Osaka in One Day: Stroll through Nishiki Market — Guide Kazu

Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like for Cruise Ship Passengers? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests came from Asia and were visiting Japan for the first time. This trip was a special commemorative journey for them. They were on an Asia cruise covering Tokyo, Shimizu, Kyoto, Osaka, Kochi, Nagasaki, and Busan, and since they had just spent two full days aboard the ship, they said they had plenty of stamina, so we started right away. We had been out of contact for a long time and only managed to connect at the last minute via a messaging app. On the day itself, we discussed the itinerary together. Their requests were to see Gion, Nishiki Market, and one shrine, plus a first-ever shinkansen ride at their request. We began the tour with a brief introduction to Kyoto's history from the observation space at the top of Kyoto Station. They told me that the karesansui dry landscape and Japanese gardens were very impressive, as such things do not exist anywhere in Southeast Asia. Since they often travel to Southeast Asian countries, they said they had honestly grown a little tired of Buddhist temples. They were unfamiliar with Zen and the Zen tradition, and they found the uniquely Japanese sense of wabi-sabi that grew out of Zen fascinating, describing it as a world somewhat different from yoga. The world of geiko and maiko in Gion also seemed mysterious to them, and it all started with the question of what Gion actually is. By the time we reached Fushimi Inari, the stamina they had started with was completely spent, and in the end we returned by shinkansen to Tempozan in Osaka and parted ways there. Right about now they are probably taking part in a food tour in Dotonbori, Osaka. I recommended the pork buns from 551 Horai, one of Osaka's soul foods.

Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

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