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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
Sarah S.
“Excellent! Use Michiko!”
Michiko was wonderful and introduced us to incredible spots we never would have discovered on our own, including a very local ramen shop with no English on the menu and a truly authentic, off-the-beaten-path pottery studio run by a fourth-generation family. Her honesty and insight into Japanese culture helped us gain a much deeper understanding of the places we visited. She was also incredibly thoughtful and flexible throughout the day, arranging taxis for our large group and adjusting plans at the last minute multiple times to accommodate our different needs, all with ease and grace. While she is still perfecting her English, she was an absolute dream to spend the day with, and we would highly recommend her. We travel often and always seek guides who offer warmth, knowledge, and meaningful local experiences we couldn’t access on our own, and Michiko delivered all of that flawlessly.
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Michiko N.
Thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful review!!! I truly enjoyed traveling with you and your beautiful friends. I learned a lot from you. When you come back,please tell me! I will study more and wait for you with even more knowledge! Michiko
Chloe V.
“An exceptional guide”
Michiko is generous with her time and knowledge and such a wonderful translator. She has our translator for a Manga workshop and went above and beyond in her guidance. Thank you Michiko
Michiko N.
Thank you so much for your warm review. As someone who truly loves manga, it was a very special and happy time for me. We could talk about manga endlessly! Please give my best regards to your partner as well. He is truly a professional when it comes to Japanese animation. Nausicaä is my favorite manga. Meeting your child who loves Nausicaä too felt incredibly lucky....!!! Thank you very much! Michiko
Leigh N.
“Custom Kyoto Day Tour”
Michiko is a perfect tour guide -- friendly and patient and accommodating! Our group was two 23-year-old young men and one 54-year-old mom, and Michiko customized our tour to meet all of our goals, from sword shopping to temple sightseeing to conversations about Japanese culture, with lots of Japanese snacks and lunch too! She was so open to answering all of our questions, even about her own life growing up in Kyoto and now raising her kids there. I will tell every friend who travels to Japan to hire Michiko for at least one full day to get a true deep dive into Kyoto!
Michiko N.
Thank you always for your warm reviews. My friend, I was so happy to meet your son and his friends. As mothers, we were able to talk about many things, and I really enjoyed our time together. Let’s meet again! Michiko
$179/ per group
More tours by Michiko N.
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Kyoto Spiritual Tour! – Half Day by Private Car
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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Whispers of Kyoto
I will guide you to a quiet place with a beautiful garden. In autumn it can be a little crowded, but during other seasons it is relatively peaceful. For this tour, I would especially like to focus on lunch. Please let me know your preferences and budget. If you can make your reservation early, it will be easier to secure a table. Of course, even with a last-minute booking, I will do my best to find a good restaurant. Let’s enjoy the quiet atmosphere with both our hearts and bodies!
Whispers of Kyoto
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KYOTO A Sunday Breakfast Tour in Kyoto's Countryside at Ohara
Join us for a simple and peaceful morning in the countryside of Kyoto. We will leave early by car and visit Ohara Morning Market, a local farmers’ market held only on Sundays.And Let's visit beautiful moss Garden.(Sanzen in temple) This is not a busy sightseeing tour. It’s a small trip to feel local life, fresh air, and the slow morning of Kyoto.
KYOTO A Sunday Breakfast Tour in Kyoto's Countryside at Ohara
Other Popular Car Tour (driving guide) Tours in Kyoto
Kyoto Spiritual Tour! – Half Day by Private Car
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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Private Kyoto Customizable Day Trip With A Local
Discover the wonders of Kyoto in a day, without having to do any research, thanks to this hassle-free private tour. To help you feel like a VIP, the route is customized to suit your interests and preferences—something you wouldn’t get on a bus tour. Potential stops on the tour include some of Kyoto's most well-known attractions such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama bamboo groves.Slow down and discover Kyoto at a leisurely pace with a Luxury car tour.
Private Kyoto Customizable Day Trip With A Local
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Kyoto Early Bird Highlights with Car Service
Join me on this tour as we explore five of Kyoto's must-see sights, starting early to beat the crowds. You'll enjoy the convenience of transportation between locations, with your knowledgeable guide driving you to each site. This allows you to save valuable time and energy for fully immersing yourself in the beauty and history of each location.
Kyoto Early Bird Highlights with Car Service
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A trip to Kyoto and Osaka in one day
If you want to visit as many cities as possible during your limited stay in Japan. In such cases, private car tours are recommended. Avoid crowded buses, tedious train transfers, and expensive taxies. I will cover all major sightseeing spots in Kyoto and Osaka in one day in comfort!
A trip to Kyoto and Osaka in one day
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