Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Yoshi
September, 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.
Tour Itinerary
- AM 08:30 Tour starts from Airbnb
- Transfer by private car to Sagano Bamboo Forest
- AM 09:00-10:00 From the bamboo forest to Tenryu-ji Garden
- Transfer by private car to Nijo Castle
- AM 10:30-11:40 Nijo Castle tour
- Transfer, lunch at Burger Revolution PM 12:00-12:40
- Transfer by private car to Kiyomizu-dera
- PM 13:10-14:40 Kiyomizu-dera tour, walk along the approach to the front of Kodai-ji, with a break at Starbucks on the way
- Transfer by private car to Fushimi Inari
- PM 15:00-15:45 Fushimi Inari tour
- Transfer by private car to Airbnb PM 16:00 Tour ends
【当日のツアールート】 Meeting point: Hotel
タイトル: What's a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like for Families? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America on their first trip to Japan. They seemed accustomed to traveling, as they apparently go abroad every year. At the start of the tour, the group mentioned that they had previously arranged to extend the tour time as discussed in advance, but no notice of this had reached me. When I checked with Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), there was no record of it, so I explained the situation to the group again. The guests themselves thought they may have confused it with another matter. Since neither the driver nor I had any scheduling issues, we extended the tour on the day and settled the payment accordingly. During the tour there was a bit of rain at Kiyomizu-dera, but at each destination we made sure that the younger members of the group could enjoy themselves as well, including feeding the carp at Nijo Castle (though currently there is a lot of algae, so the carp do not come much), Kiyomizu-dera (Benkei's staff), and Fushimi Inari (the Omokaru-ishi wishing stones). It was interesting to see the younger members of the group collecting goshuin temple stamps.
A notable stop on the tour was Fushimi Inari Shrine. Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Kyoto's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice and prosperity. It is especially well known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form winding pathways up the sacred Mount Inari. Visitors can walk through the tunnels of torii gates, which were donated over the centuries by individuals and businesses hoping for good fortune, making it one of the most iconic and photographed sights in all of Japan.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us…
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us to the best market stalls at the fish market where every food we indulged in (including the sea snails and eel liver) were superb. The walking tour of the tea houses (Geisha district) and knowledge of the history of both the precinct and greater Japan was first class. Yoshi is also a kind and caring person and made conversation very easy, including when we wanted to dig into the country’s cultural values and lifestyle
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very…
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very knowledgable and very friendly. He is an excellent role model tour guide. We can only recommend him. Thank you so much Yoshi!
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our…
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our hotel and was very friendly and helpful. We walked around the city and he took us to view several different spots including samurai living quarters, geisha houses, the beautiful garden built by Maeda san. Yoshi was knowledgeable about the entire city and it’s treasured history. He inspired me to do some reading on Maeda san, a leader who played a huge part in the development of the city. Yoshi was an excellent guide, and even provided a LOT of recommendations and useful information for after our tour. We would definitely recommend YOSHI san! Note: you will need a IC card to board some of the city buses.
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi…
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi our guide, we visited the tea district then the gardens and castle which were my favourite. Yoshi was very informative , explaining the history and mechanisms of the castle was built and the water system. He was also very helpful with explaining the bus service.