Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Toshi

What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama

The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had a strong interest in Japan and asked many questions, curious about nearly everything they saw.

The group arrived at the Hachijo Exit of Kyoto Station about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled, and we were able to meet successfully at 10:45. From there we took a chartered taxi to Fushimi Inari Taisha, where I gave an unhurried tour of the shrine. They seemed deeply impressed by the teachings of Shinto. I had told them that we would head to Kiyomizu-dera next after Fushimi Inari Taisha, but during the ride they suddenly asked to change the plan. So I changed the destination to Kinkaku-ji and guided them there. They were impressed by the beauty of Kinkaku-ji and were very pleased. After Kinkaku-ji, we decided to have lunch at a nearby ramen shop. We managed to finish lunch, and on the way to the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, the topic turned to a period drama popular overseas. When I mentioned that there is a film studio park in the Uzumasa area of Kyoto, they asked me to show them the place. We decided to let them view the film studio park from the car window as we drove through. Then we walked through the bamboo grove and visited Kameyama Park, the Hozu River, and the Togetsukyo Bridge, introducing points of interest along the way on foot. At the Hozu River, a hotel caught their eye and they wished to see inside, so I asked the person in charge, and as a result we were granted a viewing limited to the garden only. That was our final stop before heading to the hotel, and when we parted at the hotel they offered words of thanks, saying, "Today's sightseeing was wonderful thanks to you. Thank you." It was a day that eased the fatigue of guiding.

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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.