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
- 08:10 Hotel Kyoto Station
- 08:30 Fushimiinari by JR train
- 10:00 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
- Sannenzaka by walking
- Yasaka-no-to by walking
- 12:00 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
- 13:30 Bamboo grove by taxi
- 13:40 Tenryuji (500+300) by walking
- 14:30 Kyoto Station
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Hotel Kyoto Station at 08:10, Fushimiinari by JR train at 08:30, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 10:00, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi at 12:00, Bamboo grove by taxi at 13:30, Tenryuji (500+300) by walking at 13:40 and Kyoto Station at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY); Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto by train (240JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 390JPY per person.
What Can You See on a Private Kyoto Day Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji
The guests were visitors from North America. At the inner sanctuary of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, they gently stroked the Fureai Kannon statue, which is made so that people who cannot see can touch it. They had a very calm and gentle demeanor throughout the tour. Along the approach to Kiyomizu-dera, they bought yatsuhashi sweets, and on Sannenzaka slope they purchased chili pepper seasoning, and at Kinkaku-ji Temple they bought wasabi-flavored beans. They enjoyed collecting magnets and bought one along the Kiyomizu approach and another at Kinkaku-ji. They plan to fly home from Haneda tomorrow, and were delighted to be able to buy furikake seasoning as a gift for their friends.
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 | Train | Kyoto～Inari | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Kyoto | 240JPY |
| Total | 390JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Kyoto Station, Fushimiinari by JR train, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi, Bamboo grove by taxi, Tenryuji (500+300) by walking and Kyoto Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 390JPY per person across 2 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