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
- 11:00 Meet
- 11:50 Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 13:30 Nishiki Market, lunch, coffee break
- 15:30 Nijo Castle
- 17:00 End
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Meet at 11:00, the group explored Kyoto until the tour ended at 17:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Kinkaku-ji Temple at 11:50, Nishiki Market, lunch, coffee break at 13:30 and Nijo Castle at 15:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) to Kitaoji by subway (260JPY); Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station)／Kyoto Municipal Bus to Kinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto Municipal Bus by bus (230JPY); Kinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto Municipal Bus to Kawaramachi Sanjo／Kyoto Municipal Bus by bus (230JPY); Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) to Nijojo-mae by subway (220JPY); Nijojo-mae to Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) by subway (220JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,160JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like in the Rain? A Licensed Guide's Report
I guided a group visiting Japan for the first time. The guests left the itinerary up to me. We had lunch around Nishiki Market, which meant travel took some time. Although it rained during the tour, I believe the guests enjoyed themselves without being bothered by the weather.
At Nijo Castle, I showed them the carp feeding, the gardens, and the site of the former castle keep. Since they planned to visit Arashiyama the next day, I explained how to get there and gave some recommendations. I would have liked to guide them around Gion as well if there had been time. We parted ways at the exit of the station nearest to the guests.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)～Kitaoji | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station)／Kyoto Municipal Bus～Kinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto Municipal Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Kinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto Municipal Bus～Kawaramachi Sanjo／Kyoto Municipal Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Shijo (Kyoto Municipal) | 220JPY |
| Total | 1,160JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Meet at 11:00, and the tour finished at at 17:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 11:00 to 17:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nishiki Market, lunch, coffee break and Nijo Castle.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,160JPY per person across 5 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Mizu is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello, my name is Mizuho Yoshikawa. Please call me Mizu and my name means rice and water in Japanese.
I’ve been a tour guide more than 200 times since the spring of 2023 in Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama and Kochi. My tour is always original and new, depending on the guest’s preferences, encounters, seasons and weather.
In Kyoto, one of my tours is to climb Mt. Kurama. It is about 1 hour from the city of Kyoto by train, it is a very quiet and beautiful mountain.
In Osaka, which is called the kitchen of Japan, I am also in charge of food tour.
In Nara, in addition to the Great Budda Hall, I guide guests to the temple with a really great view and Japanese wine, sake tasting.
Every city has a unique charming point.
The motto of my guiding is ” Ichigo Ichie” Once in a lifetime or seize the day. I learn this concept that the moment will never be the same again through tea ceremonies.
I like a tea ceremony that is part of the traditional Japanese culture and embodies the spirit of “omotenashi” or hospitality. Through the tea ceremony, we can feel the spirit of “omotenashi” that has been passed down to us from ancient times.
And I like to travel abroad and domestically, and I have been to 13 overseas countries and most of the prefectures in Japan. Traveling always gives me a new perspective, which is exciting and thrilling. Nowadays, we can learn a lot from the Internet, but traveling teaches us that it is important to have direct experience. When I travel, I feel that my five senses are infinitely expanded, and through my tour, I help all guests to have the same feeling in Japan.
I was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is next to Tokyo Prefecture in eastern Japan. When I was little, I could see Mount Fuji from my backyard. There was also a rice field nearby, and I grew up listening to the croaking of frogs. Listening to the frogs and seeing the mountains made me feel very calm.
I moved to the city of Kobe, one of the Kansai areas in western Japan, which includes Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and so on. I’m not from the Kansai area of western Japan, but I think that makes me sensitive to the differences between that area and the Kanto area, Tokyo, where I grew up.
Speaking of Kobe, you might be thinking of Kobe beef. Of course you do. There are also other sake breweries in Nada in Kobe. You can also go from Kobe city to Himeji Castle, also known as the White Egret Castle, which was the first in Japan to be listed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
Let’s meet and enjoy Japan together!
Jul 27, 2026
OscarBrisenoJr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Awesome tour of Kyoto
Seeing the temples and shrines…
Jul 27, 2026
OscarBrisenoJr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Awesome tour of Kyoto
Seeing the temples and shrines and other Kyoto’s surrounding areas were amazing to see and experience. Mizu was very kind and patient with my two daughters since they wanted stamps/seals of each shrine/temple that we visited in their books. Mizu even helped them to get stamps at each train station. She arranged our trip to be efficient and asked me prior to the trip which sites weee important for me to see and gave us her recommendations of what was feasible to see within the 6 he time frame. She was able to pick a nice restaurant to eat at for lunch. Overall I was very pleased with the private tour!
Jul 21, 2026
MarcL3556
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A Wonderful and Memorable Tour of Osaka with Mizu…
Jul 21, 2026
MarcL3556
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A Wonderful and Memorable Tour of Osaka with Mizu
We had a wonderful tour of Osaka with Mizu and can highly recommend her as a guide. From the very beginning, she was friendly, welcoming, and extremely well prepared. The entire tour was well organized, informative, and perfectly matched our expectations.
The sights and areas she selected gave us a great impression of Osaka and its unique character. We particularly appreciated the balance between famous attractions, local culture, history, and everyday life in the city. Mizu provided us with a lot of interesting background information and explained everything in a clear and engaging way. We learned much more about Osaka than we would have discovered on our own.
Her English was excellent, and communication was easy and natural throughout the entire tour. She was always happy to answer our questions and made sure that everyone in our group felt comfortable and included. We got along with her very well, and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable from start to finish.
Mizu was also very attentive to our interests and adjusted the tour whenever necessary. We never felt rushed, and there was always enough time to take photos, look around, and enjoy the different places. Her warm personality, local knowledge, and enthusiasm for Osaka made the experience particularly memorable.
Overall, the tour was one of the highlights of our stay in Osaka. We would gladly book another tour with Mizu and recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and personable guide. Thank you, Mizu, for such a fantastic and memorable day in Osaka!
Jul 8, 2026
Ranvt
Local tour kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
I had a great experience on this local…
Jul 8, 2026
Ranvt
Local tour kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
I had a great experience on this local tour in Kyoto. It was very educational and informative, and our guide, Mizuho, was incredibly knowledgeable about the city. She was friendly, helpful, and happy to answer every question we had. She is very passionate for kyoto I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto who wants to learn more about the city’s history and culture!
Jun 11, 2026
MamaL843
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing Kyoto with Mizu
Mizu-San gave us an AMAZING tour of Kyoto.…
Jun 11, 2026
MamaL843
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing Kyoto with Mizu
Mizu-San gave us an AMAZING tour of Kyoto. There was SO much to do and see in this
beautiful area of Japan, but Mizu was able to adjust on the fly because… well, young adult
sons 🤷🏻