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.
Tour Itinerary
- 09:00 Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa
- 09:30 Nijo Castle (1300) by subway
- 11:00 Sanjusangendo (600) by subway and Keihan line
- Gion by Keihan line
- Lunch (Seimei Gion branch）
- Hanamikoji by walking
- 13:00 Kenninji temple (800) by walking
- Yasaka-no-to by walking
- Ninenzaka by walking
- Yasaka jinja by walking
- Pontocho by walking
- 15:00 Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa at 09:00, Nijo Castle (1300) by subway at 09:30, Sanjusangendo (600) by subway and Keihan line at 11:00, Kenninji temple (800) by walking at 13:00 and Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto City Hall to Nijojo-mae by train (220JPY); Nijojo-mae to Sanjo Keihan by train (220JPY); Sanjo to Shichijo by train (170JPY); Shichijo to Gion-Shijo by train (170JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 780JPY per person.
What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was a visitor from Oceania who runs a ranch. We met at the hotel, and since part of the group preferred to rest at the hotel, I set out on the tour with the guest one-on-one. At first I was told there might be limited walking ability, so I received suggestions for relatively flat destinations and planned with plenty of time to spare. After Nijo Castle, we took a coffee break at a bakery cafe. The guest had a sturdy build and had no trouble walking at all. By the end of the day, we had walked about 20,000 steps. Since it was just the two of us, we were able to talk about many small details, which made it quite enjoyable. I believe the guest was able to enjoy a tour with a slightly different flavor than usual.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kyoto City Hall～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Nijojo-mae～Sanjo Keihan | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Sanjo～Shichijo | 170JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shichijo～Gion-Shijo | 170JPY |
| Total | 780JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa, Nijo Castle (1300) by subway, Sanjusangendo (600) by subway and Keihan line, Kenninji temple (800) by walking and Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 780JPY per person across 4 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazz is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly tour guide. He took us to many interesting places during the six hours as well as off the tourist path to more interesting places. He thoroughly explained everything from a current and historical perspective. Outstanding tour.
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing…
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing guide! He was super knowledgeable and gave us really interesting info throughout all the stops. He’s also an amazing photographer!
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a…
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a true pleasure . Exceeded my expectations in knowledge and support of our questions.
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed us around which was great