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 Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo
- 9:30 Nijo Castle
- 10:45 Nishiki Market
- 11:45 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- 13:00 Disband at Nishiki Market
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:00 at Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo and ended at 13:00. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Nijo Castle at 9:30, Nishiki Market at 10:45 and Kiyomizu-dera Temple at 11:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Karasuma Oike to Nijojo-mae by subway (220JPY); Nijojo-mae to Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) by subway (220JPY); Shijo Kawaramachi by bus (230JPY); Kiyomizu-michi by bus (230JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 900JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour With Kids Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. The day before, they had joined a food tour in Osaka, but on the way back they took the wrong train and did not return to their Hotel until after 11 p.m., so everyone in the group seemed tired. We followed the itinerary as planned, but took a couple of short breaks along the way. The younger members of the group became especially energetic when feeding the carp in the moat at Nijo Castle and when enjoying sweets at Nishiki Market. Since the group wanted to eat more around Nishiki Market, I suggested we visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and then return to Nishiki Market afterward. They were also greatly impressed by the cake and sweets section in the basement food floor of Daimaru in Kyoto, as they mentioned that department stores where they live do not have food sections. After the tour ended, I imagine the guests enjoyed a second round of eating at Nishiki Market and shopping in the department store's basement food floor.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Karasuma Oike～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Shijo Kawaramachi / Kyoto City Bus～Kiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus～Shijo Kawaramachi / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Total | 900JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo at 9:00, and the tour finished at Nishiki Market at 13:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 9:00 to 13:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market and Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 900JPY per person across 4 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?
Naoki 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 am Naoki Nakatani. I live in Osaka.
I started tour guide from 2023 after 40 years
work experience in Japanese manufacturing company. I am currently teaching Japanese as volunteer staff to foreign residents who live in my community. I have 11 and half years work experience in overseas office and I had interacted with people of foreign countries for a long time enjoying business and friendship with them. My guide experience is still short but I will provide my best service to the guests. I am in a position to prepare the itinerary if guests request and to send any information for the guest to make plan before visit to Japan.
Jul 11, 2026
Trevor_F
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
4 hour Private Tour
Naomi was our guide and did a…
Jul 11, 2026
Trevor_F
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
4 hour Private Tour
Naomi was our guide and did a fantastic job. He met us at our hotel and suggested several places to visit. He navigated us to each spot, providing history and information about each location. Our time spent with him was enjoyable and I would recommend this tour to anyone!
Jun 6, 2026
May_O
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful time in Kyoto
We had a terrific time with Naoki. He…
Jun 6, 2026
May_O
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful time in Kyoto
We had a terrific time with Naoki. He brought enthusiasm and excitement to our tour. My
family had a wonderful time.
May 1, 2026
Sanfrancisco820
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
Naoki is an…
May 1, 2026
Sanfrancisco820
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
Naoki is an excellent guide. His communication with us before our trip was outstanding. I sent him a very long list of things we were interested in, and he carefully helped us understand what was in each area and what we could realistically accomplish in a day.
Naoki even navigated a couple of bus rides for us—which turned out to be a lot of fun! He is highly knowledgeable while still making everything engaging, which made him perfect for first-time visitors to Japan.
We had a lovely day and were able to see many of the things we were most interested in, thanks to Naoki’s thoughtful guidance. He clearly put a great deal of effort into planning our day.
We highly recommend Naoki if you are looking for an easygoing guide who puts genuine care into tailoring your experience to your interests.
Mar 28, 2026
Tanya_R
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide
Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best…
Mar 28, 2026
Tanya_R
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide
Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best highlights of osaka castle and
even got us in by skipping lines