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
- 8:00 Meet @ HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
- 9:00-9:50 @ Fushimi Inari Taisha
- 10:25-11:05 @ Sanjusangendo
- 11:25-12:15 @ Gion
- 13:15-14:00 @ Kinkaku-ji
- 14:05 Dismissal @ In front of Kinkaku-ji bus stop
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Kinkaku-ji
The guests were a group visiting from North America who had been friends since their university days. They arrived in Japan at Kansai International Airport the previous day, and everything they saw seemed new and fascinating to them, so they took many photos everywhere we went.
Fushimi Inari Taisha was extremely crowded with a large number of school trip students. Here, the guests drew omikuji fortunes.
They asked me to introduce a chopstick shop that engraves names, so I recommended shops both near Fushimi Inari Taisha and in Gion, but they did not make a purchase on the spot.
While strolling through Gion, the guests said they wanted ramen for lunch, so I took them to a nearby ramen restaurant. However, one of the guests suddenly said they could not eat meat, which caught me off guard. Unfortunately, this particular ramen shop did not offer a suitable option, so they decided to skip lunch. I had asked about their lunch preferences before departure, and since certain dietary requirements had not been mentioned at that time, I had not been particularly concerned. I reflect that my insufficient confirmation at that point was the cause of this miscommunication.
At Kinkaku-ji, for some reason, I did not see any school trip students at all.
After Kinkaku-ji, I saw the guests off in a taxi and we parted ways there.
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 | Nijojo-mae Station～Sanjo Keihan Station | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Sanjo Station～Fushimi Inari Station | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Fushimi Inari Station～Shichijo Station | 170JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shichijo Station～Gion-Shijo Station | 170JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Gion-Shijo Station～Sanjo Station | 170JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Sanjo Keihan Station～Nishioji Oike Station | 260JPY |
| Section 7 | Bus | Nishioji Oike～Kinkaku-ji-mae | 230JPY |
| Total | 1,440JPY | ||
Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!
My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.
I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.
I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.
I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!
May 19, 2026
498stephenq
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An enjoyable visit
Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…
May 19, 2026
498stephenq
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An enjoyable visit
Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and a pleasure to be with.
Apr 11, 2026
V5131MFjodieh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…
Apr 11, 2026
V5131MFjodieh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic Kyoto. He was flexible when we decided to modify our itinerary on the morning due to rain forecast the next day. Kaz’s English was great which meant he kept my teenage sons engaged with stories about shoguns and samurai battles. We visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Golden and Silver pavilions. The highlight of the tour with Kaz was being shown around beautiful gardens to see cherry blossoms still blooming and views of the city. We highly recommend going on a tour with him.
Oct 14, 2025
Scenic61154406959
Great Historical Perspective
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…
Oct 14, 2025
Scenic61154406959
Great Historical Perspective
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of of the historical aspects of the sites we visit, provided us great guidance on appropriate behavior at each site. He was energetic throughout the tour. More important he was more of a companion which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Sep 29, 2025
Jea L
Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kaz was an excellent tour…
Sep 29, 2025
Jea L
Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kaz was an excellent tour guide! He spent 6 hours showing us around Kyoto including Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-Ji Temple and the bamboo forest. He was very knowledgeable, spoke English well (lived in the US for 3 years), and took lots of photos for us. We are so glad we booked this tour.