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
- 8:22 pick up guests at the platform of Shinkansen Kyoto Station
- 9:00 put the baggabe to the bus
- Bus start
- 9:20 Nijojo Castle
- 10:10 (leave)
- 10:50 Arashiyama Tenryuji Temple
- 11:20 Walk through Bamboo Forest
- 11:40 walk along Katsura river
- 12:00 lunch
- 13:30 (leave)
- 14:00 Kinkakuji Temple
- 14:50 (leave)
- 15:10 Bus stop close to guest's hotel (Matsui Bekkan Hanakanzashi)
- 'Guests carriage baggabes to the hotel
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like from Shinagawa? A Licensed Guide's Report
Body:
– Picked up the guests who arrived in Kyoto at 8:22 after departing Shinagawa at 6:22. After coordinating with the driver and loading the suitcases onto the bus, we departed at 9:00. – The group consisted of 14 guests, including adults and children of various ages. Everyone was very cheerful, and it was a pleasure to guide them. – Nijo Castle went smoothly, but Arashiyama was extremely crowded. Had the bus been able to park at the Kyoto municipal parking lot, we could have gone straight to the planned lunch spot so that the hungry children could eat right away, but unfortunately the lot was full. – We walked from Tenryu-ji Temple through the bamboo grove and along the Katsura River toward the planned lunch spot, but it was very crowded with a long line, so we gave up and split into smaller groups of about four to have lunch. – Lunch took some time, so we arrived at Kinkaku-ji Temple at 2:00. Kinkaku-ji was also very crowded, but I gave all the guide explanations about Kinkaku-ji on the bus, so the walk through Kinkaku-ji was completed in 45 minutes. – Since the bus could not stop in front of the hotel, the guests got off the bus near the hotel and the tour ended there. (I offered to accompany them, but they said it would be fine, so the guests walked to their hotel on their own.)
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Hello, I’m HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as a famous shogun who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
I was born in Kobe, worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce you Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama.
In Kyoto, I can guide you Nijojo Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Tempe (Golden Pavilion), Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
In Osaka, I’ll show you Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky biilding. We have locall foods such as Kushikatau, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
In Kobe, I’ll take you to former foreign residential area, Sannomiya Shopping Street, Chinese Market, and Arima Onsen.
In Nara, I’ll guide you Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, and Yakushiji Temple.
In Wakayama, I take you to Koyasan, the center of Esoteric Buddhism.
I enjoy guiding foreign tourists.
I can show you Japanese history, especially samurai period, and Shinto and Buddhism.
I’ve been looking forward to guiding you !!
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with…
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with an excellent guide. Just beware that the
different sites may be located at different ends of the city so you will spend time on trains.
Also, in the summer a parasol is probably a good idea as it can get hot.
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with…
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Tour was as promised , well planned and executed. The guide was very knowledgeable and
friendly and went out of his way to make sure we were pleased.
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking…
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking tour excursion from Osaka to Kyoto from our cruise ship. Hideo Yoshida met us promptly and escorted us all day from Osaka to visit 4 of Kyotos most famous sites.
He proved to be a true Japanese gentleman, very polite , very knowledgeable and knew the train system well. We must have changed at least 10 trains and it would have been impossible to navigate this without him. Also we had our most delicious sushi and sashimi lunch in Japan in a restaurant he recommended.
Thank you Hideo for providing us a wonderful insight in Kyotos history.
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with…
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with Hide Yoshi – he made a good plan for us and whisked us around Kyoto to the key sites very efficiently. He had good knowledge about the places we visited and had prepared materials and photos to show us. He really helped us to get the maximum out of our time in Kyoto and is a really nice person. Also took us for an excellent lunch! Highly recommended.