Kyoto Private Car Tours

“THANK YOU AKIRA!”

Akira took us around Uji, Kyoto and the surrounding areas. He was super accommodating at short notice, and took us to a few places that we really wanted to go that were not the “typical Kyoto spots”. Apart from being extremely knowledgeable (we learned so much, and it made everything feel even more special compared to if we had visited by ourselves), he was an absolutely lovely person and made everything fun. He was funny, kind, and had such positive energy. A really great guide, and if we head back to Kyoto (which we would love to do), we will certainly see him again!

Akira F.

(14 reviews)

Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback. I believe that kind words are never too late—whenever I receive them, my heart is filled with gratitude. Your feedback motivates me to keep improving. Most importantly, I feel truly honored that I was able to help you enjoy Japan’s culture and tranquility during your trip, and that we had the chance to talk about many meaningful things. That, to me, is the greatest reward. I sincerely hope to see you again. When you come back to Japan next time, I hope you will contact me so we can meet again. Thank you so much.

“Akira was Outstanding!”

What makes Akira an outstanding guides are a combination of several things. First, he was spontaneous with a sprinkle of humor - our 8 hour tour went by in a flash. Second, he inquired about what we already know so he can spend his time on things we did not know that he thought would be of interest to us. Third, he not only knew the best photo spots, but provides instructions before taking the photos with your camera. His creative eye captured some of the best vacation photos ever. Last but not least, he shared with us his favorite ramen place - a little hole in the wall that served some of the best ramen in Japan. He graciously joined us for lunch. We highly recommend Akira.

Akira F.

(14 reviews)

Thank you for your kind words. It was truly an honor to serve as your guide in Kyoto. We shared many wonderful conversations about the ancient capital—its history, culture, and the beauty it has to offer. I sincerely look forward to the opportunity to meet again in Japan, so we can continue exploring more places and discovering even deeper layers of this remarkable region. Thank you again for your updated photo！

“A really fun and educational day with a great guide”

We had a really great day with Kanae in Kyoto! We made an early start and when we reached Fushimi Inari shrine with its famous torii gates it was relatively quiet (relatively!). We were able to explore a few less-known corners and paths with Kanae’s guidance. Then we went to the beautiful Tenryu-jo Temple, which is close to the bamboo forest. Don’t overlook the temple in a rush to see the forest! The temple and the grounds around it are stunning. Afterwards we went to Kinakuji Temple with the Golden Pavilion. Breathtaking! I loved the pavilion, but the gardens surrounding it are the real jewel. Kanae was great; a great guide but also patient and adaptable, and very good with my teenage daughter, who really enjoyed the whole experience. I would highly recommend her. On our second day with Kanae, we had a lovely time going to much quieter, less visited temples. Honen-in, is a serene temple at the foot of Mt. Zen. Early in the morning there was almost no-one there. From there we went to Renge-ji, near Mt. Hiei; beautiful gardens and serene verandas from which to view them, it would be nice to spend hours just sitting there. After Renge-ji we went to Ohara village and the Sanzen-in temple. The gardens are very extensive and there was rich autumn foliage everywhere. We had mochi from a stall on the way up and it was so good we had more on the way down! Delicious matcha tea served on the veranda was also delightful. After lunch we walked around the village to get a feel for the farm, houses and fields. It was a really nice day and Kanae was able to tell us lots about Japanese life, as well as being incredibly kind and attentive.