This course has four choices. Please select one of the four courses shown below. Rick will guide you deep inside the Kyoto history, culture, tradition and nature in each course. Each course can be customized upon your request as far as possible. Every course has spectacular spots which will satisfy you with visiting Kyoto!
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in central kyoto
< West course > Nijo castle - Tenryuji temple - Bamboo groove - Golden Pavilion
Theme: History, Garden, Nature
Please enjoy the history and beautiful garden in Nijo castle, Tenryuji temple, Golden pavilion and please breath the nature in Bamboo groove.
< Central course > Nijo castle - Kyoto Imperial palace - Heian shrine - Gion area
Theme: History, Garden, Tradition
Please enjoy the history and beautiful garden in Nijo castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Heian shrine and please feel the Kyoto tradition in Gion area.
< East course > Silver Pavilion - Philosopher's path - Kenninji temple - Gion area
Theme: Zen, Garden, Tradition
Please enjoy the Zen culture and the beautiful gardens at Silver Pavilion, Kenninji temple and please feel the Kyoto tradition in Gion area.
< South course > Fushimi Inari shrine - Sanjusangendo temple - Kenninji temple - Gion area
Theme: Japanese religions and Tradition
Please touch the Japanese Shintoism at Fushimi Inari shrine and Buddhism at Sanjusangendo temple and please feel the Kyoto tradition in Gion area.
Ending Point
At your hotel or anywhere requested
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee, hotel pick-up in central Kyoto area
transportation fee(apx. 1,500JPY by subway/bus/local train per person or apx.6,000JPY by taxi), entrance fee(apx. 1,000 to 2,300JPY per person), lunch(apx. 1,500 to 2,000JPY per person)
The transportation for this course is public transportation as bus, subway, local train. Taxi may be used depending on the situation.
The total walking distance of each course is about 5 to 6Km, so please confirm if you are ready for the walking.
The tour order for visiting each spots might be changed depending the location of your hotel or starting point / time.
West course and central course will not be operated on every Tuesday in January, July, August, December and between Dec.26 to Jan.3 because Ninomaru Palace of Nijo castle will be closed. In central course, Kyoto Imperial palace will be closed every Monday or the next day (when a Monday is holiday) and between Dec.28 and Jan.3. Also it might be closed on some specified days for some events. In this case, Kenninji temple, etc. will be replaced to Kyoto Imperial Palace.
This tour is not available on all days in August.
In case you want to book my tour for two or more consecutive days, please send me a message in advance.
My nick name is Rick and Japanese name is Ryoichi. I was born and grew up in Kyoto. Kyoto has so many sightseeing spots based on its 1000 year history. I will propose you the "must see" spots from local eyes not only temples & shrines but also alternative side of Kyoto. As Kyoto certified English guide, I will guide you with high hospitality for your satisfactory stay in Kyoto.
1. For the first visitors
I will prepare the tour with selection out of the spots as Nijo-castle, Imperial Palace, Nishiki-market, Gion amusement quarter, Arashiyama area and some temples and shrines of World Cultural Heritage Sites based on your request and taste.
2. For the visitors who want to see more spots than regular tours
I will prepare some unique tours like visiting Fushimi area for Sake brewery and riding classical boat, visiting some traditional handicrafts ateliers, enjoying traditional performing art, etc.
Please make any inquiry for your preferred type of Kyoto guiding without hesitation. I would be happy to propose you with the type of tour that makes your visit in Kyoto unforgettable one.
Credentials:
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (EN01767)
Kyoto City Licensed English Guide (EN00004)
2nd Grade of the licensing examination on knowledge of Kyoto history & culture
Thomas S.
“good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice”
good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice
Rick I.
Dear Thomas, Thank you for the nice review. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. I appreciate your comment that I should have given you a little more historical information and I will improve my tour based on your advice in future. Thank you anyway for the tour with me and all of your members were so nice! Best regards, Rick
Philipp Z.
“Fantastic half day early bird tour in Kyoto ”
We took the four-hour early bird tour with Rick and had a fantastic time. He is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide who explained many fascinating and unusual details to us and brought us closer to the culture and history of his hometown. In Arashiyama, we visited the beautiful bamboo forest, the Nonomiya Shrine, the impressive Tenryuji Temple, and the idyllic Ohi River. Finally, we visited the old part and the garden of Nijo-jo Castle. Rick explained the exciting period of the Tokugawa shogunate in a very interesting and vivid way. His English is excellent. He lived in the USA for an extended period. Thank you very much for the wonderful and very interesting tour of Kyoto! Philipp & Dominik from Munich, Germany
Rick I.
Dear Philipp, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad you enjoyed the early morning of Kyoto and I'm sure this is the best timing of the day when we can feel this historical city. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. Best regards, Rick
Laurent H.
“Great one day discovery of Kyoto with Rick”
We just had a wonderful time discovering some of the gems of Kyoto. Rick was a great guide; very flexible with regard to our interests, pleasant, knowledgeable of the sites we visited and skilled at communicating - use of pictures, English was easy to understand.
Rick I.
Dear Laurent, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad that you enjoyed the tour. I also enjoyed the conversation with all the members and everybody was so nice. I hope your memory of Kyoto will be the one of best memories in Japan. Rick
$353/ per group