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
- 1.8:00 Meet @Hotel Seiryu Kiyomizu
- 2.8:25 @Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- 3. 10: 15 @Arashiyama, Bamboo Grove Path
- 4. 10: 25 @ Tenryu-ji Temple
- 5. 11: 15 @ Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- 6.12:20 @Nishiki Market
- 7.13:30@Pro Antiques Komu
- 8. 14:00 Disband @Shinmonzen-cho Antique Shop
What Can You See on a Private Kyoto Tour to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Nishiki Market? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. They wanted above all to avoid the crowds and hoped to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kiyomizu-dera early in the morning. When we met, however, they had already visited Kiyomizu-dera the previous day since their hotel was nearby. So we changed the itinerary to Fushimi Inari followed by the Arashiyama bamboo grove. Since they were going to Arashiyama anyway, I recommended Tenryu-ji Temple. After that, they said they very much wanted to visit Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, so I guided them there. For lunch they wanted sushi, and especially fresh sea urchin, so I told them that they could enjoy fresh sea urchin at Nishiki Market and guided them there. At Nishiki Market, they ordered a pack of Hokkaido sea urchin for 9,500 yen and premium fatty tuna (otoro) for 5,500 yen, and enjoyed them with great delight. One of the guests mentioned having a Japanese-style room at home and expressed interest in antiques that would suit that room, so I guided them to several antique shops. By then it had become 2:00 p.m. They kindly said, "We'd like to keep looking around this area, so you can finish the guiding now," and we parted ways in front of an antique shop. They were very satisfied with today's tour.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a customized tour of more quiet places for Osaka.
We visited a couple of temples and a beautiful Japanese garden. Shoko was very
knowledgeable and accommodating for us. Highly recommended.
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she was assigned to our tour (month prior) to the day of, her communication was clear and proactive. She tailored our day based on our interests and got us where we needed to be quickly and efficiently. She was also VERY knowledgable of the history of the sites we visited.
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was the best person to take this tour with. She knew the history of the places we visited – we went to 4 of the world heritage listed places, by train, bus, tram, taxi – just a wonderful day and we will carry many happy memories. Thank you Shoko, you are a beautiful person.
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She…
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She was the same age as we were and we all had a lot of fun.
She had a lovely sense of humour and was very fit so we all worked hard to keep up and enjoy every moment.
She had been in touch with us prior to our arrival in Kyoto,and knew what we wanted to see, and she assisted us with the public transport as it was our first day to see this city.
We had a wonderful tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine where she helped us to make our way through the crowds and took some great photos.
She was up beat and enthusiastic, and could answer all of our many questions.
After taking us to three wonderful shrines and finding us a very cute little place to eat, she stayed with us until she was satisfied we could find our way home.
Shoko was a lovely guide and we left feeling like old friends.