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
- 08:30 Gion Elite Terrace
- 09:00 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
- 10:00 Ryoanji (600) by taxi
- 11:30 Bamboo Path by taxi
- 11:40 Tenryuji (500) by walking
- 12:00 Lunch at Shigetsu (booked) in Tenryuji grounds
- Arashiyama
- Togetsukyo
- 14:00 Fushimiinari by JR Saga line and JR Nara line
- 15:00 Kyoto Sta.
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Gion Elite Terrace at 08:30, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi at 09:00, Ryoanji (600) by taxi at 10:00, Bamboo Path by taxi at 11:30, Tenryuji (500) by walking at 11:40, Fushimiinari by JR Saga line and JR Nara line at 14:00 and Kyoto Sta. at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Saga-Arashiyama to Inari by train (240JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 240JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like in Spring? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari
The guests were visitors from North America who were very knowledgeable about plants, having studied gardening. As I also had a fair amount of knowledge on the subject, we enjoyed a lively conversation full of enthusiastic, in-depth topics. In addition to weeping cherry blossoms in full bloom, camellias, late-blooming plum blossoms, and Japanese cornel dogwood, the maple trees were just beginning to bud, and some even had small red flowers, which inspired us to coin a new phrase among us: "Maple Blossoms." For lunch, at the guests' request, we went to Shigetsu within the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple, though in the end it turned out to be not quite as delicious as expected. Since they also wished to ride a train, we finished the day by taking the JR line to Fushimi Inari. The fortune slip results were not particularly good, so we tied them up there. A torii-gate-shaped votive plaque was purchased as a Christmas ornament. With so many varied topics to enjoy, I was able to conduct a very pleasant tour.
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 | Saga-Arashiyama～Inari | 240JPY |
| Total | 240JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Gion Elite Terrace, Kinkakuji (500) by taxi, Ryoanji (600) by taxi, Bamboo Path by taxi, Tenryuji (500) by walking, Fushimiinari by JR Saga line and JR Nara line and Kyoto Sta..
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 240JPY per person across 1 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