Kyoto: Kimono experience & Ryoan-ji — Guide Mizu
September, 2026
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
- 9:00 Hotel meet
- 10:00 Kimono experience
- 10:45 Gion area
- 11:20 Change clothes
- 12:00 Kinkaku-ji
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:10 Ryoan-ji
- 15:00 Tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hotel meet at 9:00, the group explored Kyoto until the tour ended at 15:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at 13:00.
The itinerary covered Kimono experience at 10:00, Gion area at 10:45, Change clothes at 11:20, Kinkaku-ji at 12:00 and Ryoan-ji at 14:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: In front of Shimogyo Ward General Government Building by bus (230JPY); Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture) to Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) by subway (230JPY); Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) by subway (230JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 690JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like With a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji
I guided guests who were visiting Japan for the first time. They were joining various tours each day and were looking forward to a kimono-dressing experience. Since they did not wish to sightsee while wearing the kimono, I took their photos at a scenic spot in the Gion area, and after they changed back into their regular clothes, I guided them to Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. The booking was made through a travel agency, and they had also expressed interest in visiting Suzumushi-dera, but I explained that photography of the bell crickets is not allowed, that the crickets are kept in indoor glass cases and viewed while listening to the head priest's sermon, and that interpreting is prohibited there. After I explained this, they understood and agreed not to include it in the tour.
A notable stop on the tour was Kinkaku-ji Temple. Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is one of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The top two floors of the pavilion are covered in gold leaf, and the structure is beautifully reflected in the surrounding pond. Originally built as a retirement villa for a shogun in the late 14th century, it was later converted into a Zen temple and remains one of the most visited sites in Japan.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Tour & Kimono Experience, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | In front of Shimogyo Ward General Government Building / Kyoto City Bus～Gion / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)～Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) / Kyoto City Bus～Kinkaku-ji-michi / Kyoto City Bus | 230JPY |
| Total | 690JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel meet at 9:00, and the tour finished at at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 9:00 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kimono experience, Gion area, Change clothes, Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 690JPY per person across 3 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Mizu is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello, my name is Mizuho Yoshikawa. Please call me Mizu and my name means rice and water in Japanese.
I’ve been a tour guide more than 200 times since the spring of 2023 in Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama and Kochi. My tour is always original and new, depending on the guest’s preferences, encounters, seasons and weather.
In Kyoto, one of my tours is to climb Mt. Kurama. It is about 1 hour from the city of Kyoto by train, it is a very quiet and beautiful mountain.
In Osaka, which is called the kitchen of Japan, I am also in charge of food tour.
In Nara, in addition to the Great Budda Hall, I guide guests to the temple with a really great view and Japanese wine, sake tasting.
Every city has a unique charming point.
The motto of my guiding is ” Ichigo Ichie” Once in a lifetime or seize the day. I learn this concept that the moment will never be the same again through tea ceremonies.
I like a tea ceremony that is part of the traditional Japanese culture and embodies the spirit of “omotenashi” or hospitality. Through the tea ceremony, we can feel the spirit of “omotenashi” that has been passed down to us from ancient times.
And I like to travel abroad and domestically, and I have been to 13 overseas countries and most of the prefectures in Japan. Traveling always gives me a new perspective, which is exciting and thrilling. Nowadays, we can learn a lot from the Internet, but traveling teaches us that it is important to have direct experience. When I travel, I feel that my five senses are infinitely expanded, and through my tour, I help all guests to have the same feeling in Japan.
I was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is next to Tokyo Prefecture in eastern Japan. When I was little, I could see Mount Fuji from my backyard. There was also a rice field nearby, and I grew up listening to the croaking of frogs. Listening to the frogs and seeing the mountains made me feel very calm.
I moved to the city of Kobe, one of the Kansai areas in western Japan, which includes Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and so on. I’m not from the Kansai area of western Japan, but I think that makes me sensitive to the differences between that area and the Kanto area, Tokyo, where I grew up.
Speaking of Kobe, you might be thinking of Kobe beef. Of course you do. There are also other sake breweries in Nada in Kobe. You can also go from Kobe city to Himeji Castle, also known as the White Egret Castle, which was the first in Japan to be listed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
Let’s meet and enjoy Japan together!
Sep 13, 2026
946jakobr
Mizu, as your guide in Koyoto, is the perfect guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed…
Sep 13, 2026
946jakobr
Mizu, as your guide in Koyoto, is the perfect guide!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Mizu from JGA is a fantastic guide. She is well prepared, actually second-to-none prepared. She has great knowledge about her tour subject. Further more, she is very observant and wants her guest to feel comfortable, happy and well informed. I highly recommend Mizu, if you want to have a professionel, kind and bright person next to you in Kyoto. Mizu, I have not experienced a better guide than you!
Sep 5, 2026
Sightsee18435593786
De moeite waard👍
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Mizu heeft een mooie rondleiding geheven er werd…
Sep 5, 2026
Sightsee18435593786
De moeite waard👍
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Mizu heeft een mooie rondleiding geheven er werd gevraagd wat we wilde, ze deed haar best om alle vragen te beantwoorden. Liet ons juweeltjes zien die we vorig jaar aan het bezoek van Japan gemist hadden.
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ミズさんが素敵な案内をしてくれました。私たちが何を見たいかを聞いてくださり、すべての質問に一生懸命答えてくれました。
昨年の日本旅行では見逃していた素敵な宝物のような場所も紹介してくれました。
Jul 27, 2026
OscarBrisenoJr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Awesome tour of Kyoto
Seeing the temples and shrines…
Jul 27, 2026
OscarBrisenoJr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Awesome tour of Kyoto
Seeing the temples and shrines and other Kyoto’s surrounding areas were amazing to see and experience. Mizu was very kind and patient with my two daughters since they wanted stamps/seals of each shrine/temple that we visited in their books. Mizu even helped them to get stamps at each train station. She arranged our trip to be efficient and asked me prior to the trip which sites weee important for me to see and gave us her recommendations of what was feasible to see within the 6 he time frame. She was able to pick a nice restaurant to eat at for lunch. Overall I was very pleased with the private tour!
Jul 21, 2026
MarcL3556
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A Wonderful and Memorable Tour of Osaka with Mizu…
Jul 21, 2026
MarcL3556
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A Wonderful and Memorable Tour of Osaka with Mizu
We had a wonderful tour of Osaka with Mizu and can highly recommend her as a guide. From the very beginning, she was friendly, welcoming, and extremely well prepared. The entire tour was well organized, informative, and perfectly matched our expectations.
The sights and areas she selected gave us a great impression of Osaka and its unique character. We particularly appreciated the balance between famous attractions, local culture, history, and everyday life in the city. Mizu provided us with a lot of interesting background information and explained everything in a clear and engaging way. We learned much more about Osaka than we would have discovered on our own.
Her English was excellent, and communication was easy and natural throughout the entire tour. She was always happy to answer our questions and made sure that everyone in our group felt comfortable and included. We got along with her very well, and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable from start to finish.
Mizu was also very attentive to our interests and adjusted the tour whenever necessary. We never felt rushed, and there was always enough time to take photos, look around, and enjoy the different places. Her warm personality, local knowledge, and enthusiasm for Osaka made the experience particularly memorable.
Overall, the tour was one of the highlights of our stay in Osaka. We would gladly book another tour with Mizu and recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and personable guide. Thank you, Mizu, for such a fantastic and memorable day in Osaka!