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
- 8:00 Meet at the hotel, departure ➡ By Keihan train, Fushimi Inari (8:30~9:30) ➡ By Keihan train, Kawazu cherry blossoms along the Yodo River waterway (10:10-10:40) ➡ By Keihan & JR train, Arashiyama ➡ Lunch at Arashiyama shopping street (11:40~12:20) ➡ On foot, Tenryu-ji Garden —> Bamboo Grove –> Kameyama Park –> Togetsukyo Bridge (12:20~13:30) ➡ By Randen & Hankyu train, arrive at Shijo Street, explain the surroundings and then disband (14:10)
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? A Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe. It rained in Tokyo, but they were pleased that the weather turned fine in Kyoto. We decided to go see the cherry blossoms, so we headed to a canal along the Yodo River where early-blooming cherry blossoms (Kawazu-zakura) can be seen. The guests were delighted by the scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom stretching along the river, and one of them enjoyed capturing it on video. Since the guests said they both enjoyed walking, at Fushimi Inari Taisha we climbed up to the Yotsutsuji area, and in the bamboo grove we enjoyed strolling from Kameyama Park to the Togetsukyo Bridge. For lunch, they had soba noodles with shrimp tempura and a rice bowl. The broth was not as dark as in Tokyo but was almost clear and light, so when I talked about the difference in flavor between the Kanto and Kansai regions, they showed great interest.
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 | Gion-Shijo～Fushimi Inari | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Fushimi Inari～Yodo | 320JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Yodo～Tofukuji | 320JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Tofukuji～Saga-Arashiyama | 240JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Arashiyama (Keifuku Line)～Shijo-Omiya | 250JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Omiya (Kyoto)～Kyoto-Kawaramachi | 170JPY |
| Total | 1,540JPY | ||
Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!
Jul 17, 2026
TROY_R
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
This was a perfect tour…
This was a perfect tour of…
Jul 17, 2026
TROY_R
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
This was a perfect tour…
This was a perfect tour of Osaka! Our guide Emi built a tailored itinerary that exactly met our needs and we visited amazing sites we would’ve never known about thanks to her. Throughout the tour, Emi was so kind, knowledgable, positive, and flexible – we enjoyed every second and are so grateful she was the person that showed us beautiful Osaka. Strongly recommend Emi and this tour if you’re planning a trip to Osaka!
Sep 18, 2025
L9831WKjenniferb
4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely afternoon with English…
Sep 18, 2025
L9831WKjenniferb
4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely afternoon with English speaking Emiko Yamanaka. Very informative and knowledgeable about the history of the city. Visited the Torii shrine, sadly the other shrine had just closed, and walked through the Gion district. Emi also provided us with a map that she had made with the must see places, including which subway line and how many stops to take! Very useful for the next day trip. Would highly recommend Emi as your tour guide
Aug 15, 2025
SuperGC68
Great value
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…
Aug 15, 2025
SuperGC68
Great value
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide who took us around in Kyoto. It was a well balanced walking tour through historical sites, famous streets/neighbourhoods and local markets. We travelled very efficiently with a combination of taxis, trains and buses. Our guide Emi was very well prepared, with high flexibility, kindness and curiosity. She was a great value to the tour. I highly recommend this two day tour to visit Kyoto in a very efficient way.
Jul 4, 2025
Inspire64445626178
Delightful day with Emi
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a delightful day with our guide…
Jul 4, 2025
Inspire64445626178
Delightful day with Emi
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a delightful day with our guide Emi. She designed a day around all the main spots that we wanted to visit at a comfortable pace. We learned a lot from her! And we couldn’t have done all that we did that day without her deep knowledge and experience. My niece said that it was the best day of our vacation! Thank you Emi for guiding us and sharing your knowledge with us! I would highly recommend this tour with Emi.