Kyoto in One Day: Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo — Guide Hiro
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
- 9:00 Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
- 9:40 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- 10:25 Move: Sannenzaka – Yasaka Pagoda
- 11:10 Nijo Castle
- 12:40 Lunch @ Shijo Karasuma
- 14:00 Sanjusangendo
- 15:00 Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo at 9:00, Kiyomizu-dera Temple at 9:40, Move: Sannenzaka – Yasaka Pagoda at 10:25, Nijo Castle at 11:10, Sanjusangendo at 14:00 and Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto City Hall to Sanjo Keihan by subway (220JPY); Sanjo to Kiyomizu-Gojo by train (170JPY); Higashiyama Yasui to Higashiyama Sanjo by bus (230JPY); Higashiyama to Nijojo-mae by subway (220JPY); Nijojo-mae to Shijo by subway (220JPY); Shijo Takakura to Shijo Keihan-mae by bus (230JPY); Gion-Shijo to Shichijo by train (170JPY); Shichijo to Sanjo by train (170JPY). Across 8 sections the fare came to 1,630JPY per person.
What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Oceania. They had traveled the new golden route from Tokyo and arrived in Kyoto the previous day. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guides lead private one-day tours of Kyoto for guests visiting Japan. I first took them to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, where there were fewer crowds than expected, and they enjoyed the solemn atmosphere and the songs of birds. At Nijo Castle, they thoroughly appreciated the 400-year-old architecture and the Japanese garden. For lunch I took them to a Japanese soba restaurant, and they were very satisfied, saying, "If we could come to this restaurant every day, we would want to try the entire menu." Finally, at Sanjusangen-do Temple, they seemed overwhelmed by the 1,001 Buddhist statues. When I asked them for their impressions of the day at the end, they told me emphatically, "It was very good, thank you."
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Kyoto City Hall～Sanjo Keihan | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Sanjo～Kiyomizu-Gojo | 170JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Higashiyama Yasui～Higashiyama Sanjo | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Higashiyama～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Shijo | 220JPY |
| Section 6 | Bus | Shijo Takakura～Shijo Keihan-mae | 230JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Gion-Shijo～Shichijo | 170JPY |
| Section 8 | Train | Shichijo～Sanjo | 170JPY |
| Total | 1,630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Move: Sannenzaka – Yasaka Pagoda, Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo and Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,630JPY per person across 8 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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Wonderful Day Trip to Mt. Koya from the Osaka Cruise Terminal
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Japan Guide Agency guide Hiro did an excellent job in escorting my wife and I for a day tour to Mt. Koya, from the Osaka Cruise Terminal. We enjoyed the sanctity of the Mt. Koya area, the peaceful shrines, and the forests of tall trees. Hiro had all the transportation well designed-out, and was able to get us back to the Osaka cruise terminal at the time I had requested. Very satisfied with his service.
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Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was…
Jun 20, 2025
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Kyoto great tour experience.
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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
time. Regards Markovski Family.
Jun 18, 2025
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Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
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Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
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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.
May 26, 2025
SK G
Excellent tour
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Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable…
May 26, 2025
SK G
Excellent tour
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable and professional, he accommodated all our expectations.
Highly recommended!
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