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
Michael H.
“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
Michael S.
“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.
“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
$373/ per group
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Kyoto Full Day Private Tour
This is a one-day tour of Kyoto. Kyoto is an ancient capital for over 1,000 years. You will visit Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushimi Inari Shrine. All of these places are World Heritage Sites. You will also stroll around Gion in central Kyoto, where you might come across with a beautiful Maiko/Geiko by chance.
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
One day tour in Kyoto (Arashiyama area)
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.
Early Bird Tour Western Kyoto including Bamboo Forest and Kinkakuji Kinkakuji
Shall we explore some of the most popular sightseeing destinations in Kyoto while most tourists are preparing for their tour? I would also like to take you some hidden gemes in Kyoto. Beat the crowds!
Premium tour of Kyoto (1) : Arashiyama, Nijo-jo Castle & Kinkakuji temple
Why not enjoy your holidays in Kyoto? You can certainly get in touch with many things Japanese that we are proud of. They are old temples and shrines, cultural assets and the beautiful natural surroundings. You can also enjoy dropping in at souvenir stores and buy exquisitely made products, such as folding fans, porcelain and traditional Japanese cakes. I would like to take you to the following places, which are the three representative tourist destinations in this city: (1) Arashiyama It is the place where all the traditional natural beauties of Japan are combined together. They are Togetsukyo bridge, bamboo grove and the old temples. If you go up to the observation spot, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the gorge below. You can also see rickshaws of the olden times drawn by young people with smiling passengers on board. There are souvenir shops selling variety of goods and products. (2) Nijo-jo Castle (World Cultural Heritage Site) This castle was built in the early 17th century by the Tokugawa Shogunate government for the purpose of protecting the Kyoto Imperial Palace and as the accommodations when Tokugawa Shogun was in Kyoto. It was subsequently enlarged by successive Shogun. It is the castle as well as the palace, where you can see the powerful structures and beautiful gardens. You can learn, in addition, how great the power of Tokugawa Shogun was. (3) Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Pavilion) (World Cultural Heritage Site) The history of this temple began when the third Shogun of the Muromachi period acquired a tract of land in this area from a powerful statesman in 1397 and built a villa of his own to entertain the Emperor and members of the nobility. The upper two levels of the temple are covered with pieces of gold foil and are shining brilliantly against the background of the rich greenery. The pond in the foreground reflects the golden structure. It looks like the materialization of Pure Land of Buddha in this world. In addition, on the top of the golden structure is the shining phoenix.
Kyoto's most popular sightseeing spots tour and enjoy a various kinds of Kyoto's specialities
This tour covers 4 must-see sites and Nishiki Market. You visit the most renowned sites such as the Golden Pavilion, Ryo-an-ji temple where you may find an elegant beauty in its simple rock garden Nijo-castle ,the luxurious palace of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Sanjyu-sangendo temple, where the thousand life-size statues and the Principal statue make you feel like you are in a forest of Buddha! says " It's amazing ! Lastly visit Nishiki Market, where you can enjoy eating Kyoto’s cuisine.
