Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kazu

November, 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　10:30　Meet at Hotel Kyoto (hotel changed)
  • ②　10:35　Explanation of the itinerary and Kyoto's history at the hotel
  • ③　11:30　Nijo Castle
  • ④　13:00　Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • ⑤　14:30　Disband at Kawaramachi Sanjo / Sanjo-dori Street

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe, experiencing Japan and Kyoto for the first time, traveling from Tokyo to Kanazawa and then on to Kyoto. Something many guests have been telling me first thing in the morning lately is that they have already seen so many temples, shrines, and gardens in Tokyo and elsewhere that they are tired of them, and they ask whether there is anything else interesting to do. I was asked the same thing today. Of course, I have plenty of alternative suggestions, but instead I quietly offer this thought: understanding why so many shrines and temples of all sizes are packed into the small basin of Kyoto, and the messages behind stroll-style pond gardens and dry landscape gardens, is truly deep, as is the history of the coexistence of Buddhism and Shinto — meanings that also connect to the way of tea. Understanding these things more deeply, I tell them, is a shortcut to understanding Japan. Since guests have many different interests — some are here for photography, others for food — I never push my recommendations, but lately I have come to enjoy listening directly to each guest first thing in the morning and reconsidering our destinations together.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Tour Report by Kazu

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

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Jul 29, 2026
James_G
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Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
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Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
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Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
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