Kyoto: Shichijo & Sanjusangendo — Guide AndyMurao
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
- 8:00 Meet @ Hyatt Regency Kyoto
- 8:20-8:25 Shichijo → Fushimi Inari 180 yen Keihan
- 8:30-9:20 Sightseeing at Fushimi Inari Taisha
- 9:27-9:59 Inari → Saga-Arashiyama JR 240 yen
- 10:10-11:20 Arashiyama sightseeing (Tenryu-ji, Bamboo Grove Path, etc.)
- 11:20-12:00 Lunch @ Chojiya
- 12:02-12:20 Saga-Arashiyama → Kyoto JR 240 yen
- Change ticket at the green ticket counter
- 12:38-12:46 Kyoto Station → Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae Bus 230 yen
- 12:50-13:40 Sightseeing at Sanjusangendo
- 13:50 Disband @ Hyatt Regency Kyoto
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Sanjusangendo
I guided a group visiting from Oceania. We enjoyed conversation, including a memory shared by one of the guests, and toured Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama. They listened attentively to my explanation about the syncretic relationship between Shinto and Buddhism. For lunch, they enjoyed udon, which they had requested, at a set-meal restaurant in Arashiyama. Afterward, we decided to skip the planned Nishiki Market and instead headed to Sanjusangendo, located next to the hotel, where they listened with great interest to explanations about Buddhist worldviews such as the concept of the Latter Day of the Dharma. A notable stop on the tour was Fushimi Inari Shrine. Fushimi Inari is one of Kyoto's most iconic Shinto shrines, dedicated to Inari, the deity associated with rice, prosperity, and business. It is especially famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form winding pathways up the sacred Mount Inari. Visitors can walk through these seemingly endless gates, which create a striking tunnel effect, and enjoy views over Kyoto as they ascend the mountain trails.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shichijo～Fushimi Inari | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Inari～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Kyoto | 240JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kyoto Station-mae／Kyoto City Bus～Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae／Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Total | 890JPY | ||
Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.
I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.
There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.
I look forward to attending you in Japan.
Best regards,
Andy Murao
Sep 20, 2026
Bobby_B
A great Kyoto guide.
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Andy was very nice and…
Sep 20, 2026
Bobby_B
A great Kyoto guide.
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Andy was very nice and knowledgeable. He helped customize the tour to our needs. He helped us find a local Udon restaurant for lunch. There is so much to see in Kyoto, it’s important to have a guide to move across town to different venues. We highly recommend him.
Jul 13, 2026
webstere2025
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent
Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…
Jul 13, 2026
webstere2025
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent
Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our itinerary. He was flexible with changes we requested. Andy was very informative during the tour. He also was willing to take our family’s pictures. We were able to stop and check out shops as we pleased along the way. He also accommodated lunch requests(as our daughter has food allergies).
One thing I wish we realized was that there is quite a bit of walking. We were fine but for people who are perhaps older or with young children you may want to consider taking a cab between different sites.
Jun 21, 2026
Catherine_D
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in Osaka
Andy was great . On time and patience…
Jun 21, 2026
Catherine_D
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in Osaka
Andy was great . On time and patience with our walking tour since we had a 14 yr old with
us. Very informative and picked us up and dropped us off our hotel. Thank you Andy for
showing us Osaka
Jun 6, 2026
eyeessess
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour!
Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…
Jun 6, 2026
eyeessess
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour!
Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide. He reached out to us with some ideas for our private tour. He worked with us as we made the tour perfectly suited to our needs. He met us on time. He navigated the crowds and the sites perfectly. He was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. He even put together a nice photo collection of photos he emailed us after. Highly recommend.