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
- 9:00 Hotel
- 10:00-11:00 Nijo Castle
- 11:30-12:30 Nishiki Market (lunch)
- 13:00-14:00 To-ji Temple
- 14:45-15:45 Fushimi Inari
- 17:00 Arrive at hotel
- ※Hotel: Hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Nijo Castle at 10:00, Nishiki Market (lunch) at 11:30, To-ji Temple at 13:00 and Fushimi Inari at 14:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Subway Namba Station to Subway Umeda Station by subway (240JPY); JR Osaka Station to JR Kyoto Station by train (580JPY); Subway Kyoto Station to Subway Nijojo-mae Station by subway (260JPY); Hankyu Karasuma Station to Hankyu Omiya Station by train (170JPY); City Bus Omiya Station to City Bus Toji Higashimon-mae Station by bus (230JPY); City Bus Toji Higashimon-mae Station to City Bus Tofukuji Station by bus (230JPY); JR Tofukuji Station to JR Inari Station by train (150JPY); Keihan Fushimi Inari Station to Keihan Yodoyabashi Station by train (420JPY); Subway Yodoyabashi Station to Subway Namba Station by subway (190JPY). Across 9 sections the fare came to 2,470JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like for a Vegetarian Guest? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was a visitor from Oceania who was visiting Kyoto. The guest had arrived at Narita the previous day, transferred, and traveled from Itami Airport to the hotel. The charger the guest had brought from home did not match Japanese electrical outlets, and their iPhone was nearly out of power, so I lent the guest my portable charger to recharge it. I also helped the guest purchase a Japan-compatible iPhone charger at a convenience store along the way.
The itinerary was: Nijo Castle → Nishiki Market → To-ji Temple → Fushimi Inari.
The guest followed a vegetarian diet, and at Nishiki Market they enjoyed a variety of foods, including: – Wet okaki rice crackers – Furikake tasting (two vegetarian-friendly varieties) – At Motozo: grilled thick tofu with Kujo green onion, edamame, nama-fu dengaku, and pickled Kyoto vegetables – A tasting of honey-yuzu juice
Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Subway Namba Station～Subway Umeda Station | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | JR Osaka Station～JR Kyoto Station | 580JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Subway Kyoto Station～Subway Nijojo-mae Station | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Hankyu Karasuma Station～Hankyu Omiya Station | 170JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | City Bus Omiya Station～City Bus Toji Higashimon-mae Station | 230JPY |
| Section 6 | Bus | City Bus Toji Higashimon-mae Station～City Bus Tofukuji Station | 230JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | JR Tofukuji Station～JR Inari Station | 150JPY |
| Section 8 | Train | Keihan Fushimi Inari Station～Keihan Yodoyabashi Station | 420JPY |
| Section 9 | Subway | Subway Yodoyabashi Station～Subway Namba Station | 190JPY |
| Total | 2,470JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market (lunch), To-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,470JPY per person across 9 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?
Ichiro 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 Osaka itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello!
I’m Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
(I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )
In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.
I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.
I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.