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
- 09:00 Hilton Osaka
- Osaka Sta. → SagaArashiyama Sta. by JR train
- 10:30 Gioji (500) by taxi
- 11:00 Nison-in (600) by walking
- 11:40 Bamboo Path by walking
- 12:30 Nishiki Market for lunch by taxi cash is necessary
- Lunch（Otowa Sushi）
- Pig House
- koe dounut
- 15:20 Ippodo by walking
- 16:20 Fushimiinari by taxi
- 17:00 Kyoto Station
- End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Hilton Osaka at 09:00, Gioji (500) by taxi at 10:30, Nison-in (600) by walking at 11:00, Bamboo Path by walking at 11:40, Nishiki Market for lunch by taxi cash is necessary at 12:30, Ippodo by walking at 15:20, Fushimiinari by taxi at 16:20 and Kyoto Station at 17:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Osaka to Saga-Arashiyama by train (960JPY); Inari to Kyoto by train (150JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 1,110JPY per person.
What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour from Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting from North America. After meeting them in Osaka, we began the Kyoto tour at Giouji Temple in Sagano. It rained all day, but the green of the rain-soaked moss garden was very beautiful. Nisonin Temple was also relatively uncrowded. Despite the rain, a large number of tourists had flocked to the bamboo grove. We went to Nishiki Market intending to have lunch, but after the guests had only some fried chicken and a fried sweet potato slice snack, they said they wanted a proper lunch, so we went to a sushi restaurant that was not crowded with tourists. After that, the guests went to a pig cafe across the street, and when they came out, they said that after coffee they had to have dessert, so they went to Koe Donuts. As time was getting tight, I thought about skipping Ippodo to go to Kiyomizu-dera, but instead we skipped Kiyomizu-dera and went to Ippodo. They drank both koicha and usucha and were very pleased. Finally, we passed through the Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari, came out at Kyoto Station, and I guided the guests to the special rapid train bound for Osaka, ending the tour.
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 | Train | Osaka～Saga-Arashiyama | 960JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Inari～Kyoto | 150JPY |
| Total | 1,110JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hilton Osaka, Gioji (500) by taxi, Nison-in (600) by walking, Bamboo Path by walking, Nishiki Market for lunch by taxi cash is necessary, Ippodo by walking, Fushimiinari by taxi and Kyoto Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,110JPY per person across 2 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?
Kazz 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.
I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…
Sep 25, 2026
Marvin_F
Kazz is an outstanding…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly tour guide. He took us to many interesting places during the six hours as well as off the tourist path to more interesting places. He thoroughly explained everything from a current and historical perspective. Outstanding tour.
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing…
Sep 21, 2026
Laura_K
Day in Kyoto with Kazz
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazz was an amazing guide! He was super knowledgeable and gave us really interesting info throughout all the stops. He’s also an amazing photographer!
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a…
Aug 27, 2026
M6034YWthomasm
Worth it
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The day went by so quickly, a true pleasure . Exceeded my expectations in knowledge and support of our questions.
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…
Aug 10, 2026
Sez042
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Awesome experience
Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed us around which was great