendo at 12:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tofukuji to Inari by train (150JPY); Kiyomizu-michi to Tofukuji by bus (230JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 380JPY per person.
Can You Do a Rainy-Day Private Tour of Kyoto? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. They said they wanted to see the major sights even in the rain. Perhaps because they had mentioned beforehand that they would go to Kiyomizu-dera by taxi, they had arranged a taxi for our meeting time. Normally the route would be Kiyomizu-dera → Sanjusangen-do → Fushimi Inari, but because heavy rain was forecast around midday, I changed the order of the visits. The guests enjoyed the tour despite the rain. At Yasaka Koshindo they struck the "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" pose for photos, they tried a persimmon smoothie, and they were even able to experience the water at Otowa Waterfall, which I usually don't recommend due to crowds.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Tofukuji～Inari | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kiyomizu-michi～Tofukuji | 230JPY |
| Total | 380JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Dhusi Tani at 9:00, and the tour finished at @ Kyoto Station at 13:15.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 13:15.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 380JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazuko is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hi,there,
I’ve lived between Kyoto and Osaka since I was born, so I know well both cities. I’ve guided mainly in Kyoto, Osaka for around nine years since I got the government licensed guide qualification.
My main guiding city is Kyoto, currently around 70-80% of the tour are there. In addition, I have a qualified 2nd grade of Kyoto expert certification, so I can make customized tour from major spots to off the beaten spots. My tour style is showing the Japan’s seasonal beauty and laughing with you. Let’s enjoy the unique culture and memorable day!!
Experienced Guide cities: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Himeji and Mt. Koya
Hobby: exploring cities, piano playing and listening, developing new guiding spots
Jun 22, 2026
Clark_C
Viator review: Kyoto 9hr Private Tour (Kobe Dep. ) with Licensed Guide
A leisurely stroll through kyoto
Rather than rushing to…
Jun 22, 2026
Clark_C
Viator review: Kyoto 9hr Private Tour (Kobe Dep. ) with Licensed Guide
A leisurely stroll through kyoto
Rather than rushing to see multiple tourist sites through taxi’s, we opted to customize a tour that utilized public transportation and short walk through neighborhoods in Kyoto. We visited Fushimi Inari Taisha, then sanzyusangen-so, experienced Kyoto noodle, then walked through the old geisha district and finally Gion. We then concluded with shopping on then street past Gion. It was a really nice visit that gave us a local flavor. The tour guide was wonderful and communicated in advance so that we can customize the tour to our liking!
Nov 22, 2025
B571PBrebecap
Koya
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We loved the experience. Our guide was…
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B571PBrebecap
Koya
Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Licensed Guide
We loved the experience. Our guide was very kind and explained everything very clearly. It’s
a unique experience, and I highly recommend visiting it.
Sep 24, 2025
thaopd0
Mt Koya trip
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Kazuko was very nice and…
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thaopd0
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Kazuko was very nice and knowlegable. We were very happy having her as our tour guide
for Mt Koya. Such a beautiful place to visit.
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Jeff_L
Excellent Day in Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Osaka with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
We had a great…
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Jeff_L
Excellent Day in Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Osaka with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
We had a great day in Kyoto from our cruise at the Osaka port. Our guide Kazuko had everything extremely well planned and organized for us to visit the locations we selected ahead of time. One member of our group has a dietary restriction for gluten and this is quite difficult to accomodate in Japan. Kazuko found a perfect place for us to eat lunch that could accomodate this. The stops were also timed in such a way that we avoided the worst of the crowds from the big bus tours. I definintely recommend this tour if you want to get the most of of Kyoto in just one day. Normally we prefer to explore on our own but in this case the van, driver and guide was well worth the cost.