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.

Tour Itinerary

  • 9:45 Tour start
  • 9:05-10:20 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
  • 10:40-11:20 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 12-10-12:50 Lunch
  • 13:05-13:35. Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • 14:00-14:30. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
  • 15:00 Tour ends near Kyocera Museum of Art

Tour Itinerary in Detail

From there the group visited Tour start at 9:45, Kiyomizu-dera Temple at 9:05, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine at 10:40, Kinkaku-ji Temple at 13:05 and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path at 14:00.

What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera and Local Crafts

The guests were very lovely visitors from North America, and they purchased a lot of Kiyomizu-yaki pottery in the area around Kiyomizu-dera. It took some time to wrap the items, but they were very satisfied. For lunch, I took them to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, where they enjoyed the "Bikkura Pon" lottery game, something they could not experience back home. At each place we visited, they received goshuin (temple/shrine seal stamps) and also purchased prayer beads. They were pleasant guests, and they said they would be staying in Osaka for the next three days to visit the Expo. Although it looked like rain, it was light enough that umbrellas were not needed, so we were lucky.

Hello, my name is Harumi, and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan. I have been actively involved in volunteer activities for many years, sharing my passion for Japanese culture and history. As a kimono dressing instructor, I can provide hands-on kimono experiences and guide tours. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling, making my tours ideal for those interested in this fascinating sport. I am also well-versed in Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (Jūdenken) and can introduce historical townscapes dating back to the Edo period. If you are interested, I would be happy to show you around the sake brewing process in the Nada region.

Sep 29, 2026
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Customizable tour with Harumi-san
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