Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Shoko
August, 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
- 1.8:25 Meet up @Hotel Kyoto
- 2.8:30 @Tenryu-ji Temple
- 3.9:05 @Atago Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- 4.9:40 @Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- 5.10:30 @Saiho-ji Temple
- 6.11:45 Lunch @Washoku Now Joy Nishioji Sanjo Branch
- 7.13:05 @Nanzen-ji Temple
- 8.14:10 Disband @Hotel Kyoto
Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour Visiting Less-Crowded Sights Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
This was a private tour in Kyoto for guests visiting from North America. Their request was to depart from their hotel in Arashiyama and visit sightseeing spots where relatively few tourists gather. For this reason, as soon as I was assigned as the guide, I recommended booking Saihoji Temple, a quiet spot in Arashiyama. The guests immediately made a reservation online for the 10:30 admission and let me know. For the other locations, I consulted with the driver and decided together. The guests requested that the tour end with a drop-off at the Hotel in Higashiyama. Therefore, I placed Nanzenji Temple, which has a beautiful garden and relatively few tourists, at the end of the itinerary. The driver kindly provided frozen towels as cold hand towels twice, which the guests were delighted with. The lunch spot was also recommended by the driver, and I made the reservation while the guests were inside Saihoji Temple. As I have mentioned before, at Saihoji Temple even a guide must pay a "worship offering" of 4,000 yen or more. So this time, I guided them to the temple gate and had the guests enter on their own. Before they went in, I explained that they would first quietly copy sutras, then view the garden, and that I would be waiting outside the gate after about 45 minutes had passed, and then they entered Saihoji Temple. The guests were pleased that both the lunch and the itinerary went exactly as they had wished.
[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a customized tour of more quiet places for Osaka.
We visited a couple of temples and a beautiful Japanese garden. Shoko was very
knowledgeable and accommodating for us. Highly recommended.
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she was assigned to our tour (month prior) to the day of, her communication was clear and proactive. She tailored our day based on our interests and got us where we needed to be quickly and efficiently. She was also VERY knowledgable of the history of the sites we visited.
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was the best person to take this tour with. She knew the history of the places we visited – we went to 4 of the world heritage listed places, by train, bus, tram, taxi – just a wonderful day and we will carry many happy memories. Thank you Shoko, you are a beautiful person.
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She…
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She was the same age as we were and we all had a lot of fun.
She had a lovely sense of humour and was very fit so we all worked hard to keep up and enjoy every moment.
She had been in touch with us prior to our arrival in Kyoto,and knew what we wanted to see, and she assisted us with the public transport as it was our first day to see this city.
We had a wonderful tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine where she helped us to make our way through the crowds and took some great photos.
She was up beat and enthusiastic, and could answer all of our many questions.
After taking us to three wonderful shrines and finding us a very cute little place to eat, she stayed with us until she was satisfied we could find our way home.
Shoko was a lovely guide and we left feeling like old friends.