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
- 10:00 Hyatt Place Kyoto
- 10:30 Fushimiinari by Subway & JR train
- 11:30 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
- Sannenzaka by walking
- Yasaka-no-to by walking
- 14:30 Lunch（Kura Sushi Kinkakuji Store）
- 15:00 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
- 16:00 Hyatt Place Kyoto
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Hyatt Place Kyoto at 10:00, Fushimiinari by Subway & JR train at 10:30, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 11:30, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi at 15:00 and Hyatt Place Kyoto at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Marutamachi (Kyoto Municipal) to Kyoto by train (260JPY); Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 410JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji
The guests were friends visiting from North America, though they were originally from the Middle East. The morning was a little chilly, but it cleared up toward midday and the sunshine became strong. We had cold drinks in front of Chawan-zaka near Kiyomizu-dera, though one of the guests skipped Kiyomizu-dera and spent time along the approach instead. They had initially said they would not eat lunch, but since they wanted to sit down at a restaurant and use the restroom, we went to a conveyor-belt sushi place near Kinkaku-ji. At first they said they would like somewhere with a beautiful garden, but I suggested saving that for another occasion. Once we arrived, both of the guests turned out to love eel, ordering the same eel three times. As they were also feeling a bit tired from walking, after Kinkaku-ji we took a taxi back to the Hotel and ended the tour there. Neither of the guests was particularly interested in history.
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 | Train | Marutamachi (Kyoto Municipal)～Kyoto | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kyoto～Inari | 150JPY |
| Total | 410JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hyatt Place Kyoto, Fushimiinari by Subway & JR train, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi and Hyatt Place Kyoto.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 410JPY per person across 2 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?
Kazz 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.
I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly tour guide. He took us to many interesting places during the six hours as well as off the tourist path to more interesting places. He thoroughly explained everything from a current and historical perspective. Outstanding tour.
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing…
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing guide! He was super knowledgeable and gave us really interesting info throughout all the stops. He’s also an amazing photographer!
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a…
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a true pleasure . Exceeded my expectations in knowledge and support of our questions.
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed us around which was great