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
- 09:55 Meet at Kyoto Station
- 10:05 Fushimi Inari
- 11:45 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- 12:25 Short break (bakery shop)
- 13:15 Kinkaku-ji
- 15:00 Sanjusangendo
- 16:20 Guide to Gion, tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 09:55, when the guide met the guests at Kyoto Station, and finished at 16:20. The day ran to 6 hours and 25 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited Fushimi Inari at 10:05, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at 11:45, Short break (bakery shop) at 12:25, Kinkaku-ji at 13:15 and Sanjusangendo at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY); Inari to Saga-Arashiyama by train (240JPY); Saga-Arashiyama to Enmachi by train (180JPY); Enmachi to Kinkakuji-michi by Free Pass (1,100JPY); Kinkakuji-michi to Nishioji-Oike by Free Pass (0JPY); Nishioji-Oike to Higashiyama by Free Pass (0JPY); Higashiyama-Sanjo to Sanjusangendo-mae by Free Pass (0JPY); Sanjusangendo-mae to Gion by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 8 sections the fare came to 1,670JPY per person.
What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Before their trip, one of the guests had studied Japanese at university about ten years earlier and could still read hiragana, though kanji remained difficult. That experience proved useful during today's tour. At Sanjusangendo, where the explanations of the Buddhist statues are provided in both Japanese and English, we went around viewing each one while talking together. It was also a good opportunity for me to refresh my own knowledge. After the visit, the guests agreed that Sanjusangendo was the most impressive and worthwhile part of the day. The tour began at 10:00, and Fushimi Inari was extremely crowded and difficult to walk through. It might have been a good idea to suggest starting an hour earlier. The photo was taken at Fushimi Inari, where the guests were writing on a fox-shaped ema plaque.
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 | Inari～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Enmachi | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Enmachi～Kinkakuji-michi | 1,100JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Kinkakuji-michi～Nishioji-Oike | 0JPY |
| Section 6 | Free Pass | Nishioji-Oike～Higashiyama | 0JPY |
| Section 7 | Free Pass | Higashiyama-Sanjo～Sanjusangendo-mae | 0JPY |
| Section 8 | Free Pass | Sanjusangendo-mae～Gion | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,670JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Kyoto Station at 09:55, and the tour finished at Guide to Gion, at 16:20.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 25 minutes in total, from 09:55 to 16:20.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Short break (bakery shop), Kinkaku-ji and Sanjusangendo.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,670JPY per person across 8 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?
Kazu 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 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.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.