Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Kazu

Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama and Jojakko-ji

The guests were visitors from North America. They had come to Japan on a trip, and it may have been to mark some special occasion, though I did not ask. Over the past few days, the Japanese archipelago had been rainy, and they said Tokyo and Hakone had been shrouded in rain and deep fog the entire time, so they were delighted that it finally cleared up in Kyoto. Today in particular was a beautiful clear autumn day, with the sun almost dazzling, and everywhere the greenery was fresh and refreshing, just like in the photo (Jojakko-ji). Not only for the places we would visit today, but because they wanted recommendations for exploring Kyoto or Nara for one more day tomorrow, I brought along a thick set of materials on recommended spots and explained various options.

Jojakko-ji sits partway up Mount Ogura, famous for the Hyakunin Isshu, and there are the remains of the Shigure-tei, where the great poet Fujiwara no Teika compiled the Hyakunin Isshu. When I explained that the very sound of the names "Arashiyama" and "Ogurayama" carries something rhyme-like that evokes classical Japanese poetry, they listened to that story with great interest. About five minutes' climb up from the Shigure-tei there is a natural viewing point from which you can look out over the whole of Kyoto and the Thirty-Six Peaks of Higashiyama, and it was wonderfully refreshing, so they enjoyed filming video here as well.

I always explain that the Togetsukyo Bridge is a viewing point from which you look up at Arashiyama from below the mountains, and today the air was so clear that the Oi River, nestled between Arashiyama and Ogurayama, looked beautiful. I believe the guests felt a beauty somehow different from the grand-scale lakes and mountains they usually enjoy back home. I am very grateful to the driver for all the help.

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