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
- 08:45 Meeting point: Hotel "MONday Apart Premium Kyototei Kyotoeki Kamogawa"
- 09:50 Sightseeing ①: Kinkaku-ji Temple
- 11:45 Sightseeing ②: Tenryu-ji Temple
- 12:30 Sightseeing ③: Bamboo Path
- 13:20 Sightseeing ④: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- 14:00 Lunch/Break: Arashiyama (Udon "Ozuru")
- 15:00 Dismissal: Subway Tozai Line "Karasuma Oike"
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 08:45 at Hotel "MONday Apart Premium Kyototei Kyotoeki Kamogawa" and ended at 15:00. The day ran to 6 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch/Break: Arashiyama (Udon "Ozuru") at 14:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Sightseeing ①: Kinkaku-ji Temple at 09:50, Sightseeing ②: Tenryu-ji Temple at 11:45, Sightseeing ③: Bamboo Path at 12:30 and Sightseeing ④: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple at 13:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shichijo to Sanjo by train (170JPY); Sanjo Keihan to Kitaoji by subway (260JPY); Kitaoji Bus Terminal to Kinkakuji-michi by bus (230JPY); Kinkakuji-michi to Nishinokyo Enmachi by bus (230JPY); Otagidera-mae to Nonomiya by train (230JPY); Saga Arashiyama to Nijo by train (200JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,320JPY per person.
Title: What's a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like, Including Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from Oceania. Prior communication and itinerary planning were handled with one member of the group. Initially, along with popular spots such as Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Kiyomizu-dera, they expressed interest in "off-the-beaten-path" places, saying they would also like to visit "somewhere calm and not too crowded." In the end, we finalized the route as "Kinkaku-ji ⇒ Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji and the Bamboo Grove) ⇒ Saga / Otagi Nenbutsu-ji."
On the day, the weather was clear all day, and according to the forecast the temperature was expected to reach 25 degrees Celsius, but the air was dry so it was not too uncomfortable. Travel using a combination of subway, JR, and bus went smoothly, and the first half up to Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama proceeded as planned. The unexpected situation we encountered was that, on the way to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, all of the restaurants we had planned for "lunch and a break" were so crowded that a wait of more than 30 minutes was anticipated. A wait of over 30 minutes would be fatal for a tour, so after consulting with the guests, we decided to first finish sightseeing at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji and take our lunch and break after returning to the center of Arashiyama. The guests had also already decided to head straight to Tenju-an in Higashiyama after the tour ended (that is, after the guided tour), and mentioned that they "could not spend too long at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji." In the end, we wrapped up our stay at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji in about 20 minutes, returned to central Arashiyama, and were finally able to take a late lunch and break. The udon at the udon specialty restaurant "Ozuru" was very well received and seemed to soothe the minds and bodies of the guests, who were tired from walking.
The guests were an extremely energetic, lively, and curious group. They asked many questions in response to my explanations, making for a rewarding tour. The challenge, as expected, was how to secure a place for lunch amid the crowds. Central Kyoto has many restaurants, so finding a place to eat is not a problem, but I keenly realized that in suburban areas like Sagano, thorough prior research and careful preparation are essential.
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 | Shichijo～Sanjo | 170JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Sanjo Keihan～Kitaoji | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Kitaoji Bus Terminal～Kinkakuji-michi | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kinkakuji-michi～Nishinokyo Enmachi | 230JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Otagidera-mae～Nonomiya | 230JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Saga Arashiyama～Nijo | 200JPY |
| Total | 1,320JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel "MONday Apart Premium Kyototei Kyotoeki Kamogawa" at 08:45, and the tour finished at : Subway Tozai Line "Karasuma Oike" at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 08:45 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Sightseeing ①: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Sightseeing ②: Tenryu-ji Temple, Sightseeing ③: Bamboo Path and Sightseeing ④: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,320JPY per person across 6 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?
Nori 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.
Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the…
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the time we had. Nori explained the history of all places we visited. He
was so passionate about everything, we were very lucky to have him as tour guide.
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with…
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with Kamon-San, and he was a great guide to show off the sites and features of Nara! He got their early, and had a detailed and interesting schedule planned for us, including several of the local shrines and temples, allowing us to also enjoy the deer throughout our tour.
He also took us to a nice local restaurant where we were able to enjoy some of the best soba and catsu curry we had all trip! Kamon-san’s insights and trivia were definitely one of the top highlights from our entire trip to Japan! We would strongly recommend not just Nara but this guided tour to anyone who wants to appreciate more than just the deer!
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with his knowledge of Kyoto history and culture. Well paced tour, covered Imperial Palace, temples, shrines, Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama. Helpful with navigating rail system. Very worth while. Nori earns highest rating possible.
Oct 16, 2025
Michael_H
Thoroughly enjoyed the…
Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…
Oct 16, 2025
Michael_H
Thoroughly enjoyed the…
Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Thoroughly enjoyed the day out with our guide Nori. Without him we would have been
literally lost & seen nowhere near the amount of sites. Nori guidance was top notch.