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
- 9:00 Meet @ Hotel Okura Kyoto
- 9:40-11:05 Sightseeing at Tenryu-ji Temple and Bamboo Grove Path
- 11:30-12:30 Lunch @ Gontaro Kinkaku-ji Branch
- 12:40-13:30 Sightseeing at Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 13:55-15:00 Sightseeing at Nijo Castle
- 15:05 Get off in front of Kyoto Antique Center
- ※ Driver's service ends here
- 15:10-16:40 Stroll along Teramachi Street and Nishiki Market
- 16:45 Disband @ In front of Daimaru
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ Hotel Okura Kyoto at 9:00, the group explored Kyoto until the tour ended at 16:45. The day ran to 7 hours and 45 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Gontaro Kinkaku-ji Branch at 11:30.
The itinerary covered Tenryu-ji Temple and Bamboo Grove Path at 9:40, Kinkaku-ji Temple at 12:40, Nijo Castle at 13:55, Get off in front of Kyoto Antique Center at 15:05 and Teramachi Street and Nishiki Market at 15:10.
Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Kinkaku-ji
The guests were a group from Asia who visited Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Arashiyama area, and Kinkaku-ji on a private tour in Kyoto. Since some of the guests wanted to visit antique shops, the driver dropped them off on the antique street near Nijo Castle, where they parted ways with the driver. After that, part of the group returned to the hotel while shopping along the way, and the rest of the guests wished to visit Nishiki Market, so I guided them there via Teramachi Shopping Street. Because I had explained the extension fee in advance, at the end of the tour I received 10,000 yen, including a tip.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.
I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.
There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.
I look forward to attending you in Japan.
Best regards,
Andy Murao
Sep 20, 2026
Bobby_B
A great Kyoto guide.
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Andy was very nice and…
Sep 20, 2026
Bobby_B
A great Kyoto guide.
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Andy was very nice and knowledgeable. He helped customize the tour to our needs. He helped us find a local Udon restaurant for lunch. There is so much to see in Kyoto, it’s important to have a guide to move across town to different venues. We highly recommend him.
Jul 13, 2026
webstere2025
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent
Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…
Jul 13, 2026
webstere2025
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent
Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our itinerary. He was flexible with changes we requested. Andy was very informative during the tour. He also was willing to take our family’s pictures. We were able to stop and check out shops as we pleased along the way. He also accommodated lunch requests(as our daughter has food allergies).
One thing I wish we realized was that there is quite a bit of walking. We were fine but for people who are perhaps older or with young children you may want to consider taking a cab between different sites.
Jun 21, 2026
Catherine_D
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in Osaka
Andy was great . On time and patience…
Jun 21, 2026
Catherine_D
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in Osaka
Andy was great . On time and patience with our walking tour since we had a 14 yr old with
us. Very informative and picked us up and dropped us off our hotel. Thank you Andy for
showing us Osaka
Jun 6, 2026
eyeessess
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour!
Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…
Jun 6, 2026
eyeessess
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour!
Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide. He reached out to us with some ideas for our private tour. He worked with us as we made the tour perfectly suited to our needs. He met us on time. He navigated the crowds and the sites perfectly. He was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. He even put together a nice photo collection of photos he emailed us after. Highly recommend.