Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Toshi

November, 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) 11:30 Meet at Kyoto Station
  • (2) 12:00 Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • (3) 14:00 Guide to Kiyomizu-dera
  • (4) 15:00 Lunch @ Shisuitei
  • (5) 17:30 Disband @ Kyoto Station

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like from Kyoto Station? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Gion

I met the guests at Kyoto Station, and after discussing where they would like to visit, we decided to tour Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Gion. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, I explained the historical background of the shrine along with Shinto beliefs, and the guests seemed to enjoy learning about the presence of foxes and seeing the Senbon Torii. We had planned to head to Kiyomizu-dera next, but there was an accident on the JR Nara Line, the trains stopped, and we could not use the train to move from Inari. With no taxis running either, we had no choice but to walk. When we finally arrived near Kiyomizu-dera, one of the guests wished to smoke, so I guided them to a smoking area, but leading them through the very crowded Kiyomizu-zaka slope was quite challenging. Still, the autumn leaves were beautiful and the guests happily took many photos, so I felt glad to have guided them. Since we were tired from walking to Kiyomizu-dera, we decided to have lunch and take a rest. As the guests mentioned they had not eaten sushi despite being in Japan and wished to try some, we had lunch and a break at a restaurant serving sushi. After lunch, the guests requested to end the sightseeing there and return to Kyoto Station to head back to Tokyo earlier than planned, so we took a taxi back to Kyoto Station and parted ways at the Shinkansen ticket counter.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainKyoto～Inari150JPY
Section 2BusTofukuji～Gojozaka / Kyoto Bus380JPY
Total530JPY

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.

Request Booking

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…