Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kazu

Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like During Obon? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America, and they seemed to be having a wonderful time on a memorable trip. From what they told me, their itinerary went from Tokyo to Nagoya and then Kyoto, with Nara planned for the next day, a full day in Okayama, a return to Osaka, and finally one more stop in Tokyo before heading home. Today was extremely hot and humid, and just walking made the sweat pour out. The heat is much the same everywhere in Japan, which I knew, but the humidity in Kyoto today was really something else. In Arashiyama the guests became exhausted, so we cooled off in a taxi and returned to the Hotel. Since it was right in the middle of the Obon season, I explained in detail about Obon, the Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto locals prefer not to call it "Daimonji-yaki"), and the Shoro Nagashi spirit-sending ceremony, which take place in Arashiyama at this time. Upon hearing this, the guests said they would make time on the evening of the 16th to come back to Togetsukyo Bridge because they absolutely wanted to see the Okuribi and Shoro Nagashi live. There is a similar culture in their home region called Dia de Muertos, in which ancestors are welcomed back, so the Japanese Obon must have felt very familiar to them. They were delighted that it resembled their own tradition. They were cheerful and talkative, often interrupting me and, given the chance, moving on to the next thing before I could finish explaining, so guiding required some effort. But none of that mattered at all — they were a pleasure to be with, and we seemed to get along naturally.

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Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama