Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple — Guide Mickey
September, 2026
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
- 8:30 Meet @Hotel
- 9:10 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- 10:20 Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka
- 11:00 Yasaka Shrine
- 11:30 Gion Matsuri Gallery
- 12:00 Nishiki Market (light lunch)
- 13:15 Sanjusangen-do Temple
- 14:30 Disband at Shichijo Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 8:30, when the guide met the guests at @Hotel, and finished at 14:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple at 9:10, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka at 10:20, Yasaka Shrine at 11:00, Gion Matsuri Gallery at 11:30, Nishiki Market (light lunch) at 12:00 and Sanjusangen-do Temple at 13:15.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture) to Kiyomizu-Gojo by train (180JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 180JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, and Sanjusangendo
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, and they were both very friendly and kind. There had been continuous rain, so I was a little worried, but on the day the rain had stopped and the tour began in cool weather. From Kiyomizu-Gojo we took a taxi. Perhaps because it was still early, we were able to walk leisurely along the approach to Kiyomizu-dera without crowds. Along the way they showed interest in chilled cucumber and shared one between them. They said it was delicious. At Kiyomizu-dera, they were very impressed by the architectural style of the main hall and the wooden stage. From Kiyomizu-dera we walked down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to Yasaka Shrine. (As it had become a little warm, we took a break along the way and had some matcha soft-serve ice cream.) At Yasaka Shrine I also talked about the Gion Festival, so before catching a taxi to Nishiki Market, we stopped by the Gion Festival gallery. They were surprised by the size of the floats and delighted by the miniature yamahoko floats as well. At Nishiki Market they purchased fruit daifuku, which they said they liked, along with dumplings and sushi, and had a light lunch. After that, we took a taxi to Sanjusangendo. They were deeply moved by the 1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon, so I guided them through it taking plenty of time. Going outside, we walked around the building and they were able to appreciate its length and the difficulty of the historic archery. Since they planned to return to their hotel after the tour, I saw them off at Keihan Shichijo Station, and the tour concluded. During the tour, we were able to talk about many things, including Japanese culture and customs, life in Oceania, and each other's pets.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)～Kiyomizu-Gojo | 180JPY |
| Total | 180JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @Hotel at 8:30, and the tour finished at Shichijo Station at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 8:30 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, Gion Matsuri Gallery, Nishiki Market (light lunch) and Sanjusangen-do Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 180JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Mickey is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello! I’m Miyuki Konishi. It’s my great pleasure to guide visitors from other countries and welcome you to Japan. I would be happy if you make great memories in Japan with my support. Precious memories become our life treasures. So, I’d love to help you make them.
I love Japanese culture, history, customs and so on. I know a lot about Kyoto and Nara. Additionally, I have a certificate as an English speaking guide for Himeji Castle and as a kimono instructor.
I’ll do my best to make your trip wonderful. Let’s enjoy exploring Japan together!
May 17, 2026
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Mickey was great. We put together an…
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Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun, Flexible, Friendly and Informative
Mickey was great. We put together an itinerary together and was flexible on making changes to accommodate our needs. She speaks English and is very informative. She has a fun personality and we would highly recommend her. We hope to show her around South Florida one day.
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kept the tour at our pace.. We highly recommend her.