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
- 09:00 The Thousand Kyoto
- 09:30 Fushimi inari (0) by JR train
- 11:20 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
- Sannenzaka by walking
- Yasaka-no-to by walking
- 12:30 Lunch （Kura Sushi Kinkakuji Branch） by taxi
- 14:20 Kinkakuji (500) by walking
- 15:30 Bamboo path by taxi
- 16:00 Arashiyama shopping street by walking
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Thousand Kyoto at 09:00, Fushimi inari (0) by JR train at 09:30, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi at 11:20, Kinkakuji (500) by walking at 14:20, Bamboo path by taxi at 15:30 and Arashiyama shopping street by walking at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Inari by train (150JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 150JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama
The guests were visitors from North America, traveling for about a month and stopping in Bali, Vietnam, Singapore, and Taiwan before coming to Japan, with plans to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo before returning home. At Fushimi Inari, the guests drew omikuji fortunes and received very good results. The guests purchased various charms, dedicated a fox-face-shaped ema plaque, and bought a torii-gate-shaped ema as a souvenir. After Fushimi Inari, the guests enjoyed coffee at a cafe and purchased decorative art made from kimono fabric at a shop along the approach to Kiyomizu-dera. At Kiyomizu-dera, the guests drank water from the Otowa Waterfall and bought four sets of chopsticks as souvenirs at a shop on Kiyomizu-zaka. The guests took many photos, and the schedule started to run a little behind. For lunch, we went to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant near Kinkaku-ji, and the guests were very pleased. It was already three o'clock when we left Kinkaku-ji, but we continued the itinerary as planned to the bamboo grove, and finished by taking the guests to a soft-serve ice cream shop in the Arashiyama shopping street before parting ways. The guests mentioned they would love to live in Japan.
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 |
| Total | 150JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Thousand Kyoto, Fushimi inari (0) by JR train, Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi, Kinkakuji (500) by walking, Bamboo path by taxi and Arashiyama shopping street by walking.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 150JPY 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