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.
Tour Itinerary
- PM13:00 Tour starts from the hotel
- Travel by subway to Nijo Castle
- PM 13:30-14:50 Nijo Castle tour
- Travel by subway & bus to Kinkaku-ji
- PM 15:45-16:45 Kinkaku-ji tour
- Travel by bus & railway
- PM 17:45-18:40 Bamboo Forest & Nonomiya Shrine tour
- Travel by railway to the hotel PM 19:00 Tour ends
What's a Half-Day Private Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America on a trip to Japan. In Tokyo they had mostly traveled by taxi and on foot, so at the start of the tour I needed to explain how to purchase IC cards as well as how to use the subway and buses. Although we had a late start at 13:00 and the destinations had not been decided until the day itself, I arranged for the Sagano Bamboo Grove to be the final stop and had the guests enjoy Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji. We made it to the bamboo grove before sunset, and the guests liked the quiet Sagano at dusk with few people around. We ended the tour at a subway station near the Hotel.
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 | Subway | Karasuma Oike～Nijojo-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Nijojo-mae～Kitaoji | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Kitaoji Bus Terminal / Kyoto Bus～Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus～Kitano-Hakubaicho | 230JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Saga-Arashiyama～Nijo | 200JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Nijo～Karasuma Oike | 220JPY |
| Total | 1,360JPY | ||
Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us…
Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us to the best market stalls at the fish market where every food we indulged in (including the sea snails and eel liver) were superb. The walking tour of the tea houses (Geisha district) and knowledge of the history of both the precinct and greater Japan was first class. Yoshi is also a kind and caring person and made conversation very easy, including when we wanted to dig into the country’s cultural values and lifestyle
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very…
Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very knowledgable and very friendly. He is an excellent role model tour guide. We can only recommend him. Thank you so much Yoshi!
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our…
Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our hotel and was very friendly and helpful. We walked around the city and he took us to view several different spots including samurai living quarters, geisha houses, the beautiful garden built by Maeda san. Yoshi was knowledgeable about the entire city and it’s treasured history. He inspired me to do some reading on Maeda san, a leader who played a huge part in the development of the city. Yoshi was an excellent guide, and even provided a LOT of recommendations and useful information for after our tour. We would definitely recommend YOSHI san! Note: you will need a IC card to board some of the city buses.
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi…
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi our guide, we visited the tea district then the gardens and castle which were my favourite. Yoshi was very informative , explaining the history and mechanisms of the castle was built and the water system. He was also very helpful with explaining the bus service.