Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Toshi

October, 2025

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. 9:15: Kyoto Station, meet with guests
  • 2. 9:45: Guide to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • 3. 11:00: Guide to Tenryu-ji Temple
  • 4. 12:30: Lunch @ "Ozuru" udon restaurant
  • 5. 13:30: Guide to the Bamboo Grove and Togetsukyo Bridge
  • 6. 14:30: Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 7. 15:30: Dismissal @ Kyoto Station

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report from Kyoto Station to Kinkaku-ji

The guests were a group arriving from North America, who traveled from Osaka to Kyoto by limited express train. I met the guests at Kyoto Station and we headed directly to Kinkaku-ji. Most of the group had visited Japan before, and they were quite familiar with Japanese culture. The conversation was lively, as one of the guests had a strong interest in Japanese culture and we enjoyed discussing many topics together. I guided the group slowly and avoided steep slopes at the destinations. The guests were calm and pleasant, and thanks to the fine weather, it seemed they truly enjoyed today's sightseeing in Kyoto.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

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Apr 26, 2026
39ferdinandr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Exceptional and entertaining
Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

Apr 9, 2026
X1429XKclaudiam
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sehr zu empfehlen
Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

Jun 28, 2025
WilliamAlfonso_R
Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi was…

May 30, 2025
Z
ZevP5
Best Tour Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…