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
- 09:00 Meet @ Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo
- 10:30 Visit Uji Byodoin Temple
- 11:45 Visit Kosho-ji Temple
- 12:45 Lunch @ Fukujuen Restaurant
- 13:15 Visit Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine
- 13:45 Visit The Tale of Genji Museum
- 15:15 Disband @ Gion-Shijo
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 09:00 at @ Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo and ended at 15:15. The day ran to 6 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Fukujuen Restaurant at 12:45.
Over the course of the day the route took in Uji Byodoin Temple at 10:30, Kosho-ji Temple at 11:45, Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine at 13:15 and The Tale of Genji Museum at 13:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: JR Kyoto to Uji by train (240JPY); Keihan Uji to Gion-Shijo by train (320JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 560JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Uji from Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Oceania, visiting Japan for the first time. After Tokyo and Kanazawa, they arrived in Kyoto and planned to stay there for a few days. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide offered a choice between Uji and a standard Kyoto sightseeing course, and the guests chose Uji.
Byodo-in was more crowded than usual due to school excursion students, but we were able to visit Byodo-in Phoenix Hall without much waiting time, and we managed to see the other spots without feeling crowded.
The guests seemed to especially like Kosho-ji Temple, and they listened to my explanations with great interest.
They also seemed to enjoy the lunch at Fukujuen (they ordered cha-soba, green tea buckwheat noodles), eating it with obvious pleasure.
I believe that choosing Uji turned out to be the right decision, and I was glad about that.
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 | JR Kyoto～Uji | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Keihan Uji～Gion-Shijo | 320JPY |
| Total | 560JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo at 09:00, and the tour finished at @ Gion-Shijo at 15:15.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 09:00 to 15:15.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Uji Byodoin Temple, Kosho-ji Temple, Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine and The Tale of Genji Museum.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 560JPY 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?
Shoji 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.
My name is Shoji and I’m a tour guide in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan for more than one thousand years until the mid 19th century.
I have been doing this work since 2019 covering not only Kyoto but also its surrounding areas like Nara , Osaka and Shiga.
I am very much interested in Japanese history, culture and traditional arts.
Kyoto and the Kansai region are rich with many heritage sites of historical and cultural features.
I am sure that I can provide the guests with good insight and help them appreciate the charms of our wonderful city.
May 23, 2026
Amber_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great walking tour in Kyoto!
Shoji was a great guide around Kyoto.…
May 23, 2026
Amber_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great walking tour in Kyoto!
Shoji was a great guide around Kyoto. Even in the rain we were able to visit the shrines/temples we wanted to see. We wished we had started earlier as we would have linke to have seen other things off the beaten path. We ended in Gion and were able to walk around the area. Shoji brought a wealth of knowledge about the area and Japanese culture.
Jun 25, 2025
Safari35155142765
Peaceful and perfect temple guided tour.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant private guided tour of Kyoto…
Jun 25, 2025
Safari35155142765
Peaceful and perfect temple guided tour.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant private guided tour of Kyoto with Shoji Ogawa. A very knowledgeable and
interesting person who showed me special temples that were quiet and peaceful.
Jun 22, 2025
Global136391
Shoji Ogawa Made Kyoto Come Alive!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
If you’re ever in Kyoto, you…
Jun 22, 2025
Global136391
Shoji Ogawa Made Kyoto Come Alive!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
If you’re ever in Kyoto, you absolutely must take this tour — and if you’re lucky, you’ll have Mr. Shoji Ogawa as your guide. In just six hours, he managed to give us an incredibly rich and insightful experience. He didn’t just show us the historic, architectural, and cultural highlights of Kyoto — he also explained the complexities of modern Japan, including how the unique structure of Japanese society helped the country avoid colonization and achieve remarkable success despite limited natural resources. His knowledge, clarity, and passion made this tour truly unforgettable.
Jun 9, 2025
Amy_R
Wonderful Nara tour
Viator review: Private Nara Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Kyoto Departure)
We had such a wonderful…
Jun 9, 2025
Amy_R
Wonderful Nara tour
Viator review: Private Nara Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Kyoto Departure)
We had such a wonderful tour of Nara with our tour guide Shoji. He was very knowledgeable and taught us so much about Japanese history. He was extremely flexible and helped us create the best tour for us. We wouldn’t have had near the positive experience or seen as many locations if we had tried to do the tour on our own. I recommend this tour and guide to anyone wanting to experience Nara.