Discover Western Kyoto Full Day Private Tour
Joined 2018
This is a full day tour of western Kyoto, ancient capital for over 1,000 years. We will visit must-see places in western Kyoto such as Nijojo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and Nishiki Market.
Nijojo Castle and Kinkakuji Temple are World Heritage Sites. It will literally be great fun to stroll along Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and Nishiki Market as well where you’ll see a variety of Kyoto's signature foods/crafts.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Kyoto or Tourist Information Center at JR Kyoto Station, 2nd floor
Kinkakuji Temple
Visiting World Heritage
Kinkakuji Temple, built in 1397, is world famous for its gold foiled straucture on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Kinkakuji Temple and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest are both located in the western part of Kyoto.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest plus lunch
Arashiyama, located in the south-western part of Kyoto, is the time-honored beautiful place where you will feel the atmosphere of the Heian Perion aristocrats from the 8th to 12th centuries. You will surely feel the elegance and grace of the ancient nobility.
Nijojo Castle
Visiting World Heritage
Nijojo Castle was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, 1st shogun in the Tokugawa shogunate government, in 1603 as his residence in Kyoto. The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, announced the return of government power to the emperor here in 1867.
Nishiki Market
Exploring "Kyoto's Kitchen"
Nishiki Food Market, narrow arcade in Kyoto's central part, is so-called "Kyoto's Kitchen" with a bunch of local foods. There are some eat-in corners, so you can try anything you like. 100%!
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kyoto or your convenient place in Kyoto
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kyoto
Transportation fee (about 2,000 JPY per person, you and guide), lunch, dinner, entrance fee (2,000 JPY per person, you only)
Tour Important Information
This tour is subject to change due to traffic congestion especially in the tourist season.
We will walk for several hours on this tour. So sneakers might be recommended. Plus please take out insurance in preparation for a possible injury.
Please check my availability before you ask me in oder to save your precious time. Also note insurance is excluded.
Important message from the supplier
I can also guide you in Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima), 1-day tour. My transportation fees to/from Hiroshima cost about 20,000 JPY, return.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2018
About Tour Guide Shogo K.
Hi! I'm Shogo, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English. "Shogo"? Looks a little bit hard to pronounce. So if you are interested in Samurai or Busho, call me "Shogun". (rather humble and hen-pecked at home, though.:)
Just a little bit information about myself. I was born and grew up in Himeji, about 50km west of Kobe. When a child I quite often visited world-famous Himeji Castle. So it's like "MY castle." As a student, I lived in Kyoto for four years. I'm a father of three, and have lived in Kobe with my family for over 30 years.
So I'm quite familiar with various tourist spots/attractions in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Kobe and the like, all in western Japan. Also I've lived in Lawrence, Kansas, for two years in my 20s as a Jayhawk. Great old memory!:)
Here are some of my specialties.
First, I can show you around popular historical sites and relics in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Himeji. You'll surely feel the depth of Japanese culture by visiting these places. Second, I can offer you special tours of fancy sake breweries in Kobe, Nara and Kyoto. Third, I also guide you around Hiroshima, including magnificent Itsukushima Shrine.
My goal/dream as guide interpreter is to help you explore and understand Japan and its culture with warm hospitality or Omotenashi. So please reach out to me any time, 24/7. For your super memorable trip, "Always with YOU" Shogo!:)
Reviews
“Great tour”
Shogo was a great tour guide and we enjoyed spending time with him in Kyoto. He was very accommodating when we wanted to move schedule around. We would happily use him again.
Shogo K.
Hello Dear Michael, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I'm very glad that you all tried exploring everything Japanese in Kyoto, like staying at a fancy Ryokan and enjoying Kyoto signature sweets at a traditional Kyoto town house cafe, and other things. Hopefully I'll have a big chance to visit beautiful Bath, York, and Cornwall, and the like you recommended. I'm crossing my fingers.:) Again thank you very much, Michael. Give my best regards to your super lovely family. Shogo
“A perfect day in Kyoto”
Shogo went out of his way to meet us at the port and provided an in depth action packed day that exceeded all our expectations. He was a very kind and generous guide and we were happy in his company. We were able to see almost everything on our list including the Gion festival parade. Shogo was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country and customs and went out of his way to share them with us.
Shogo K.
Dear Michael, First of all thank you so much for booking me at the far back of the guide list. I'd like to express my great respect for your bravery?:) In addition thank you so much for your wonderful review. Indeed the highlight of the tour was the Gion Festival parade. Great to know that you enjoyed Kyoto to the fullest, though it was a scorching/humid day. Again thank you very very much, Warmest regards, Shogo
Kristina H.
Kyoto Full Day Private Tour from Osaka Port, Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Customized
“A great day out in Kyoto!”
We had a wonderful day with Shogo in Kyoto! The fact Shogo met us from the ship really took the stress out of the adventure and the tour around Kyoto was informative and fun. Shogo was a patient and kind guide with my family a d even showed us pictures of his family so we felt very welcome. Thank you Shogo !!
Shogo K.
Dear Kristina, I feel grateful for your wonderful review of my Kyoto tour. Indeed I had a great day with you and your lovely family. I still remember your wonderful daughter and gentle son. One thing I regret is that Kyoto Imperial Palace, your priority, was unfortunately closed on the day. Good news is that now I'm a fan of Colorado Rockies. "Go Dinger!!" Best regards, Shogo
$369/ per group
More tours by Shogo K.
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Bustling Osaka & Ancient Nara Full Day Private Tour
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Awesome Osaka Full Day Private Tour
This full-day private tour includes must-see tourist spots in Osaka. We will visit Osaka Castle, Osaka Museum of Housing nd Living, Kuromon Market plus Dotombori both downtown Osaka. In this tour we will see the present and past of Osaka and its energetic people.
Himeji Full-Day Trip from Kyoto
I'll meet you at your hotel in Kyoto. And then we'll transfer to Himeji by the Shinkansen. We'll visit firstly Himeji Castle designated as Japan's first World Heritage Site in 1993, and ranked #7 as a place to visit among others in 2019 by NY Times, and also ranked #1 by the National Geographic Traveler. After Himeji Castle we'll head for beautiful Kokoen Japanese style garden nearby. Finally we'll go back to your hotel in Kyoto by the Shinkansen.
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Kyoto
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Tour will start from the Hotel in Kyoto. Frst visit is Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavillion ),then, to Ryoanji tmple where is famous for rock garden. Tour will stop at Arasiyama area to take lunch and visit Togetsu bridge, Bamboo grove, Tentyuji temple and others. The last visit is NIjyo castle. As these places are normally crowded. using chartered taxi is highly recommended in order to effectively use your valuable time in Kyoto.
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This tour is the most effective way to discover Kyoto by yourselfes for only one day. Kyoto is an ancient capital of Japan , and the center of her civilization for over a thousand years. There are too many Shinto- shrines and Buddhsist temples to visit. So , in this tour I carefully sellected sightseeing spots among all of them. I,m sure you are satisfied with this once in a life time experience.
Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
Arashiyama is the hottest tourist destination. It is incredibly beautiful in spring and fall because of its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn brown or red! In the outstanding Tenryuji, you will see a beautiful garden with beautiful mountains in the background. There are many other beautiful places with touching stories in this area. On the way back to downtown, we can visit two world heritage sites, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji. What a wonderful route!
