Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kazu

What Is a Private Kyoto and Gion Tour Like for Cruise Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting Japan from Europe as part of a cruise trip. Since I had once studied at a university in Europe, topics about the region came up often during the tour. We discussed a wide range of subjects, including society, education, prices, religion, and safety. Because one of the guests followed a specific diet, we had arranged in advance for them to reserve a suitable restaurant near Nishiki Market. It was my first time visiting this restaurant as well; the food was good and it seemed to be a welcome option, though the prices were on the higher side and the portions were somewhat small. This may be unavoidable given the restaurant's specialty. The restaurant was filled with international travelers. After lunch, I guided the group around Gion and stopped by the Gion Hanamachi Art Museum. Since the geisha dance performance was scheduled for 4:00, we first went to see sights in the Higashiyama area, such as the Yasaka Pagoda, and then returned to the museum to watch the dance. Afterward, the guests wanted to visit Dotonbori in Osaka before returning to Osaka Port, so I guided them to the Keihan train, rode with them as far as Tanbabashi Station, and explained how to get to Dotonbori. The photo was taken at Tatsumi Bridge in Gion Shirakawa.

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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.