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
- 08:00 Meeting: Rin Niomon
- 08:35 Sightseeing ①: Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- 09:00 Break: Ninenzaka・Café
- 10:20 Sightseeing ②: Kennin-ji Temple
- 12:00 Sightseeing ③: Ginkaku-ji Temple
- 13:00 Lunch: Ginkaku-ji・Approach
- 14:00 Dismissal: JR Kyoto Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 08:00 at Rin Niomon and ended at 14:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch: Ginkaku-ji・Approach at 13:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Sightseeing ①: Kiyomizu-dera Temple at 08:35, Break: Ninenzaka・Café at 09:00, Sightseeing ②: Kennin-ji Temple at 10:20 and Sightseeing ③: Ginkaku-ji Temple at 12:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Higashiyama Niomon to Gojozaka by bus (230JPY); Gion to Ginkakuji-michi by bus (230JPY); Ginkakuji-michi to Kyoto by bus (230JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 690JPY per person.
What Is a 6-Hour Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Kennin-ji, and Ginkaku-ji
The guests were visiting Japan from North America for sightseeing. The prior contact and itinerary planning were arranged in advance with one of the guests. From the early stages of communication and coordination, their preferences for destinations were very clear, and we finalized the route as "Kiyomizu-dera ⇒ Kennin-ji ⇒ Ginkaku-ji." When creating the itinerary, I took into account the crowds at Kiyomizu-dera and the fact that Ginkaku-ji is located somewhat far away. Since it was a "6-hour course" with only three destinations, I made sure to include rest breaks in between so we could go at a relaxed pace. Also, since this route is not easy to navigate by train or subway, all transportation was done by bus.
On the day of the tour, the temperature was low for late May, cool enough to feel a bit chilly at times, but this made for comfortable weather conditions for a walking tour. In the morning, when I actually met the guests at the accommodation, I learned that some care would be needed for walking and moving around. Even so, the guests said, "I can walk normally, so it's fine," and we set off in good spirits. The guests had a strong interest in Japanese culture and seemed to have studied quite a lot beforehand, so it appeared they understood nearly 100% of my explanations. At each place we visited, conversations about Japanese religion, history, and culture flowed lively, and at Kennin-ji we took our time so they could also experience meditation (zazen).
In the afternoon, the guests expressed a wish to "visit Arashiyama on our own," so I recommended the JR line as the fastest way to get there, and we said goodbye at JR Kyoto Station. With almost no trouble at all, it turned out to be a fulfilling tour.
Note regarding the admission fee for Kennin-ji: At Kennin-ji, guides are also required to pay admission, and I paid 800 yen, but I carelessly failed to obtain a receipt. I attached the ticket stub, but as it does not serve as proof, I am withdrawing this claim.
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 | Bus | Higashiyama Niomon～Gojozaka | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Gion～Ginkakuji-michi | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Ginkakuji-michi～Kyoto | 230JPY |
| Total | 690JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Rin Niomon at 08:00, and the tour finished at : JR Kyoto Station at 14:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 08:00 to 14:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Sightseeing ①: Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Break: Ninenzaka・Café, Sightseeing ②: Kennin-ji Temple and Sightseeing ③: Ginkaku-ji Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 690JPY per person across 3 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
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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.