Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kazu

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

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The guests were visiting from Oceania, from a place rich in nature where you can see a large mountain that resembles Mount Fuji. They showed me photos, and it was indeed a beautiful mountain that looked just like Mount Fuji. This was their first time in Japan, traveling from Tokyo and Kanazawa to Kyoto. Both were educators, so they were skilled at both speaking and listening. They were very interested in history and culture. Whenever I explained something, one of the guests would compare it, saying that in their home region it works this way, and in their ancestral homeland it works another way, sharing the differences and similarities between cultures. Thanks to this, I gained many new insights. The other listened intently and responded with nods, and would sometimes ask about the significance of something, or the history behind it. As a guide, they were the kind of guests who made explaining truly worthwhile. We were of a similar generation, so we got along well. I heard they have a very young grandchild, and I privately wondered whether their family might be having a hard time while they traveled abroad. It seems that, given their profession, this was the only time they could take a vacation. When I taught them "ookini" (thank you in the Kansai dialect), they taught me "Nga mihi," which means thank you in Maori. For lunch, at their request for gyoza dumplings, we went with the classic style of gyoza and beer at a well-known chain, which they enjoyed very much. And so, I believe they were able to spend a pleasant day in this hot and humid Kyoto. The rainy season in the Kansai region ended last week, and this week it suddenly turned very hot and humid, marking the arrival of summer at last. I spent the day a little worried about my own summer fatigue and whether a headache might start, but I managed to make it home after gulping down some rehydration drink on the way back.

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Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama