Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
September, 2024
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Moxy Kyoto Nijo
- 10:25-11:00 Fushimi Inari
- 11:15-11:45 Sanjusangendo
- 12:00-13:00 Lunch
- 14:00-15:00 Arashiyama Monkey Park
- 15:15-15:40 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
- 16:00-16:30 Kinkaku-ji
- 17:00 Moxy Kyoto Nijo
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour with Kids Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, some of whom were school-aged, so I proposed an itinerary that included the Monkey Park. The route was as follows: Hotel → Fushimi Inari → Sanjusangendo → lunch (a Kyoto cuisine restaurant) → Arashiyama Monkey Park → the Bamboo Grove Path in Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji → Hotel. One of the younger guests showed signs of fatigue even while climbing the steps at Fushimi Inari in the morning and was quite fussy, so I was worried about whether the Monkey Park would be manageable. However, other members of the group said it was "the usual" and firmly encouraged them to keep standing and walking, so we completed the climb while taking plenty of breaks. In the end, the moment this guest saw the monkeys at the top, they suddenly cheered up and started running around energetically. Another young guest, who was very bright, asked me many questions. These went beyond sightseeing spots, Japanese culture, and customs, touching on things that adults do not usually question, such as "Why is it forbidden to photograph the Buddhist statues in temples?", "Why are children in Japan so well-behaved?", and "Why isn't one Australian dollar equal to one yen?" Many of these were topics I had to think through carefully and organize in order to answer. A big hit was the sukiyaki set for lunch. Everyone enjoyed the hands-on experience of cooking the hot pot themselves and savored the wagyu beef that seemed to melt in the mouth.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
My name is Masaki Kitagawa, a male in the middle of 50s living in Kyoto with my wife, son and three cats. While working for a local energy company on weekdays, I’ve been a tour guide on weekends since 2019 and enjoy interacting with people coming from different worlds. It is my great pleasure to help you make your excursion time-efficient and pleasant even during the high seasons in Kyoto. Considering your interests, preferences and priorities, I want to design and make your journey fruitful one. I’m thrilled to be contacted from you. Let’s explore Kyoto !
Jun 3, 2026
Nikki G
Wonderful experience with a great guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masaki was our guide through…
Jun 3, 2026
Nikki G
Wonderful experience with a great guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masaki was our guide through Kyoto the day after we arrived. It was a wonderful experience, learning both about the culture and the hidden gems. He shared the details of each temple that he took us to, as well as took us through streets that showed the different styles of the Japanese culture the best part was that he was very communicative prior to and after our tour. He was so on top of everything that he made reservations at a specific restaurant during our tour, based on our interests, so that we do not waste time. It was an area that we would not be able to find on our own, obviously. He also changed some of the areas we were going to tour, based on our sons interest. That was actually the best part for our son, as he was able to experience archery.
The best part is that Masaki is so kind and considerate that there was a typhoon coming through Tokyo during our stay. He knew we were going to be traveling there after Kyoto and he made sure to update us with the train schedules and the storm details. We could not have asked for a better guide through Kyoto. I wish we could utilize his expertise in Tokyo…
May 24, 2026
Pamela_C
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Perfect day in Kyoto with the best guide!…
May 24, 2026
Pamela_C
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Perfect day in Kyoto with the best guide!
Absolutely perfect for getting the most out of a single day in Kyoto. Masaki-san is an excellent tour guide. He communicated well by WhatsApp to set up our plans so we could see everything we wanted. He kindly adjusted our start time after our travel plans were delayed. He figured out the best way to adjust our tour when we spent too long admiring a few places! And he took us to the most amazing local type place for lunch. Overall it was beyond our expectations and we truly are grateful and thankful to Masaki-San for our truly perfect day!
May 4, 2026
TravelersHigh77
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Excellent English speaking guide for Kyoto
Masaki was s wonderful and patient…
May 4, 2026
TravelersHigh77
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Excellent English speaking guide for Kyoto
Masaki was s wonderful and patient guide for our first visit to Kyoto. He explained the significance of the castle and temples we visited, pointing out parts he felt were most interesting. He also went out of his way to help us figure out our bullet train tickets for our return.
Nov 29, 2025
vsairamkumar
Kyoto guided tour
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had great fun exploring Kyoto with Masaki San.…
Nov 29, 2025
vsairamkumar
Kyoto guided tour
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had great fun exploring Kyoto with Masaki San. Masaki San helped us plan the itinerary
and customized it for us. We had a good mix of temples and sights and shopping. Kyoto has
amazing history and sights and temples. We will definitely be back to spend more time.
