Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kazu
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
- ① 11:00 Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto Meetup
- ② 11:05 Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
- ③ 12:00 Kinkaku-ji Temple
- ④ 13:15 Ryoan-ji Temple
- ⑤ 14:40 Nijo Castle
- ⑥ 16:00 Sannenzaka～Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- ⑦ 17:15 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- ⑧ 17:45 Disband at Gion-Shijo (Pontocho)
Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America, and the person who made the booking spoke Japanese, so today the conversation switched back and forth between Japanese and English, which kept my mind quite busy. It was unexpectedly difficult, as I sometimes struggled to find the right Japanese words when it came time to explain things. Their stay in Kyoto was only one day, and since they were set to walk the Kumano Kodo starting the next day, the schedule was necessarily packed. We walked a great deal, talked a great deal, and skipped lunch entirely, focusing intently on seeing everything. Rather than simply visiting each place, the guests asked thoughtful questions about the historical background and significance of each site, showing particular interest in dry landscape gardens (karesansui), wabi-sabi, and wabi-cha tea culture. I am grateful that they listened patiently to my explanations. Today I lost one kilogram.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
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
Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable.…
Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable. Spoke perfect English and made the day fun and educational. Was able to adjust the tour based on my needs.
Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu…
Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu san in Kyoto. From the moment that the tour was booked, his communication with email about planning the day was exceptional.
Kazu gave detailed explanations about the areas we visited and we appreciated all that he had to offer at each of our stops.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him.
Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…
Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu. By the end of the day, we felt like we had made a new friend.
Kazu helped us arrange the best day with our short time in Kyoto. He brought us to some “hidden gems” and gave us thorough explanations on history and culture.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
Our tour guide…
Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
Our tour guide Kazu was very knowledgeable in terms of the history and explaining many of
the wonderful ancient sites around Kyoto. Definitely a must! Otherwise, I think it would be
difficult to tourists to understand on their own.