Kyoto: Hosen-in by taxi with matcha & Gion — Guide Kazz
October, 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
- 09:00 Hotel
- 10:00 Hosen-in (1000) by taxi with matcha
- 11:00 Sanzen-in (700) by walking
- 12:30 Nanzenji (600) by taxi
- Suirokaku by walking
- 13:30 Nishiki Market by taxi for light lunch by taxi
- 15:00 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
- Sannenzaka by walking
- Yasaka-no-to by walking
- Yasakakoshindo by walking
- 16:30 Gion by walking
- Hanamikoji
- Tatsumibashi
- 17:00 End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Hosen-in (1000) by taxi with matcha at 10:00, Sanzen-in (700) by walking at 11:00, Nanzenji (600) by taxi at 12:30, Nishiki Market by taxi for light lunch by taxi at 13:30, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 15:00 and Gion by walking at 16:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ohara by bus (490JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 490JPY per person.
The guests were visitors from Europe. Before Kyoto they had been to Kanazawa, and after Kyoto they planned to go to Hiroshima. We had exchanged a great deal of correspondence in advance, but the day before, since the guide for the Gion tour had not shown up, they asked to include Gion in the itinerary, so I made a last-minute change to the plan. They had also said an earlier start time would be better, so we changed it to 8:00, but then they said they had not slept well and asked to make it 9:00, so we went back to the original 9:00 start. Although they told me there was no need to overdo it since they would be staying another three days, we completed the itinerary properly. For shopping, at a souvenir shop on the way back from Sanzen-in they bought dog-patterned socks and a figurine of a cat with a moving tail, and at Nishiki Market they bought furikake seasoning. They do not eat meat, so at Nishiki Market they had fish tempura and skewered eel. They asked me to recommend a place for okonomiyaki, so I pointed them to a shop. They said they had learned a great deal.
A notable stop on the tour was Sanzen-in Temple. Sanzen-in is a historic temple located in the rural Ohara area in the northern part of Kyoto. It is one of Kyoto's oldest temples and is especially known for its beautiful moss gardens, tranquil atmosphere, and small stone Jizo statues nestled among the greenery. The temple is particularly popular in autumn when the surrounding maple trees turn vivid shades of red and orange, and its peaceful setting offers a calm contrast to the busier central districts of Kyoto.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Ohara / Kyoto Bus～Demachiyanagi Station / Kyoto Bus | 490JPY |
| Total | 490JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hosen-in (1000) by taxi with matcha, Sanzen-in (700) by walking, Nanzenji (600) by taxi, Nishiki Market by taxi for light lunch by taxi, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi and Gion by walking.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 490JPY 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?
Kazz 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.
I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly tour guide. He took us to many interesting places during the six hours as well as off the tourist path to more interesting places. He thoroughly explained everything from a current and historical perspective. Outstanding tour.
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing…
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing guide! He was super knowledgeable and gave us really interesting info throughout all the stops. He’s also an amazing photographer!
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a…
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a true pleasure . Exceeded my expectations in knowledge and support of our questions.
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed us around which was great