Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kazu

What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like with a Wheelchair-Accessible Itinerary? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan from Asia. As some members of the group had limited mobility and tired easily, they carried a foldable wheelchair with them. One member walked normally, while another moved slowly with a cane. The wheelchair was used mostly by one member, and another member used it when the first was walking. In the end, one of the guests continuously pushed the wheelchair throughout the day. This guest seemed to have plenty of stamina and made it possible, and I was deeply impressed by their devotion to the family.

To reach Nijo Castle, we used the subway and made active use of the elevators, but the guests grew tired, so afterward we switched to taxis. Thanks to the taxi driver's consideration, we were driven all the way to the foot of Yasaka Pagoda, which was a great help. For lunch, the guests were able to sit and dine at a restaurant with a soba-focused menu. The movement toward Gion was also slow and unhurried.

This was my first time guiding guests using a wheelchair at Nijo Castle, and it was a valuable learning experience for me. The guests returned to their hotel by taxi from Gion. The photo was taken at the Ninomaru Garden of Nijo Castle.

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Tour Report by KAZU

I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.