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.

Tour Itinerary

  • 08:00 Village Kiramachi
  • 08:40 Fushimiinari (0) by subway & JR train
  • 10:00 Tofukuji (1000) by walking
  • 11:40 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
  • Sannenzaka by walking
  • Yasaka-no-to by walking
  • 13:00 lunch (Ganso Tokkyu Ramen Kan) by walking
  • 14:50 Ippodo matcha shop by taxi
  •   Teranachi Shopping Arcade
  • 15:20 Gion by walking
  • Tatsumibashi bridge
  • Hanamikoji
  • 15:45 Kenninji
  • Gion Shopping Arcade
  • 16:20 End of the tour

Tour Itinerary in Detail

Over the course of the day the route took in Village Kiramachi at 08:00, Fushimiinari (0) by subway & JR train at 08:40, Tofukuji (1000) by walking at 10:00, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 11:40, Ippodo matcha shop by taxi at 14:50, Gion by walking at 15:20 and Kenninji at 15:45.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) to Kyoto by train (220JPY); Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 370JPY per person.

Title: What Is a 2-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the East and West Sides

The guests were a group visiting from Europe. As they had two consecutive days on November 11–12, we decided to explore the eastern side of Kyoto on the first day and the western Arashiyama and Sagano areas on the second day. Some of the guests did not eat meat or fish, which limited the lunch options, but fortunately we were able to get into an available ramen shop, where they enjoyed a vegan ramen. Afterwards, we went to Ippodo in Teramachi, where the guests both enjoyed thick matcha (koicha). We walked through Teramachi from Oike to Shijo, and I provided information about various shops along the way. Finally, we walked to Gion, extending our route to Tatsumi Bridge, Hanamikoji, and Kenninji Temple. We concluded the tour at a pepper specialty shop in the Gion shopping street, where the guests enjoyed some samples and did a bit of shopping.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShijo (Kyoto Municipal)~Kyoto220JPY
Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
Total370JPY

Frequently Asked Questions

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Village Kiramachi, Fushimiinari (0) by subway & JR train, Tofukuji (1000) by walking, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi, Ippodo matcha shop by taxi, Gion by walking and Kenninji.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 370JPY per person across 2 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?

Kazz 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.

I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

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