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

  • 12:00 Hotel Vischio Kyoto by Granvia
  • 12:30 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
  • Sannenzaka by walking
  • Yasaka-no-to by walking
  • 15:20 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
  • 16:30 Bamboo grove by taxi
  • 17:50 Fushimi inari (0) by JR train
  • 19:00 Kyoto Station by JR train
  • End of the tour

Tour Itinerary in Detail

From there the group visited Hotel Vischio Kyoto by Granvia at 12:00, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 12:30, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi at 15:20, Bamboo grove by taxi at 16:30, Fushimi inari (0) by JR train at 17:50 and Kyoto Station by JR train at 19:00.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Saga-Arashiyama to Inari by train (240JPY); Inari to Kyoto by train (150JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 390JPY per person.

What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The departure time was ultimately changed from 10:30 to 12:00. A travel agency was involved between [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) and the guests, and I communicated directly with the guests on the day of the tour. The guests were visiting from Asia. They were a family who loved photography, striking poses here and there and taking many photos. They were more interested in food than in crafts, so I recommended various things to sample, and they seemed to really like Ochanokosaisai, purchasing quite a lot of it. We completed the entire itinerary, but with all the shopping, photo-taking, and ice cream along the way, the guests had no sense of time at all, and the tour ended up running one hour over. Still, I was glad they enjoyed it.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainSaga-Arashiyama~Inari240JPY
Section 2TrainInari~Kyoto150JPY
Total390JPY

Frequently Asked Questions

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Hotel Vischio Kyoto by Granvia, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi, Bamboo grove by taxi, Fushimi inari (0) by JR train and Kyoto Station by JR train.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 390JPY per person across 2 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 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…

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 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…