Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Keiko

Title: What's a Private Day Trip to Kyoto from Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe who traveled to Kyoto as a day trip from Tokyo. They were energetic and had no difficulty walking. To make sure we would meet without any trouble, I greeted them on the platform. One of the guests could speak English, while the other understood some English but preferred not to speak it, so the group communicated internally through interpretation in their own language.

Since the guests had already purchased return Shinkansen tickets for the 16:01 departure from Kyoto Station to Tokyo, we planned our route to make sure we returned to Kyoto Station in time. When the bus from Nishiki Market to Kiyomizu-michi had just departed, I asked whether they would like to take a taxi, and they agreed, so we went by taxi. From Kiyomizu-dera we walked down Sannenzaka and Yasaka-dori, then took a taxi back to Kyoto Station via Higashioji-dori. As the guests wanted to buy sake at Kyoto Station, we got out of the taxi in front of the department store, but once we reached the basement floor they said they were worried about missing the Shinkansen and would head to the platform without buying anything. I accompanied them to the Shinkansen ticket gate and completed the interpreter-guide service.

Since I had heard in advance that the guests wanted to do a tasting of Japanese food, I guided them to Nishiki Market. They looked at the products in Nishiki Market with great interest and seemed to like the noodles at a shop there, but the waiting line was long, so they gave up on it. As they wanted to try not only noodles but also other Japanese dishes, I guided them to a casual set-meal restaurant. The guests had a list of foods on their phone that had been recommended to them by a family member, and since one of the items on the list, soba, was available at the restaurant, they enjoyed soba. When I mentioned, looking around, that this place was reasonably priced and popular with local customers, they were pleased and felt it was a good choice.

Regarding their home country, the guests mentioned that older generations had studied Russian at school in their childhood, but that nowadays children study English from the first year of elementary school, so younger people can speak English. They also kindly shared stories about their family and their home country. One of the guests had visited Japan three times before but was in Kyoto for the first time, while the other was visiting Japan for the first time.

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Tour Report by Keiko

I am Keiko Ibuki, Goverment-Licensed Guide. I passed National Guide examination and registered in 2015. I started guiding job in 2016. I mainly guide Kansai area, especially Kyoto. From 2016 to 2019, I guided visitors from overseas about 50 days. In 2023, I guided visitors from overseas about 50 days. I passed 2nd grade of Kyoto Tourism and Culture examination in 2020. I passed National Examination for Certified Travel Supervisors in 1997. I can tailor my guided tour to meet your requirements. I would like to make your visit to Japan enjoyable and memorable.