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 Hotel Kyoto
- 10:50 Bamboo Path by taxi
- 11:00Tenryuji (500+300) by walking
- 11:40 Lunch（Ozuru）
- 13:00 Sagano Romantic Train at Saga Sta.
- Train Sta. → Bording area
- 14:00 Hozugawa River Boat Tour
- 16:00 Arashiyama
- 17:00 Hotel Kyoto
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Hotel Kyoto at 10:00, Bamboo Path by taxi at 10:50, Tenryuji (500+300) by walking at 11:00, Sagano Romantic Train at Saga Sta. at 13:00, Hozugawa River Boat Tour at 14:00, Arashiyama at 16:00 and Hotel Kyoto at 17:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Good Nature Hotel to Sagano Bamboo Grove by JGA Pre-Approved Fee (5,400JPY); Arashiyama to Good Nature Hotel by JGA Pre-Approved Fee (5,000JPY); Torokko Kameoka to Hozugawa River Boat Tour Boarding Area／Keihan Kyoto Kotsu (2,000JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 12,400JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Tour with the Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River Boat Ride Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Europe. From the beginning I had been communicating with a travel agency, and they said they were also well acquainted with [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/). Transportation costs and admission fees were handled with the guide paying in advance and being reimbursed. As it was a very hot day, I asked the guests to make sure to drink plenty of water. The main part of the itinerary was the Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko) and the Hozugawa River boat ride. The travel agency also arranged the guide's ticket, so everything went smoothly. The day before, the guests had visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Gion, and the next day they planned to go to Osaka, then on to Nara from Osaka. After Kyoto they were also planning to visit Hiroshima, and their itinerary had been arranged in detail. The lotus flowers at Ogura Pond were in full bloom, and the guests were delighted.
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 | JGA Pre-Approved Fee | Good Nature Hotel～Sagano Bamboo Grove | 5,400JPY |
| Section 2 | JGA Pre-Approved Fee | Arashiyama～Good Nature Hotel | 5,000JPY |
| Section 3 | Other | Torokko Kameoka～Hozugawa River Boat Tour Boarding Area／Keihan Kyoto Kotsu | 2,000JPY |
| Total | 12,400JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Kyoto, Bamboo Path by taxi, Tenryuji (500+300) by walking, Sagano Romantic Train at Saga Sta., Hozugawa River Boat Tour, Arashiyama and Hotel Kyoto.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 12,400JPY per person across 3 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