Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Shoko
September, 2025
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
- 1. 9:00 Meet up @ Hotel Kyoto Hachijo
- 2. 9:40 @ Koshin-do
- 3. 9:50 @ Sannenzaka → Ninenzaka
- 4. 10:40 @ Yasaka Shrine
- 5. 11:10 @ Nishiki Market
- 6. 11:20 Light lunch @ Kyoto Nishikiza
- 6. 13:05 @ Arashiyama, Bamboo Grove
- 7. 14:10 @ Iwatayama Monkey Park
- 8: 15:00 Disband @ Arashiyama
Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? Ninenzaka, Nishiki Market, and Arashiyama with a Licensed Guide
This was a private tour for a group visiting from Oceania. Their requests were to visit Ninenzaka, Nishiki Market, Arashiyama, and, if possible, to enjoy an onsen somewhere. The group had visited many shrines and temples the previous day, so their wishes for the day were as described above. We slowly walked along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka while viewing Hokan-ji Temple, occasionally stopping at shops for some shopping. When it was time to head to Nishiki Market, the group wished to walk there, so we did as requested. It began to rain around Yasaka Shrine, but there was an almost continuous arcade from Gion to Nishiki Market, so we were able to stay dry. At Nishiki Market, one of the guests purchased a new pair of sneakers, and the group enjoyed a meal at a restaurant, ordering a variety of dishes such as sushi, gyoza, yakitori, sake, and fried potatoes to their liking. Since we had come as far as Nishiki Market, we took the Hankyu Railway to Arashiyama. In Arashiyama, the group did not wish to visit Tenryu-ji Temple, but were delighted just to see the bamboo grove. One of the guests wanted to go to Iwatayama, so I guided the group to the entrance of the Monkey Park, and I waited near the entrance chatting with another of the guests. Afterward, I guided them to an Arashiyama onsen, but they said they did not want to enter a hot onsen during hot weather, so they did not bathe, and we parted ways there. Although we had parted, our return route was the same, so we traveled together from Arashiyama Station to Katsura Station. The guests had reserved an evening maiko tea ceremony in Gion, so they headed to Kyoto Kawaramachi, while I was returning to Osaka, so we said our farewells at Katsura Station. Fortunately, the weather had recovered by the time we reached Arashiyama, and the guests were hardly caught in the rain at all, and they were very satisfied with the day.
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 | Bus | Kyoto～Kiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Karasuma～Arashiyama (Hankyu Line) | 240JPY |
| Total | 470JPY | ||
I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…
Mar 31, 2026
Michael A
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfectly customized tour
Shoko San did an amazing job planning a customized tour of more quiet places for Osaka.
We visited a couple of temples and a beautiful Japanese garden. Shoko was very
knowledgeable and accommodating for us. Highly recommended.
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…
Mar 29, 2026
judyl582
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shoko was great
Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she was assigned to our tour (month prior) to the day of, her communication was clear and proactive. She tailored our day based on our interests and got us where we needed to be quickly and efficiently. She was also VERY knowledgable of the history of the sites we visited.
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…
Oct 8, 2025
441gayh
World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was the best person to take this tour with. She knew the history of the places we visited – we went to 4 of the world heritage listed places, by train, bus, tram, taxi – just a wonderful day and we will carry many happy memories. Thank you Shoko, you are a beautiful person.
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She…
Oct 3, 2025
Judi H
Introduction to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
She was the same age as we were and we all had a lot of fun.
She had a lovely sense of humour and was very fit so we all worked hard to keep up and enjoy every moment.
She had been in touch with us prior to our arrival in Kyoto,and knew what we wanted to see, and she assisted us with the public transport as it was our first day to see this city.
We had a wonderful tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine where she helped us to make our way through the crowds and took some great photos.
She was up beat and enthusiastic, and could answer all of our many questions.
After taking us to three wonderful shrines and finding us a very cute little place to eat, she stayed with us until she was satisfied we could find our way home.
Shoko was a lovely guide and we left feeling like old friends.