Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Yuka

December, 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. 10:00 Meet @Hotel Oike Kyoto
  • 2. 10:50 @Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji Temple・Bamboo Grove)
  • 3. 13:00 @Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • 4. 14:45 Disband @Shinkyogoku Shopping Street

What Can You See on a 4-Hour Private Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report

This was a booking made through a travel agency, and I was finally able to get in touch with the guests the day before the tour. Since it was only a four-hour tour and we could not afford to waste travel time, we agreed that the guests would visit Fushimi Inari Taisha on their own, and we went to Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji together. The autumn foliage was near its end, but a few vibrant trees still remained, and the guests were delighted. Perhaps because of an interest in such topics, when I explained the garden of Tenryu-ji, one of the guests happily said, "I really love stories like that. I learned so much." Since it began to rain earlier than forecast, we used only the bus to get to Nishiki Market. In the bus, the guests asked me many questions, such as about Japan's pension system and how I became a guide. I answered candidly, and I was also able to ask the guests various things about themselves, and we both felt encouraged by the exchange. One of the guests was a promising illustrator and drew an illustration in a book that is precious to me and signed it. It has become a lifelong treasure. When we parted, one of the guests hugged me with a beaming smile and said, "I'm so glad I met you."

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall～Kyoto260JPY
Section 2TrainKyoto～Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
Section 3TrainArashiyama～Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi～Shijo-Takakura230JPY
Total1,210JPY

Tour Report by YUKA

Hi! My name is YUKA. I’ve got the government license in 2018 and joined a half year traning to do the guide. But a half year later I started my carreer, Covid came. I should have given up guiding. During the Covid, I’ve read many books and made my own materials to explain Japanese culture, history, etc. I love guiding because the guests expand my horizon all the time and let me know their own country and culture, etc. It is really important for us all to know each other and respect each other to make this world peace. Thank you for coming to Japan! Let’s enjoy Japan together!

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