Kyoto in One Day: @ Fushimi Inari Taisha & @ Kinkaku-ji — Guide Kaz

What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like on a Rainy Autumn Day? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting from North America and were on about their fourth day in Japan. They had entered the country via Tokyo and were traveling mainly around Tokyo and Kyoto during a holiday period, focusing their trip on just these two cities.

Since a light rain was falling from the start, I encouraged the guests to borrow umbrellas from their hotel before we set off.

At Fushimi Inari Taisha, there were many tourists with umbrellas, and the line through the torii gates often came to a standstill. There was no line at the Omokaru-ishi (weight-testing stone), so both guests gave it a try.

It was still raining when we arrived in Arashiyama, but the autumn foliage of Arashiyama, partly veiled in clouds here and there, had a charm and beauty different from usual, and the guests were delighted. In Arashiyama, we strolled around the Togetsukyo Bridge, the Kimono Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple, and the bamboo grove.

By the time we reached Kinkaku-ji, the rain had almost stopped, and the golden pavilion reflected beautifully on the Kyoko-chi pond.

Throughout the tour, the autumn foliage was beautiful at every site.

Because the guests walked quite fast and were not the type to spend much time at each spot, about one hour of tour time remained by the time we finished at Kinkaku-ji. When I asked whether there was anywhere else they would like to go next, they said there was nowhere in particular. Instead, as they had become hungry, they asked me to recommend a place serving tantanmen, so I guided them to a shop near Kinkaku-ji. Finding that the shop accepted cash only and that they had little cash on hand, they asked me to show them somewhere with an ATM, so I took them to a nearby convenience store, and we parted ways there.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Kaz

Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!

My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.

I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.

I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.

I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!