Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Kazu
October, 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 Hotel meeting 10:00 Otagi Nenbutsu-ji 10:35 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji 11:35 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 12:15 Short break (Lunch) 13:05 Tenryu-ji 14:10 Kinkaku-ji
- 15:15 Ryoan-ji 16:30 Return to hotel and tour ends
What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Ryoan-ji
The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. When guiding in English, communication was easier with some of the guests. One of the guests was quiet but also had a playful side; at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, they stepped in among the many stone statues and posed like a Buddhist statue for photos. We used taxis for the routes from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, from Enmachi Station to Kinkaku-ji Temple, from Kinkaku-ji Temple to Ryoan-ji Temple, and from Ryoan-ji Temple to the hotel. They planned to visit Nara the following day and then experience a tea ceremony in Kyoto, and they asked for various pieces of advice so that everything would go smoothly and according to plan. Since one of the guests was good at making plans, I explained everything to that person to pass along. We took a photo at the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, but since one of the guests declined to be photographed, the photo was of some of the guests.
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 | Gojo (Kyoto Municipal)～Kyoto | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kyoto～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Enmachi | 180JPY |
| Total | 640JPY | ||
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.