Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Toshi

October, 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

  • 1. 9:00 Meet @ Nijo Castle
  • 2. 9:15 Tour Nijo Castle
  • 3.11:15 Tour the Arashiyama area (Togetsukyo Bridge, Hozugawa River, Kameyama Park)
  • 4. 12:00 Tour the Bamboo Grove
  • 5. 13:15 Tour Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 6. 14:30 Tour the Gion area (Hanamikoji Street, Tatsumi Shrine, Shirakawa Bridge)
  • 7. 15:30 Disband @ Nishiki Market

Title: What Does a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari

Body:

Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. We met on time at Nijo Castle, where I gave a detailed tour, explaining the highlights and historical background, including the beginning and end of the samurai era.

From there, we traveled by subway and JR to the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, and I guided the group leisurely around the Arashiyama area. After taking commemorative photos while walking through the bamboo grove, we traveled from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station to Inari Station, where I guided the group around Fushimi Inari Taisha.

There, I explained Shinto and the proper way to worship, and after descending from the Senbon Torii pathway, we moved to the next destination, Gion, using the Keihan Railway. Unfortunately, we were caught in heavy rain in Gion, which made moving around difficult, but we walked from Tatsumi Shrine to Kawaramachi-Shijo, and finally I guided the group to Nishiki Market before we parted ways.

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayNijojo-mae Station～Uzumasa-Tenjingawa Station260JPY
Section 2TrainRanden Uzumasa-Tenjingawa Station～Randen Arashiyama Station250JPY
Section 3TrainJR Saga-Arashiyama Station～JR Inari Station240JPY
Section 4TrainJR Inari Station～JR Tofukuji Station150JPY
Section 5TrainKeihan Tofukuji Station～Keihan Gion-Shijo Station170JPY
Total1,070JPY

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

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Apr 26, 2026
39ferdinandr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Exceptional and entertaining
Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

Apr 9, 2026
X1429XKclaudiam
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sehr zu empfehlen
Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

Jun 28, 2025
WilliamAlfonso_R
Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi was…

May 30, 2025
Z
ZevP5
Best Tour Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…