Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — 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　10:00　Meet at Hotel The Mitsui
  • ②　10:05　Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
  • ③　11:15　Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • ④　12:50　Sanjusangendo
  • ⑤　14:00　Lunch (around Kyoto City Hall)
  • ⑥　15:15　Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • ⑦　16:30　Return to hotel and disband

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sanjusangendo and Local Udon

The guests were visitors from North America who were traveling in Japan for the first time, staying in Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto while touring Kyoto and Osaka. They especially wanted to visit Sanjusangendo, which shaped the itinerary for the day. Wanting to make it a memorable trip for them, I took even more photos and videos than usual and AirDropped them to the guests. I explained the Obon tradition, and I learned that there is a very similar festival for welcoming the spirits of ancestors, known as Dia de Muertos. Compared with Japan's Obon it is more colorful, but the underlying idea is remarkably similar, and I was shown many photos of it. There was a slightly emotional moment when the topic came up, but the conversation became very lively around this subject. Interestingly, one of the guests' dreams is to someday build a traditional wooden Japanese-style house. Since the guests had requested udon or soba for lunch, we went to a noodle shop at the corner of Sanjo-dori and Sakaimachi-dori that the driver had recommended. The noodles were good, but the broth in particular was excellent, and the guests were quite pleased with it. To my slight embarrassment, this was the first time I had ever heard of the shop myself. At the end, we took a photo together in front of the hotel and said goodbye. I would be happy if it became a good memory for them.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed 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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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 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 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
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