Kyoto: Kifune Shrine & Fushimi Inari — 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
- 10:00 Hotel
- 11:30-12:30 Kifune Shrine
- 12:30-13:15 (Lunch)
- 14:30-15:00 Tea ceremony experience
- 16:00-17:30 Fushimi Inari
- 18:00 Arrive at hotel
- Hotel: RIHGA Gran Kyoto (8-min walk south from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Kifune Shrine at 11:30, (Lunch) at 12:30 and Fushimi Inari at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Sanjo Keihan by subway (260JPY); Keihan Sanjo to Keihan Demachiyanagi by train (230JPY); Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi to Eizan Railway Kifuneguchi by train (470JPY); Kifuneguchi to Kifune by bus (200JPY); Kifune to Kifuneguchi by bus (200JPY); Eizan Railway Kifuneguchi to Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi by train (470JPY); Keihan Demachiyanagi to Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo by train (280JPY); Gojo to Kyoto by subway (220JPY); Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY); Inari to Kyoto by train (150JPY). Across 10 sections the fare came to 2,630JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour with a Tea Ceremony Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a family visiting from Europe. During our correspondence beforehand, changes were requested many times. On top of that, on the evening before the tour, there was a sudden request to add a "Tea Ceremony." I thought it was basically too late to arrange anything, but I managed to find an available spot for a "Tea Ceremony Experience (with a matcha-grinding demonstration)" at a Japanese cultural experience venue in Kyoto, and I was able to meet their request. This venue used a large-scale, mass-production style, with desks lined up in a big room accommodating around 50 people at once, but the presentation was reasonably good and the guests were pleased. It took some effort, but I was able to find a place that can accommodate even last-minute requests to some degree, which added a new option to my repertoire for the future. As for the route, the guests had spent about three days in Kyoto before this and said they had "already been" to most of the usual spots, so we traveled all the way to Kifune Shrine, then after the tea ceremony experience, we were able to wrap up at Fushimi Inari.
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～Sanjo Keihan | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Keihan Sanjo～Keihan Demachiyanagi | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi～Eizan Railway Kifuneguchi | 470JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kifuneguchi～Kifune | 200JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | Kifune～Kifuneguchi | 200JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Eizan Railway Kifuneguchi～Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi | 470JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Keihan Demachiyanagi～Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo | 280JPY |
| Section 8 | Subway | Gojo～Kyoto | 220JPY |
| Section 9 | Train | Kyoto～Inari | 150JPY |
| Section 10 | Train | Inari～Kyoto | 150JPY |
| Total | 2,630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kifune Shrine, (Lunch) and Fushimi Inari.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,630JPY per person across 10 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.