Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Toshi

June, 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. 11:00 Meet the guest at Kyoto Station
  • 2. 11:30 Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 3. 12:30 Guide to Kiyomizu-dera
  • 4. 13:30 Guide to Nishiki Market
  • 5. 14:00 Guide to Kyoto Tower
  • 6. 15:15 Dismissal @ Kyoto Station

Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America who had arrived by cruise ship. We met at Kyoto Station and discussed the day's plans, settling on a route covering Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market, and Kyoto Tower. At Fushimi Inari Taisha we prayed together, tried our luck with omikuji fortunes and at a power spot, and then made our way down via Senbon Torii. After Fushimi Inari Taisha, we moved to Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto's most representative temples, but the approach was extremely crowded, so we adjusted our pace as fatigue set in for one of the guests. Feeling hungry and tired, we decided to quickly grab a few bites at Nishiki Market. However, it was also very crowded, and since the guests were not used to such crowds, they wished to leave Nishiki Market early and move on to Kyoto Tower. We bought some snacks at a convenience store and headed to the tower. We parted with the driver at the taxi drop-off area at Kyoto Station and made our own way to the tower. We went up to the observation deck, which offers a sweeping view of Kyoto, and the guests enjoyed the cityscape from there. However, because of their cruise ship schedule, they had already purchased Shinkansen tickets, so we ended the guiding a little early. As the humidity and heat had taken their toll and they wished to spend some relaxed time at the Shinkansen terminal, we said our goodbyes at the Shinkansen ticket gate of Kyoto Station.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

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Apr 26, 2026
39ferdinandr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Exceptional and entertaining
Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

Apr 9, 2026
X1429XKclaudiam
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sehr zu empfehlen
Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

Jun 28, 2025
WilliamAlfonso_R
Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi was…

May 30, 2025
Z
ZevP5
Best Tour Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…