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
- AM 11:00 Tour starts from Hotel Granvia
- Transport: Bus from Gojozaka, then taxi to near Kiyomizu-dera
- AM 11:30-12:30 Visit Kiyomizu-dera
- Transport: On foot, from Sannenzaka and Yasaka Pagoda to Kiyomizu-michi
- Transport: Bus & train to Fushimi Inari
- PM 13:15-14:00 Visit Fushimi Inari
- Transport: Train to Kyoto Station
- PM 14:20-15:00 Lunch at an okonomiyaki restaurant inside Kyoto Station
- Guide to the central exit for the Shinkansen, and the tour ends
Title: What's a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari
The guests were visitors from Oceania who were taking a day trip from Tokyo to Kyoto before boarding a cruise ship departing from Yokohama. They had requested visits to Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari Shrine. During the tour, since walking up slopes proved difficult for one of the guests, I arranged an itinerary that minimized physical strain as much as possible. At Kiyomizu-dera, we managed this by taking a taxi up to the far end of Chawanzaka slope, and the guests enjoyed a panoramic view of Kyoto city. At Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of the guests rested partway along the shrine grounds while the other visited the Senbon Torii and the bamboo grove. Before catching the shinkansen back to Tokyo at Kyoto Station, we had lunch at an okonomiyaki restaurant, where the guests enjoyed trying okonomiyaki for the first time.
This tour was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Kyoto Station Front／Kyoto City Bus～Gojozaka／Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kiyomizu-michi／Kyoto City Bus～Shichijo Keihan-mae／Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shichijo～Fushimi Inari | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Inari～Kyoto | 150JPY |
| Total | 790JPY | ||
Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us…
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us to the best market stalls at the fish market where every food we indulged in (including the sea snails and eel liver) were superb. The walking tour of the tea houses (Geisha district) and knowledge of the history of both the precinct and greater Japan was first class. Yoshi is also a kind and caring person and made conversation very easy, including when we wanted to dig into the country’s cultural values and lifestyle
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very…
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very knowledgable and very friendly. He is an excellent role model tour guide. We can only recommend him. Thank you so much Yoshi!
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our…
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our hotel and was very friendly and helpful. We walked around the city and he took us to view several different spots including samurai living quarters, geisha houses, the beautiful garden built by Maeda san. Yoshi was knowledgeable about the entire city and it’s treasured history. He inspired me to do some reading on Maeda san, a leader who played a huge part in the development of the city. Yoshi was an excellent guide, and even provided a LOT of recommendations and useful information for after our tour. We would definitely recommend YOSHI san! Note: you will need a IC card to board some of the city buses.
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi…
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi our guide, we visited the tea district then the gardens and castle which were my favourite. Yoshi was very informative , explaining the history and mechanisms of the castle was built and the water system. He was also very helpful with explaining the bus service.