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
- 13:00 Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto
- 13:40 Kinkakuji by 5-seater taxi
- 14:50 Ryoanji by walking
- 16:40 Randen Arashiyama Sta.
- Togetsukyo
- Arashiyama
- Kameyama Park
- 17:10 Bamboo Grove by walking
- 17:00 Arashiyama by walking
- 18:15 SagaArashiyama Sta. by walking
- 18:40 JRKyoto Sta. by JR train
- 18:50 Subway Kyoto Sta.
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto at 13:00, Kinkakuji by 5-seater taxi at 13:40, Ryoanji by walking at 14:50, Randen Arashiyama Sta. at 16:40, Bamboo Grove by walking at 17:10, Arashiyama by walking at 17:00, SagaArashiyama Sta. by walking at 18:15, JRKyoto Sta. by JR train at 18:40 and Subway Kyoto Sta. at 18:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ryoanji to Arashiyama by train (250JPY); Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto by train (240JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 490JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, and Arashiyama
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since there were several guests, we called a taxi through a rideshare app to get to Kinkaku-ji. We walked to Ryoan-ji, but it was extremely hot and humid today, and the sweat would not stop. The guests were very taken with the atmosphere of Ryoan-ji and purchased a paperweight featuring the design of the rock garden. There were many water lily buds, but none were in bloom. We took the Randen tram to Arashiyama. Its relaxed atmosphere suited the guests well, and I think it was a good choice. They moved at a leisurely pace and enjoyed various snacks along the way, so partly because we were running short on time and partly due to some fatigue, they decided not to extend the tour to the final planned destination of Fushimi Inari and instead returned to the Hotel by subway. It was a fun atmosphere everywhere we went.
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 | Ryoanji～Arashiyama | 250JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Kyoto | 240JPY |
| Total | 490JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto, Kinkakuji by 5-seater taxi, Ryoanji by walking, Randen Arashiyama Sta., Bamboo Grove by walking, Arashiyama by walking, SagaArashiyama Sta. by walking, JRKyoto Sta. by JR train and Subway Kyoto Sta..
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 490JPY 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?
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!
Jul 14, 2026
T6871WWricharde
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…
Jul 14, 2026
T6871WWricharde
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour of Kyoto
Ryoich Kazuma (Kazz) was an amazing guide! He picked me up at my hotel and expertly guided me around Kyoto, showing me a custom set of sites. His background revealed interesting facts about the sites and related Japanese culture. He photographed moments for me and later shared all the pictures, allowing me to enjoy the sites rather than focusing on taking all my own pictures. He prepared an itinerary in advance and gave me useful information about how much local currency would be needed as well as estimated admission and transportation costs. Basically have 15000 yen ready and use a Suica card and everything is easy! We had a lovely lunch around midday as well. I highly recommend the tour and can’t say enough good things about Kazz! Love every moment!!
Jun 5, 2026
mateoe216
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Would book again
The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…
Jun 5, 2026
mateoe216
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Would book again
The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone who has never taken a private tour before, I was unsure what to expect. Kazuma-san met us at our hotel, was very friendly and knowledgeable. His English is also good. As me and my mother took more time than planned at the different sites we visited, Kazuma-san was able to provide us with interesting explanations and history facts throughout it all, even smells of local flora, and he took photos for us even after the alloted 4 hours were over and we were on our way back. One highlight for me was a high end porcelain shop near kiyomizudera.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to get a feel for Kyoto’s temples and history.
May 27, 2026
Leah_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely recommend!
I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…
May 27, 2026
Leah_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely recommend!
I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a guide, we learned so many things we would’ve been clueless about had we done some of the temples and castles on our own. Kazz was a wonderful guide and took pictures of us with his nice camera everywhere we went, so we had a little photo album of our day at the end of it! We had so much fun and are extremely glad we did this. Thank you so much!!
May 26, 2026
sheilacL3330KS
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
Kazz was an excellent guide…
May 26, 2026
sheilacL3330KS
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
Kazz was an excellent guide – very enthusiastic about everything and happy to explain not only the meaning of the ‘golden pavilion’ but also the different properties of bamboo, and the meanings of anything pertinent he noticed in various shops He also took multiple photographs which he sent to us via email .