Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kazu

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 at ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto
  • ②　10:05　Explanation of the itinerary and Kyoto's history
  • ③　11:10　Fushimi Inari
  • ④　12:50　Ginkaku-ji
  • ⑤　13:30　Philosopher's Path ~ Honen-in
  • ⑥　14:45　Disband in front of Keihan Sanjo

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

The guests were visitors from North America, experiencing Japan and Kyoto for the first time, traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. The original plan was to visit Fushimi Inari and Ginkaku-ji and then head to Gion, but since the Philosopher's Path was right in front of us and the guests wanted to see it, we decided on the spot to take a stroll along the Philosopher's Path. Along the way, we stopped by Honen-in Temple, where the guests photographed the beautiful thatched gate, and we walked leisurely along the Philosopher's Path. When I asked why they had chosen Ginkaku-ji rather than Kinkaku-ji for their first visit to Kyoto, I learned their reason, and since they had a strong interest in Japanese culture, history, and religious perspectives, I explained a variety of Japanese religious, cultural, and folkloric topics — such as Zen Buddhism and the shogunate, wabi-cha, wabi-sabi, Obon, Jizo Bosatsu, and the meaning of the coexistence of Shinto and Buddhism. I believe they were very pleased with the experience.

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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Fantastic tour guide
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