Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Toshi

July, 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. 9:00 Meet @ Kyoto Station
  • 2. 9:30-10:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha tour
  • 3. 10:30-11:30 Iwatayama Monkey Park tour
  • 4. 11:45-12:15 Lunch @ Tenryu Ramen
  • 5. 12:15-12:45 Kameyama Park tour
  • 5. 12:45-13:15 Bamboo Forest tour
  • 6. 13:30-14:15 Kinkaku-ji tour
  • 7. 14:30-15:00 Nishiki Market tour

What Does a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Kinkaku-ji

I met the group of guests from North America at Kyoto Station, confirmed the day's itinerary, and started the Kyoto tour. As the rainy season had just ended, we visited Fushimi Inari Taisha in very high temperatures. I explained Shinto and the foxes of Fushimi Inari Shrine, we worshipped at the main hall, and while explaining omikuji fortunes, we moved toward the Senbon Torii path. The guests enjoyed the power spots "Omokaru-ishi" and "Negiage-no-matsu" before descending from Mount Inari. Next, we moved to the Monkey Park, which some of the guests had been looking forward to. After working hard to climb the steep slope, they enjoyed feeding the monkeys, and a keeper called over one monkey so they could take a commemorative photo together. After descending Mount Iwata and crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge, we had lunch at a ramen restaurant, and then moved toward the bamboo grove. Passing through Kameyama Park, we leisurely toured the bamboo grove and Nonomiya Shrine before moving on to the next destination, Kinkaku-ji. At Kinkaku-ji, I explained the golden Shariden, but because of the heat we finished the visit a little early and moved to Nishiki Market. After strolling through the market together with the guests, the scheduled time had come, so we parted ways there. The guests said they would continue walking through the shopping street afterward and think about where to have dinner.

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…