Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Yoshi
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.
Tour Itinerary
- Hotel 1300→Nijo Castle→Teramachi Shopping Street→1700 Nishiki Market
The guests were a cheerful family group visiting from Oceania. Although some of the guests used a mobility device and a stroller, everyone kept up energetically throughout the day, which was reassuring. At the Ninomaru Palace of Nijo Castle, the guests transferred to a dedicated wheelchair and were able to tour the interior in the same way as other visitors, which they found very satisfying. Afterward, they wished to visit Nishiki Market to combine sightseeing with lunchtime, so we traveled by subway, and since there were elevators everywhere, we were able to move around smoothly.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Since I completely retired from my position at a railway company and started being involved in the tour guide interpreter business, I have experienced almost all types of guiding through FIT, Long Group Tours, Cruises (Shore Excursions), Incentive Tours, Special Interest Tours (Railway Travel, Pilgrimages), Familiarization Tours (Sales Promotion Tours) etc.
However, I noticed that I am not fully satisfied to only be a general guide who just manages a tour itinerary provided by tour agents/clients.
High-end guests have sometimes requested me to answer some enquiries that are actually challenging to answer for Japanese nationals. However, I appreciated those because they provided such a challenge and I felt that they wanted to understand my sense of beauty/values as a guide concerning a new culture for them.
Every time I host my guest I do my best to prepare the most appropriate information based on three travel elements (appetite, logistics, accommodation). Nevertheless, I decided to aim for higher guiding skills after I was motivated by senior guides whose guiding strategies and gestures were particularly impressive.
Aug 7, 2026
D1494MYdanielleg
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
One day walking tour in Tokyo
Yoshi was great!…
Aug 7, 2026
D1494MYdanielleg
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
One day walking tour in Tokyo
Yoshi was great! It is not easy to keep three teens engaged for 6 hours but we all had a great time. We went to the bamboo forest and golden pavilion, followed by lunch and visits to the Sanrio and Pokémon stores!
Aug 6, 2026
dg89
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Private Führung in Kyoto
Die Tour mit Yoshi war…
Aug 6, 2026
dg89
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Private Führung in Kyoto
Die Tour mit Yoshi war super, sowohl die Ziele wie auch die Erläuterungen. Toll war auch das gemeinsame Sushi-Essen bei dem Yoshi uns alles erklärt hat. Viele Dank für den schönen Tag.
Aug 3, 2026
PaulaLondon2017
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A customized tour with guide around Kyoto
We had…
Aug 3, 2026
PaulaLondon2017
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A customized tour with guide around Kyoto
We had a lovely time walking around Kyoto with Yoshi. I told him in advance where I wanted to go and he adapted the itinerary to my needs. Beautiful personality and went the extra-mile to make our experience even better. If you are around Kyoto, book it!
Jul 5, 2026
788amarpals
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Top 7 Sights Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Private tour Guide in Kyoto- Mr Yoshi
Mr.…
Jul 5, 2026
788amarpals
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Top 7 Sights Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Private tour Guide in Kyoto- Mr Yoshi
Mr. Yoshi, our guide was really good. Very attentive and polite. Good English language skills. He also took us to a great Raman place.