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

  • ① 10:10 Meet at Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
  • ② Travel
  • ③ 11:30 Nijo Castle
  • ④ 12:40 Nishiki Market -Stroll and Lunch-
  • ⑤ 14:10 Arashiyama Heiseiin
  • ⑥ 14:25 Bamboo Grove Stroll
  • ⑦ 15:10 Kameyama Park Stroll
  • ⑧ 15:40 Iwatayama Monkey Park
  • ⑨ Travel
  • ⑩ 17:45 Disband in front of the hotel

Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour from Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America. In the morning, the meeting point hotel was incorrect due to a mistake in the guest's notes. When they did not appear at the agreed time of 9:30, we exchanged emails and I quickly moved from Nihonbashi to a hotel near Yodoyabashi. I covered the fare for this stretch (subway from Shinsaibashi to Yodoyabashi) on their behalf. At the guests' request, we traveled on the outbound journey by non-reserved seats on the Shinkansen. In the first half of the tour, the guests tended to chat among themselves, but as time passed our conversation grew, and by the evening we were talking in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The guests were interested in Japanese history, and when I explained topics such as the relationship between the Emperor and the Shogun, and how the role of the Emperor has changed throughout recorded history and where it stands today, comparing it with places such as Britain, they listened intently and asked many questions. In the end, it was a very enjoyable day.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShinsaibashi~Yodoyabashi190JPY
Section 2TrainYodoyabashi~Shin-Osaka240JPY
Section 3TrainShin-Osaka~Kyoto1,450JPY
Section 4TrainShiyakusho-mae~Nijo220JPY
Section 5TrainNijo~Saga-Arashiyama200JPY
Section 6TrainArashiyama~Umeda Hankyu410JPY
Section 7TrainUmeda~Yodoyabashi190JPY
Total2,900JPY

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

Jul 29, 2026
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