Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Kazu

What's a Private One-Day Kyoto and Arashiyama Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe on their first trip to Japan. Their itinerary had taken them from Tokyo to Hida-Takayama and Kanazawa, then Nara and Hiroshima, and finally a few days in Kyoto, with a return flight home the next day, and they lamented that they would soon be "pulled back into reality." They were a pleasant group, easy-going and full of laughter and jokes, and they listened very attentively throughout the day. While we laughed at "funny" jokes all day long, they also shared interesting stories about politics, including how things had changed in Europe before and after certain major political events. Over a plate of curry rice, we also talked about how it seemed a new leader might be emerging in Japan. In Arashiyama there is a temple where I could share old and traditional folkloric stories of Japan, including the history of waka poetry, cherry blossoms, Obon, and the stone stacking at Sai-no-Kawara, and I was able to talk at length about what Arashiyama itself is — how there was once a detached palace known as Kameyama-dono, and how the town was laid out to resemble the ancient capital of Heian-kyo. We returned to Kyoto Station in the evening, and when I explained the standing-style udon shops inside the station, they decided to eat right away, so the three of us had curry udon, and they were impressed that the taste was wonderful for the price. We had eaten curry all day long, but I told them that before leaving they should try the pork buns from a famous shop (in the Kansai region they are called "butaman" rather than "nikuman"), and they said they would — and I am confident these guests will definitely try them. I hope it became a good memory for them.

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Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama