Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kazu

August, 2024

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

  • ①　10:00　Meet at hotel (Sowaka / Gion)
  • ②　10:50　Daitoku-ji Temple (Daisen-in)
  • ③　12:00　Sanjusangen-do Temple
  • ④　13:15　Lunch (Sanjo)
  • ⑤　13:40　Pontocho
  • ⑥　14:00　Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple
  • ⑦　14:45　Disband (near ⑥ above)

Can You Do a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Visiting Daisen-in and Sanjusangendo? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting Japan and Kyoto for the first time from North America. This trip to Japan came about at the strong request of one of the guests. Since they had a tea ceremony reservation the next day, I explained the history of wabi-cha and the concept of wabi-sabi at Daisen-in. At Pontocho, I explained the history of Gion and the difference between geiko and maiko. At Sanjusangendo, I explained the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva and Buddhism. As it happened to be the day of the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires, I explained Sai no Kawara, Jizo Bodhisattva, Obon, and the Gozan no Okuribi at Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple, and encouraged them to go and see it that evening around the banks of the Kamo River before we parted ways. There were no advance transportation expenses.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

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Jul 29, 2026
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Fantastic tour guide
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