Kyoto: Nijo Castle — Guide Ichiro
October, 2024
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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 12:00 Hotel
- 12:30-14:30 Nanzenji Temple, Keage Incline
- 15:00-16:30 Nijo Castle
- 17:00 Arrive at hotel
- Hotel: Hotel Hiyori Chapter Kyoto (7-min walk north from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Nanzenji Temple, Keage Incline at 12:30 and Nijo Castle at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae to Higashiyama by subway (220JPY); Keage to Nijojo-mae by subway (260JPY); Nijojo-mae to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae by subway (220JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 700JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like When Plans Change? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was a visitor from North America. The tour was originally scheduled as an early-morning itinerary from 7:30 to 15:30, but the night before, a message came in requesting a later start due to feeling unwell, so it was changed to 12:00–17:00 (also shortened from 8 hours to 5 hours). When I went to meet the guests on the day, one person had not recovered, so I ended up guiding the other guest alone. After discussing where to go, we decided to skip Kiyomizu-dera, which had been in the original plan, and focus instead on Nanzen-ji, the Keage Incline, and Nijo Castle. The guest had a strong interest in Japanese history and culture and asked one question after another, which made it a pleasure to respond.
This private one-day Kyoto tour was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/). [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae～Higashiyama | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Keage～Nijojo-mae | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | 220JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nanzenji Temple, Keage Incline and Nijo Castle.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 700JPY per person across 3 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?
Ichiro 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 Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
(I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )
In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.
I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.
I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.