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First Kyoto! Visit 3 Must-See Spots and a Traditional Sweets Shop
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Joined 2025
Welcome to my hometown, Kyoto!
In this tour, we will visit three famous spots that you should not miss when you come to Kyoto. We will travel by my small but comfortable private car.
Along the way, we will stop at a traditional Japanese sweets shop, where you can either enjoy sweets on the spot or buy some as souvenirs. Please enjoy your first Kyoto experience with me!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel
- I’ll come pick you up in front of your hotel by car.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Built in 1397 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as his villa.The top two floors are covered with gold leaf, and they shine beautifully in the sunlight.
You can see its reflection on the pond, which makes it look like a dream.
Kinkaku-ji shows the luxury and brightness of the Muromachi culture. And It has a sad but passionate story behind its beauty.
Entrance fee: 500 yen (adult)
Parking: 1,000 yen
Bamboo forest
Let’s walk the same path that noble people from the Heian period once walked.
We will also stop by a small shrine along the way.
Parking: 1,000 yen
Lunch
Let’s enjoy some street food in front of Arashiyama Station,
or stop by a local shop to have udon or a rice bowl.
It’s also possible to eat at a regular restaurant,
but I recommend having a quick and easy meal.
Fushimi Inari shrine
Founded in 711, this shrine is known for its strong spiritual power and good fortune.
It is also famous for its thousands of red torii gates.
Please enjoy the energy and atmosphere of this sacred place.
Parking: 0–1,000 yen
End/ your hotel or your next point
Ending Point
Your hotel or your next point
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
-Tour planning fee
-Guide fee
-Private transportation via Nissan Cube (5-seater)
-Car gasoline /toll cost
-Hotel pick up
-Entrance fees and temple admission fees
(Please note that the guide’s admission fee is also required.)
-Parking fees (in this case, it will probably be within ¥3,000)
-All food and drink expenses
Tour Important Information
-We will walk quite a lot at all three spots, so please wear comfortable sneakers.
-I love wine, but since I will be driving, I won’t be able to drink this time. (But of course, you can enjoy a drink if you like!)
-I’m good at taking photos with a smartphone. After the tour, I will share the photos only with you.
Not available on Sat/Sun
Important message from the supplier
-Last-minute bookings (1 day before) are sometimes possible — feel free to ask!
-If you want me to make reservations for shops or restaurants, please contact me at least 1 week in advance.
-A walking tour is also possible, but to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it. Kyoto is an extremely popular tourist destination, and buses and public transportation are often very crowded. For the places I would like to show you, I believe traveling by car would be much more comfortable.
-Please note: I love wine! But if I drink during the tour… I might forget where we’re going. So I’ll stay sober—but if you like, I can show you some great wine spots in Kyoto!
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 2025
About Tour Guide Michiko N.
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page!
I’m Michiko, a local guide born and raised in Kyoto.
I love meeting people from around the world and sharing the spirit of Japanese hospitality.and I love fun things!
I went to the UK to watch musicals, and recently I spent a year living in Thailand — experiences that deepened my love for art, culture, and people.
Besides guiding, I also work in theater and performance art, creating unique shows in shop windows!
Let’s explore Kyoto together and find its heart — the beauty, people, and stories that make it special! with BIGLOVE!
Reviews
Leigh N.
“Michimo is wonderful!”
We had a wonderful day with Michimo, not only touring the shrines/temples but learning about her family, Japanese culture, Shinto religion, traditions, food, etc. She was patient with our questions and super fun to spend the day with. We would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Kyoto! (She’s also a very safe driver and more fluent in English than most people we encountered during our trip.) Thank you, Michimo!
Colette L.
“Experience the real Kyoto! ”
Spending a day with Michiko was a highlight of our time in Kyoto. Going with her to the temples gave us such appreciation for what we were seeing. She has such love and knowledge of Kyoto and is full of joy. We highly recommend taking a private tour with her. It's worth it!
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Michiko N.
Daer Colette-san! my teacher! Your bright eyes and warm spirit made me truly happy. Thank you so much for sending me your request — I am very grateful. From far away, I admire you not only as a teacher, but also as a friend. I wish you and your partner all the happiness in the world!! Michiko
Tommy L.
“Great tour around Kyoto”
Had a great experience with Michiko including communicating with her before the tour to refine the itinerary. Did the tour with elderly parents and she was great about choosing and modifying the itinerary to match their needs. I can’t remember the name of the place we went to for lunch but she made reservations at a very small counter-seating only restaurant where we had a “fisherman’s” rice bowl that was one of our best meals of our trip.
Michiko N.
Thank you so much for your kind review. We exchanged many messages before the tour, and because of that, we were able to choose the best places for your family. I truly appreciate your cooperation. Your parents’ care for each other was so beautiful to see. And the “fisherman’s” rice bowl… that is one of my secret favorite spots, so I’m happy you enjoyed it! I hope your trip continues to be wonderful, and I would love to welcome you back to Kyoto someday. Michiko
$197/ per group
More tours by Michiko N.
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Kyoto Spiritual Tour! – Half Day by Private Car
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Whispers of Kyoto
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Visit 3 special places in Kyoto and feel the spiritual energy. You can relax in a quiet car. This tour is only on weekdays, It’s good to enjoy Kyoto slowly and peacefully. Each place has beautiful nature. The air is very clear and fresh. Your mind can feel calm and clean again. This is for people who want to take care of work, family, and themselves. The car can take 3 adults. If you come with kids, just tell us before!
Kyoto Spiritual Tour! – Half Day by Private Car
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Kyoto Early Bird Highlights with Car Service
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