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
- 9:30 Hotel Mitsui Kyoto Meet-up
- 10:30 Katsura Imperial Villa
- 12:30 Sanjusangendo
- 13:30 Nishiki Market Dismissal
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Katsura Imperial Villa at 10:30, Sanjusangendo at 12:30 and Nishiki Market Dismissal at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nijojo-mae to Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) by subway (220JPY); Karasuma to Katsura by train (200JPY); Katsura to Shijo Kawaramachi／Kyoto City Bus by train (200JPY); Gion-Shijo to Shichijo by train (180JPY); Shichijo to Gion-Shijo by train (180JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 980JPY per person.
Can You Visit Katsura Imperial Villa on a Private Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting from North America. Before the tour, there had been a request to visit Katsura Imperial Villa, so I made a reservation in advance. The visit is conducted at set times on a group basis. In the past, visitors wore headphones and listened to an English audio guide, but now the English guidance has to be downloaded via an app. The guests chose not to use it, out of concern that making noise might disturb the people around them. When bringing overseas guests, it is better to reserve one of the guided tours held about twice a day specifically for foreign visitors. It had been a while since my last visit to Katsura Imperial Villa, but its beauty remains the finest in Kyoto. We had planned to go to Arashiyama next, but since anything seen after Katsura Imperial Villa would only seem less impressive, I quickly changed the plan to Sanjusangendo. The guests were very pleased with it.
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 | Nijojo-mae～Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Karasuma～Katsura | 200JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Katsura～Shijo Kawaramachi／Kyoto City Bus | 200JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Gion-Shijo～Shichijo | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shichijo～Gion-Shijo | 180JPY |
| Total | 980JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Katsura Imperial Villa, Sanjusangendo and Nishiki Market Dismissal.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 980JPY per person across 5 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