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
- 10:35 Meet in front of Fushimi Inari
- Fushimi Inari
- 12:10 Take a taxi from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
- 12:20. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- 13:45. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- 15:20. Ryoan-ji Temple
- 16:50 Shopping at Teramachi Shopping Street
- 18:35 Guide to the dinner location and end the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Take a taxi from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station at 12:10, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple at 12:20, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at 13:45, Ryoan-ji Temple at 15:20, Shopping at Teramachi Shopping Street at 16:50 and Guide to the dinner location and end the tour at 18:35.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Inari to Saga-Arashiyama by train (240JPY); JR Saga-Arashiyama Station to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (0JPY); Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (0JPY); Randen Arashiyama to Ryoanji-michi by train (250JPY); Ryoan-ji Temple to Nishioji Oike (0JPY); Nishioji Oike to Kyoto City Hall by subway (220JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 710JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like for Guests Who Prefer a Slower Pace? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests visited Japan from Asia. Initial contact was made with one of the guests, and later with another member of the group. The tour was originally scheduled to start at 10:00, but at the guests' request it was delayed by 30 minutes. Since one of the guests could not walk very much, we proceeded slowly from the first stop at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple. The originally planned Sagano stroll became difficult, and the schedule began to shift considerably from that point. From Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple onward, we used a taxi instead of walking. Along the way, the guests frequently bought food and looked into various shops, so even short movements took quite a lot of time. At the stations, we mainly used elevators and escalators. We ended up visiting Ryoan-ji Temple, which was not originally planned, but walking took time, so we only briefly saw the famous rock garden, and more time was spent at the restrooms. Because even small movements took time, we could no longer make it to Kinkaku-ji Temple or the Kyoto Imperial Palace before closing, so we decided to go shopping at Teramachi shopping street, which the guests had been talking about the whole time. After that, I accompanied them for more than an hour of shopping, and since the guests each had different interests, I was careful to make sure the group did not get separated. As they wished to have okonomiyaki, I guided them there, and the tour ended. The photo was taken at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Inari～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | JR Saga-Arashiyama Station～Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Other | Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple～Arashiyama Bamboo Grove | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Randen Arashiyama～Ryoanji-michi | 250JPY |
| Section 5 | Other | Ryoan-ji Temple～Nishioji Oike | 0JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Nishioji Oike～Kyoto City Hall | 220JPY |
| Total | 710JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Take a taxi from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Ryoan-ji Temple, Shopping at Teramachi Shopping Street and Guide to the dinner location and end the tour.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 710JPY 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?
Kazu 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 was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.