Kyoto in Half a Day: Ginkaku-ji & Nanzen-ji — Guide Hiro
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
- 8:30 Meet @ Hotel Kyoto Oike
- 9:10 Ginkaku-ji
- 10:00 Honen-in
- 10:20 Moving: Philosopher's Path
- 10:50 Nanzen-ji
- 12:30 Dismiss @ Hotel Kyoto Oike
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 8:30 at @ Hotel Kyoto Oike and ended at 12:30. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Ginkaku-ji at 9:10, Honen-in at 10:00, Moving: Philosopher's Path at 10:20 and Nanzen-ji at 10:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto City Hall to Ginkaku-ji-michi by bus (230JPY); Keage to Kyoto City Hall by subway (220JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 450JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Photography Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Oceania. Having previously spent time in various parts of Asia, they seemed like seasoned travelers. Since they wanted a location well-suited for photography, I recommended this particular course, and I believe they were very pleased with it. They were energetic and cheerful, mentioning happily that they would visit Nijo Castle in the afternoon and the bamboo grove in Arashiyama the following day. As we parted, they kindly gave me a small gift. I believe they were satisfied with the tour.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Kyoto City Hall～Ginkaku-ji-michi | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Keage～Kyoto City Hall | 220JPY |
| Total | 450JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel Kyoto Oike at 8:30, and the tour finished at @ Hotel Kyoto Oike at 12:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 8:30 to 12:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Ginkaku-ji, Honen-in, Moving: Philosopher's Path and Nanzen-ji.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 450JPY 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?
Hiro 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.
Thanks for joining our tour. I’m Hiro Nakagawa, assigned to be your guide for this tour. I was eligible as a National Licensed Tour Guide in 2017. I have guided many tourists from overseas since then. Japan is a beautiful country with full of various attractions. Please enjoy your time in this country to the fullest. I will help you with that. What are you interested in this country? I will introduce this country’s long history, traditional culture, beautiful seasonal highlights, and delicious food to you. Please let me know your preferences. If it’s other than which I mentioned, I’m preparing it for you as much as possible. Let’s enjoy the trip together!
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Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was very humble person. Under the extreme heat
conditions Hiro was very thoughtful & helpful. Thank you Hiro for today we appreciate your
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Jun 18, 2025
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My wife and I enjoyed not one by TWO full day tours with Hiro, one in Osaka and one in Kyoto. Hiro knows his stuff and passed along a lot of interesting history. In both cases he came prepared with detailed itineraries including public transit times to make sure we hit all the sites we most wanted to see. When rain became a factor in Kyoto, he adjusted our schedule to optimize for the weather – indoors during heaviest rain and outdoors when weather improved. In Kyoto, he warned us away from eating in one tourist area and instead found an amazing noodle shop for lunch, a completely unique experience. In Osaka, when we found one site he had chosen for us closed – the Museum of Housing & Life – he proposed another site that proved to be very nice. We went to the museum on our own the next day and found it fascinating and fun. He also took us to an outstanding okonomikayi place for lunch. Friendly, well-organized and accommodating, we really enjoyed our tours with Hiro.
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Excellent tour
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May 26, 2025
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Excellent tour
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Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable and professional, he accommodated all our expectations.
Highly recommended!
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