Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Kazu
September, 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
- 9:00 Meet at hotel 9:25 Fushimi Inari 11:10 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 12:40 Lunch (sushi) 13:40 Kinkaku-ji (Taxi to Nishioji Oike) 15:00 Shopping near Gion in Higashiyama (Taxi to Sanjusangendo) 15:40 Sanjusangendo (Taxi to Gion) 16:20 Gion 17:10 Guide to Pontocho and tour ends
What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe. One of the guests was a university student living in Europe. Since I had also attended university there, we enjoyed talking about the city for a little while. The meeting point was originally planned for Kyoto Station, but at the guests' request it was changed to a hotel meeting. The tour began under strong, hot sunshine, but the weather was changeable, and we were caught in rain at Arashiyama and Sanjusangendo. To avoid the crowded city buses, we used taxis for the sections from Kinkakuji-michi to Nishioji Oike, from Gion to Sanjusangendo, and from Sanjusangendo back to Gion. Their native language was German, and I could sense a German accent in parts of their speech. The English of the student among the guests was relatively easy to understand. The photo was taken as they were writing on an ema votive plaque 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 | Karasuma Oike～Kyoto | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kyoto～Inari | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Inari～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Enmachi | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | Enmachi～Kinkakuji-michi／Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 6 | Other | Nishioji Oike～Higashiyama | 260JPY |
| Total | 1,280JPY | ||
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.