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
- 10:00 Hotel Meet
- 11:50~11:45 Daikakuji Temple
- 12:00~12:45 Tenryuji Temple
- 12:50~13:45 Bamboo Grove – Arashiyama Park – Katsura River – Togetsukyo Bridge
- 14:15 Disband at Kyoto Station
Can You Take a Private Day Tour of Kyoto's Arashiyama Area? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Oceania, traveling through Tokyo and Hakone before arriving in Kyoto. During the first half of their trip there had been a lot of rain, and they were disappointed that they could not see Mount Fuji in Hakone. Although it takes a little time from their hotel, they said they would visit nearby Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Higashiyama on their own, so we first headed toward the Saga and Arashiyama area to Daikaku-ji, which is relatively less crowded. They were moved by Osawa Pond, the quiet and solemn architecture, and the gardens, and took many photographs. At Tenryu-ji, they were impressed by the borrowed scenery, the Sogenchi Garden, and the adjacent bamboo grove. I was worried about the rain, but it held off and they were able to enjoy the day.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kyoto～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Saga-Arashiyama Station/Kyoto City Bus～Daikakuji Temple/Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Daikakuji Temple/Kyoto Bus～Nonomiya/Kyoto Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Hankyu Arashiyama Station/Kyoto City Bus～Karasuma | 240JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Karasuma～Kyoto | 220JPY |
| Total | 1,160JPY | ||
Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Shige.
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a…
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a wonderful guide. He helped us navigate the public transit system and provided
keen insight into Japanese cultural practices and the role of religion in modern day
Japan.10/10
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent…
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent tour guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and patient. He kept our tour
moving, but also make sure we rested when needed and we stayed hydrated.
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion during our time in Osaka. He explained everything clearly and made the experience both informative and enjoyable. He was very accommodating, always attentive to our needs, and incredibly polite and respectful. His subtle and thoughtful approach made us feel comfortable throughout the entire tour. Highly recommended!
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting information about the places we visited. He was also very friendly and approachable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The length of the tour was just right for us—especially on such a hot day—and we still managed to find time to take some great photos.