Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Guide ends — Guide Shuji
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
- 9:00 Meet at the hotel
- 9:40 Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 10:20 Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- 11:15 Nanzen-ji Temple
- 12:25 Kiyomizu-dera Temple, lunch
- Walk along Sannenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, Yasaka Koshin-do
- 14:50 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
- The car ends here. They wanted to walk up through the torii gates as far as possible. We went to Mitsutsuji.
- 16:00 Guide ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Kinkaku-ji Temple at 9:40, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine at 10:20, Nanzen-ji Temple at 11:15, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, lunch at 12:25, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. at 14:50 and Guide ends at 16:00.

What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. We started at Kinkaku-ji. Bathed in the morning sun, the golden pavilion was beautiful and moving to them. Hearing that one of the guests had an exam coming up, we visited nearby Kitano Tenmangu Shrine to pray, and they were grateful. At Nanzen-ji, we admired the national treasure garden and took time to look at the fusuma paintings. When I told one of the guests, who likes anime, that "the Suirokaku aqueduct at Nanzen-ji is famous as an anime filming location," they were delighted and exclaimed, "No way, amazing!" At Kiyomizu-dera, we enjoyed the view from the wooden stage and experienced the Otowa Waterfall. For lunch, the guests savored curry udon, eel, and tempura soba, saying it was delicious with a smile. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the guests said, "Let's go as far up the mountain as we can." When I mentioned that it would go over our scheduled time, the reply was, "I'll pay for the extra time." We walked up to Mitsutsuji.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
My name is Shuji, meaning “Excellent Manager” in English. I was born in Hiroshima 1952. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
After graduating Kyoto Univ. I joined Mitsubishi-UFJ Bank, Osaka Branch where I met my wife who was a master of Englsih, so I started studying English.
The bank allowed me to go to Columbia Graduate business school in New York and got MBA Degree there. I worked in London and Manchester Branch.
During staying in U.K., I was introduced by BBC and Financial Times News Paper about my achievement there. I was selected as a personal assistant and interpreter for the President of the Bank.
I made many business trips with him to overseas countries. I experienced as an interpreter for meeting late Henry Kissinger and the President of Citi. Corp.
I changed the job to ORIX corporation, there I was promoted to a Board Member. When the company had acquired Dutch company, I was a member as an accountant to check the Dutch company’s statements of accounts.
My hobbies are cooking, singing a song, playing tennis & golf, enjoy seeing arts especially opera & musical, travel. I am also busy with taking care of grandchildren. I passed Government Licensed Guide Exam. in 2016. After I retired in 2017, I started guide job as a part timer. So far, I accomplished guide job more than 500 times.
My area coverage is from Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, Oaka, Hiroshima. I am also able to guide Tea Ceremony, Maiko/Geisha, Sushi Making, Calligraphy, Sumo, Samurai, etc. I can speak excellent English. My knowledge is very wide and deep about not only sightseeing places but Japanese History, Culture, Religion, Daily Life. I know many foreign countries and people. I love talking with all kinds of people including babies with interesting humor.
By the way, I look young for my age of 74.
Jul 16, 2026
salomons666
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Kyoto fun
Amazing with our guide Shuji very kind and acknowledge
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P9099TXkennethr
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A great day
A great day in the Company of mr. Shuji.
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Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached…
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AmyfromPlano
Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached out immediately to make sure that we had a customized tour of what we wanted to see and do in Nara. The level of details in his emails was incredible! Not only did Shuji plan a great tour but he also went above and beyond by explaining the Japan rail system, the public transportation cards (Suica, Pasmo, etc.) and even told us exactly what trains, times and gates to exit so that our meetup was seamless. Been on a lot of tours around the world and have never had this level of communication. Once we started our tour, Shuji was articulate, knowledgeable and so much fun! Nara is amazing and Shuji made it so much better – please request him!
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Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was…
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Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and made sure we were able to see everything that we wanted while in Osaka. He even took my 5 year old into consideration and took us to the Pokémon store since he is a Pokémon fan. I would definitely recommend him as a tour guide.
