Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Kazu

April, 2025

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

  • ① 10:00　Meet at Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu
  • ② 10:05　Itinerary explanation・Brief explanation about the history of Kyoto
  • ③ 11:00　Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • ④ 12:15　Ryoan-ji Temple
  • ⑤ 13:30　Lunch and break in Arashiyama
  • ⑥ 14:15　Tenryu-ji Temple
  • ⑦ 15:00　Bamboo grove walk ~ Enjoy the Arashiyama scenery at Kameyama Park
  • ⑧ 16:00　Heiseiin (Explanation of the story of Jizo Bodhisattva and the stone piles of Sai no Kawara)
  • ⑨ 16:45　Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • ⑩ 17:30　Stroll along Sanjo and Teramachi Street – Look for a restaurant for dinner and check the location of Nishiki Market
  • ⑪ 18:00　Disband on Teramachi Street

Can You Do a Private Kyoto Tour from a Cruise Ship Stop? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America, and it was their first time in both Japan and Kyoto. They were traveling on a cruise that took them around various parts of Japan and Korea. They had already been staying in Japan for more than two weeks, and even so, they said they never grew tired of Japanese culture, history, and food. All the destinations for this visit had been chosen by the guests themselves, and they showed keen interest in everything about what they described as a completely different Far Eastern country: Japanese history, religious views, food, festivals, folk traditions, as well as modern politics, daily culture, the education system, and language. While traveling, they were astonished to see young elementary school children heading home from school by train on their own without any adult accompaniment, saying it was an unbelievable sight and something that would never happen where they come from, marveling at the safety of Japanese society. On the other hand, I was able to hear a great deal about the circumstances of their small home country, which I found highly fascinating. They talked so much that it was hard to tell who was the guide. We agreed that next time — perhaps in ten years? — we would tour only the hidden gems together.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Inari240JPY
Total240JPY

Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

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Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu…

Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
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