Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Toshi

May, 2026

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. 10:00 Kyoto Station
  • 2. 10:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • 3. 12:30 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
  • 4. 14:00 Lunch @ "Yatsuhashi Nishio"
  • 5. 15:00 Gion
  • 6. 16:00 Dismissal (5 people) @ Pontocho
  • 6. 16:15 Dismissal (1 person) @ Kyoto Station

Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Tour Covering Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Gion? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Kyoto for the day. We met at Kyoto Station and began sightseeing according to the planned itinerary. At Fushimi Inari Taisha the weather was fine and I was able to guide them enjoyably, but at the next destination, Kiyomizu-dera, the approach was extremely crowded, so we moved along slowly. I had made a lunch reservation at a restaurant, but we could not make it in time for the reserved slot and arrived late, and unfortunately the reservation had been canceled. However, I was able to make a new reservation on the spot, and after waiting about 15 minutes we were seated, and the lunch overlooking a Japanese garden was well received. After lunch, Kinkaku-ji had been included in the plan, but going to Kinkaku-ji would have meant not making it in time for the dinner reservation the guests had booked, so I guided them around the Gion area instead. Explaining about maiko and geiko, I introduced and walked them along Hanamikoji, and finally in Pontocho I parted ways with most of the group, but one of the guests was taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo, so I saw them off to Kyoto Station and thus concluded today's work.

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…