Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Sanjusangen-do — Guide Shoji
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
- 10:00 Meet up @ Mimaru Kyoto Station
- 10:30 Visit Nijo Castle
- 11:45 Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 13:00 Lunch @ Kitaoji Aeon Mall, Food Court
- 14:15 Visit Sanjusangen-do
- 15:00. Visit Fushimi Inari (Release the chartered car here)
- 16:00 Disband @ Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 10:00, when the guide met the guests at @ Mimaru Kyoto Station, and finished at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Kitaoji Aeon Mall, Food Court at 13:00.
From there the group visited Nijo Castle at 10:30, Kinkaku-ji Temple at 11:45, Sanjusangen-do at 14:15 and Fushimi Inari (Release the chartered car here) at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Keihan Fushimi Inari to Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo by train (220JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 220JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Car Tour of Kyoto's Top Sights Like for a Family? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. After spending four days each in Tokyo and Kanazawa, they arrived in Kyoto the previous day.
Some of the guests had visited Japan more than ten years ago and had been to Kyoto before, but that previous trip was a short and hurried stay and they did not remember where they had gone. This time they wanted to see the major spots, except for Arashiyama, which was planned for the following day, and that is how the above itinerary came about.
The weather was wonderful and the crowds were not too heavy, and everyone enjoyed the tour.
Although the group included young children, a chartered car was arranged, so we were able to get around efficiently and without any trouble.
The children were relatively well-behaved and there were no particular problems. I gave some thought to where we would have lunch, but the food court I suggested (Kitaoji Aeon Mall) allowed everyone to easily eat what they liked, and it was well received, which was a relief.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Keihan Fushimi Inari～Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo | 220JPY |
| Total | 220JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Mimaru Kyoto Station at 10:00, and the tour finished at @ Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo Station at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:00 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Sanjusangen-do and Fushimi Inari (Release the chartered car here).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 220JPY per person across 1 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?
Shoji 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.
My name is Shoji and I’m a tour guide in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan for more than one thousand years until the mid 19th century.
I have been doing this work since 2019 covering not only Kyoto but also its surrounding areas like Nara , Osaka and Shiga.
I am very much interested in Japanese history, culture and traditional arts.
Kyoto and the Kansai region are rich with many heritage sites of historical and cultural features.
I am sure that I can provide the guests with good insight and help them appreciate the charms of our wonderful city.
May 23, 2026
Amber_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great walking tour in Kyoto!
Shoji was a great guide around Kyoto.…
May 23, 2026
Amber_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great walking tour in Kyoto!
Shoji was a great guide around Kyoto. Even in the rain we were able to visit the shrines/temples we wanted to see. We wished we had started earlier as we would have linke to have seen other things off the beaten path. We ended in Gion and were able to walk around the area. Shoji brought a wealth of knowledge about the area and Japanese culture.
Jun 25, 2025
Safari35155142765
Peaceful and perfect temple guided tour.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant private guided tour of Kyoto…
Jun 25, 2025
Safari35155142765
Peaceful and perfect temple guided tour.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant private guided tour of Kyoto with Shoji Ogawa. A very knowledgeable and
interesting person who showed me special temples that were quiet and peaceful.
Jun 22, 2025
Global136391
Shoji Ogawa Made Kyoto Come Alive!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
If you’re ever in Kyoto, you…
Jun 22, 2025
Global136391
Shoji Ogawa Made Kyoto Come Alive!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
If you’re ever in Kyoto, you absolutely must take this tour — and if you’re lucky, you’ll have Mr. Shoji Ogawa as your guide. In just six hours, he managed to give us an incredibly rich and insightful experience. He didn’t just show us the historic, architectural, and cultural highlights of Kyoto — he also explained the complexities of modern Japan, including how the unique structure of Japanese society helped the country avoid colonization and achieve remarkable success despite limited natural resources. His knowledge, clarity, and passion made this tour truly unforgettable.
Jun 9, 2025
Amy_R
Wonderful Nara tour
Viator review: Private Nara Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Kyoto Departure)
We had such a wonderful…
Jun 9, 2025
Amy_R
Wonderful Nara tour
Viator review: Private Nara Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Kyoto Departure)
We had such a wonderful tour of Nara with our tour guide Shoji. He was very knowledgeable and taught us so much about Japanese history. He was extremely flexible and helped us create the best tour for us. We wouldn’t have had near the positive experience or seen as many locations if we had tried to do the tour on our own. I recommend this tour and guide to anyone wanting to experience Nara.