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 at Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya
- 9:15 Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple)
- 11:30 Fushimi Inari
- 13:00 End at Kyoto Station
What's a Private Kyoto Photography Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Since one of the guests was keen on photography and had brought excellent camera equipment, I made a special point of guiding them to the best photo spots in each location. At Tenryu-ji Temple, the autumn leaves had just begun to turn, so we were able to spend extra time in the garden. I believe the guests enjoyed taking photographs at each stop. As they decided to finish the tour early and head to Osaka, I concluded the day by directing them to the correct train on the Osaka-bound platform at JR Kyoto Station.
A notable stop on the tour was Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama. Tenryu-ji is one of Kyoto's most important Zen temples and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 14th century and is especially famous for its beautiful Sogenchi garden, which was designed to incorporate the surrounding mountains as borrowed scenery. The garden is considered one of the oldest of its kind in Japan and has retained its original form for centuries, making it a particularly rewarding place to visit during the autumn foliage season.
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 | Shijo Omiya～Arashiyama (Keifuku Line) | 250JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Inari | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Inari～Kyoto | 150JPY |
| Total | 640JPY | ||
Hi I am Kunihiro ARAKAWA, National government licensed tour guide.
Please call me first name Kuni.
My original city is Nagoya, but I lived in Tokyo for 20 years,
and also lived in London and Paris for work.
Now I live in Kyoto city. I moved here because I love Kyoto.
I like taking photos and also sell my own photos on website.
I’d love to take memorable photos for you at great photo spots.
I also like history and gourmet food.
I’d love to introduce some local recommendations.
I’ll ask your request and create your special tour.
Please feel free to let us know your thoughts.
Looking forward to meeting you !
Kuni
Aug 18, 2026
janetaF288XA
Wonderful tour filled with history, insights and great photos!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide…
Aug 18, 2026
janetaF288XA
Wonderful tour filled with history, insights and great photos!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful day with Kuni. Kuni provided knowledge and insights for our entire tour. He knew the best spots for photography and the history of the sites we visited. He was also very helpful in helping us attempt to recover an item we lost between Tokyo and Kyoto. We highly recommend this tour and Kuni.
Jul 18, 2026
M2443VKandrewl
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Excellent guide and support
Kuni-san was an excellent guide and…
Jul 18, 2026
M2443VKandrewl
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Excellent guide and support
Kuni-san was an excellent guide and very friendly and knowledgable. Kuni-san greatly assisted with meeting one of our family member medical needs on the day and was very helpful in supporting us and changing the itinerary and assisting our family member.
I would HIGHLY recommend Kuni-san as a guide and this tour defintely met our needs as a group of 4.
Jun 9, 2026
Gail M
Tripadvisor review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Kyoto Sights; Private Guide & Driver
The…
Jun 9, 2026
Gail M
Tripadvisor review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Kyoto Sights; Private Guide & Driver
The communication was very good. It began prior to the trip with emails from our guide,
Kuni. We worked on the best itinerary for our day tour to Kyoto, both Kuni and our driver were
very efficient, organized and personable. My family had a great experience.
Jun 5, 2026
Rick_S
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An afternoon in Kyoto
We had a great time exploring Kyoto. Our…
Jun 5, 2026
Rick_S
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An afternoon in Kyoto
We had a great time exploring Kyoto. Our guide did a fantastic job helping us navigate the
city and exploring the history of Kyoto