Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kazu

September, 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　09:30　Meet at Kyo-Machiya Ryokan Sakura
  • ②　10:30　Chat in the hotel lobby about Japanese history for about 1 hour
  • ③　11:00　Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • ④　12:00　Ryoan-ji Temple
  • ⑤　13:15　Nijo Castle
  • ⑥　14:00　Disband in front of Nijo Castle

Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? A Guide's Report

The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. Their itinerary reportedly went from Tokyo to Hakone, and then on to Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima, and I accompanied them on their first day in Kyoto. In the morning, I met them at the Hotel, and right away we sat down in the Hotel lobby for about 40 to 50 minutes discussing what a shogun is and what an emperor is. They were also quite knowledgeable about Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and asked me things such as why Toyotomi Hideyoshi was never able to become Seii Taishogun. When I explained these points in detail, their eyes lit up and they asked many questions. It seemed they had read a great deal before coming to Japan and wanted to ask about the things they could not understand from books. We continued like this throughout the entire day, even skipping lunch, and for me they were truly rewarding guests to guide. No transportation costs were advanced.

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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Fantastic tour guide
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