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
- 10:30 Hotel meet
- 10:55 Nijo Castle
- 12:35 Nishiki Market
- 14:00 Sanjusangendo
- 15:40 Nanzenji Temple
- 16:40 Drive back to hotel and tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 10:30, when the guide met the guests at Hotel meet, and finished at 16:40. The day ran to 6 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited Nijo Castle at 10:55, Nishiki Market at 12:35, Sanjusangendo at 14:00 and Nanzenji Temple at 15:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: In front of Kyoto City Hall to In front of Nijo Castle by subway (220JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 220JPY per person.
What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo, and Fushimi Inari
The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Some of the guests currently work in Osaka. One member of the group had difficulty with stairs and could not go up and down them alone, so support from others was needed, mainly provided by another member of the group. I also assisted a little. We managed to reach Nijo Castle by subway since escalators were available, but for the rest of the day we used taxis. Between Sanjusangendo and Nanzenji Temple, there was heavy traffic due to road construction, which took quite a lot of time. It was raining at first, but by the time we left the Ninomaru of Nijo Castle the weather had improved. The guests seemed to enjoy Fushimi Inari, but Sanjusangendo appeared to leave the strongest impression. One of the guests was constantly taking photos and videos. The photo was taken at Sanjusangendo.
Click here for more details: Kyoto Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | In front of Kyoto City Hall～In front of Nijo Castle | 220JPY |
| Total | 220JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel meet at 10:30, and the tour finished at Drive back to hotel at 16:40.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 10 minutes in total, from 10:30 to 16:40.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangendo and Nanzenji Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 220JPY per person across 1 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?
Kazu 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.
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.