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
- 09:30 Meeting point: Accommodation (Private Residence Kyoto Tenjincho)
- 10:00 Sightseeing ①: Gion
- 11:10 Sightseeing ②: Nijo Castle
- 12:45 Lunch/Break: Sagano Romantic Train Arashiyama Station Building/Rest area
- 13:20 Sightseeing ③: Tenryu-ji Temple
- 13:50 Sightseeing ④: Bamboo Grove Path
- 14:20 Sightseeing ⑤: Togetsukyo Bridge/Nakanoshima Park
- 15:30 Dismissal: Hankyu Katsura Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 09:30, when the guide met the guests at Accommodation (Private Residence Kyoto Tenjincho), and finished at 15:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch/Break: Sagano Romantic Train Arashiyama Station Building/Rest area at 12:45.
From there the group visited Sightseeing ①: Gion at 10:00, Sightseeing ②: Nijo Castle at 11:10, Sightseeing ③: Tenryu-ji Temple at 13:20, Sightseeing ④: Bamboo Grove Path at 13:50 and Sightseeing ⑤: Togetsukyo Bridge/Nakanoshima Park at 14:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kiyomizu-Gojo to Gion-Shijo by train (170JPY); Kyoto-Kawaramachi to Karasuma by train (170JPY); Shijo to Nijojo-mae by subway (220JPY); Nijojo-mae to Nijo by subway (220JPY); Nijo to Saga-Arashiyama by train (200JPY); Arashiyama (Hankyu Line) to Katsura (Hankyu Line) by train (200JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,180JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like for Families? A Licensed Guide's Report on Gion, Nijo Castle, and Arashiyama
The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from North America. Prior communication was carried out between one of the guests and me. It was the group's first family trip to Japan, and because of a busy schedule, they were planning only a short stay of about a week. The itinerary was set as a fairly standard course: Gion → Nijo Castle → Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji Temple, the Bamboo Grove, and Togetsukyo Bridge).
On the day of the tour, the temperature rose from the morning to what almost felt like early summer. The younger members of the group walked energetically in T-shirts, and I also took off my jacket and spent the entire day in just a dress shirt. The guests all had a deep interest in Japanese culture, history, and nature, and everywhere we visited they listened attentively to my explanations and asked many questions. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms that the guests had been looking forward to had barely bloomed, which was very disappointing both for the guests and for me as their guide. Since they were planning to go sightseeing in Osaka the next day, I encouraged them as we parted, saying, "I hope the cherry blossoms will have started to bloom at Osaka Castle Park."
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 | Kiyomizu-Gojo～Gion-Shijo | 170JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kyoto-Kawaramachi～Karasuma | 170JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Shijo～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Nijo | 220JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Nijo～Saga-Arashiyama | 200JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Arashiyama (Hankyu Line)～Katsura (Hankyu Line) | 200JPY |
| Total | 1,180JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Accommodation (Private Residence Kyoto Tenjincho) at 09:30, and the tour finished at : Hankyu Katsura Station at 15:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 09:30 to 15:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Sightseeing ①: Gion, Sightseeing ②: Nijo Castle, Sightseeing ③: Tenryu-ji Temple, Sightseeing ④: Bamboo Grove Path and Sightseeing ⑤: Togetsukyo Bridge/Nakanoshima Park.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,180JPY per person across 6 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?
Nori 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.
Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the…
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
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We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the time we had. Nori explained the history of all places we visited. He
was so passionate about everything, we were very lucky to have him as tour guide.
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with…
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with Kamon-San, and he was a great guide to show off the sites and features of Nara! He got their early, and had a detailed and interesting schedule planned for us, including several of the local shrines and temples, allowing us to also enjoy the deer throughout our tour.
He also took us to a nice local restaurant where we were able to enjoy some of the best soba and catsu curry we had all trip! Kamon-san’s insights and trivia were definitely one of the top highlights from our entire trip to Japan! We would strongly recommend not just Nara but this guided tour to anyone who wants to appreciate more than just the deer!
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with his knowledge of Kyoto history and culture. Well paced tour, covered Imperial Palace, temples, shrines, Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama. Helpful with navigating rail system. Very worth while. Nori earns highest rating possible.
Oct 16, 2025
Michael_H
Thoroughly enjoyed the…
Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…
Oct 16, 2025
Michael_H
Thoroughly enjoyed the…
Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Thoroughly enjoyed the day out with our guide Nori. Without him we would have been
literally lost & seen nowhere near the amount of sites. Nori guidance was top notch.