Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Nabet
January, 2025
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 at Kyoto Station→10:10 Bus→10:35 Chawanzaka→10:45 Kiyomizu-dera Temple→Kiyomizu-zaka→11:35 Sannenzaka (Yasaka Pagoda・Yasaka Koshindo)→11:50 Yasaka Shrine→12:10 Bus→Shijo Kawaramachi→12:20 Shinkyogoku Shopping Street (souvenir shopping)→12:40 Stroll around Nishiki Market→12:50 Lunch @ Gion Menokoro Muraji→On foot→13:50 Subway Karasuma Oike Station→Nijojo-mae Station→14:00 Assist with ticket purchase at the Nijo Castle ticket booth and finish
What Is a Private Full-Day Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Beforehand, they had requested Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji, but I explained that time would only allow us to guide them as far as Nijo Castle, and they agreed to the itinerary above.
Since the guests planned to visit Kinkaku-ji after the tour, purchasing a one-day city bus and subway pass would be more economical, so I first helped them buy it, then we headed to Kiyomizu-dera on a sightseeing express bus. On the way there, we went up Chawanzaka to avoid the crowds, and on the way back we walked from Kiyomizuzaka via Sannenzaka to Yasaka Shrine.
From Yasaka Shrine, we took the city bus to Shijo Kawaramachi. I had thought of taking a commemorative photo in front of the Mario statue on the first floor of the Takashimaya department store, but since it was closed for the New Year period, we skipped it and headed to the Shinkyogoku shopping arcade. The guests wanted to shop at a souvenir store along the way, so we stopped there, and afterward we went to Nishiki Market. However, it was extremely crowded, so we took a detour to a ramen restaurant housed in a renovated traditional townhouse. Many people here prefer the recommended chicken paitan, and the guests said it was delicious as they ate. Partway through, though, the flavor seemed a bit lacking to them, and they began adding a large amount of chili pepper, so it seemed that the soy-sauce-based black ramen would have suited them better (one of the guests ordered the black ramen and said it was delicious throughout). The private room in the back involves shared seating, but it has a view of an inner courtyard and a calm atmosphere, making it a very good restaurant.
After that, we took the subway from Karasuma Oike Station toward Nijo Castle, and I helped them purchase tickets at the ticket booth before ending the tour. It had been over ten years since one of the guests last visited Kyoto, while it was the first time for the others, so I guided them to photo spots at Kiyomizu-dera, the Yasaka Pagoda, Koshin-do, and Yasaka Shrine. The weather was lovely, and we were able to take many wonderful family photos. I was glad that all of the guests were very pleased.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Kyoto Station～Gojozaka | 500JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Gion～Shijo Kawaramachi | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Karasuma Oike～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Total | 950JPY | ||
“He was easy to talk to, friendly, and knowledgeable and even made sure we successfully navigated the public transit back to our hotel. If we are ever back in Kyoto, we’d love to book a tour with him again! ”
“At every side we got an indepth explanation to any minor detail and every question we asked was answered and explained really well. It felt like a relaxing and wholesome walk through Kyoto even while it was pouring rain. We can absolutely recommend choosing Nabet!”
“Nabet’s English is just perfect, he knows the way around sights, little streets and hidden secrets, he is very authentic…just a perfect tour!”
Here are just a few of the many kind reviews I’ve received from the more than 100 groups I’ve guided through Kyoto and other cities.
I’m deeply thankful for the chance to connect with my guests and contribute to a memorable tour experience!
+Current Occupation+
• Associate Professor specially appointed for Entrepreneurship Education and University-Based Startup Support
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• Government-Licensed Interpreter Guide
+Hobbies+
Travel, music, sake, ice hockey, squash, watching soccer
May 29, 2026
Tamara M
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto bei Nacht – faszinierende Einblicke in Kultur und Spiritualität
Ich…
May 29, 2026
Tamara M
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto bei Nacht – faszinierende Einblicke in Kultur und Spiritualität
Ich habe eine wundervolle private Tour mit Nabet am Abend gehabt. Wir waren unter anderem im Viertel der Geiko und Maiko sowie am Fushimi-Inari Schrein. Ich habe viel über die Stadt Kyoto erfahren sowie die Religionen des Shinotismus und des Buddhismus. Nabet hatte viel Wissen und hat es mit Freude geteilt. Eine wirklich tolle Tour und ein schönes Erlebnis!
「夜の京都 — 文化と精神性への魅力的な洞察」
夕方にNabetと素晴らしいプライベートツアーを楽しみました。私たちは主に、芸妓や舞妓のいる地区や、伏見稲荷神社にも行きました。京都という街について、そして神道や仏教といった宗教について多くを学ぶことができました。ナベトは豊富な知識を持っていて、それを喜んで共有してくれました。本当に素晴らしいツアーで、良い体験でした。
Oct 21, 2025
Jana_C
4-hour private tour with Nabet was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing experience…
Oct 21, 2025
Jana_C
4-hour private tour with Nabet was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing experience with Nabet as our tour guide! He was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to answer all of our questions thoughtfully. From the beginning, he was on time, organized, and made sure to ask which locations we wanted to visit so he could tailor the tour to our interests since we were only in Kyoto for a day.
Nabet was also very friendly, engaging, and easy to talk to, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We learned so much throughout the tour thanks to his clear explanations and insights. Everything ran smoothly and right on schedule.
He gave us the best recommendation for dinner after the tour as well.
We highly recommend Nabet as he’s a fantastic guide who made our day truly memorable!
Oct 16, 2025
987kayeh
Knowledgeable guide who was will to respond to our multiple questions
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Thankyou…
Oct 16, 2025
987kayeh
Knowledgeable guide who was will to respond to our multiple questions
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Thankyou Nabet for a very interesting tour. Your historical knowledge of Japan and its culture added extra benefits to our tour. We appreciated visiting a temple with less people to appreciate the significance of significance of the environment to enable us to ask many questions.
Thank you for sharing our day in Kyoto.
Kaye and Doug
Oct 16, 2025
janiec555
Significant sites in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nabet is an excellent guide. He explained Japanese…
Oct 16, 2025
janiec555
Significant sites in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nabet is an excellent guide. He explained Japanese history and customs clearly and comprehensively, including pointing out behaviour considered disrespectfu.
He was energetic and enthusiastic despite the humidity, long walks up hills and steps and crowded conditions, and was very patient dealing with the public transport ticketing systems. I recommend him wholeheartedly.