Please feel free to share your interests- places you wish to visit, foods you'd like to try, or how long you'd like to stay at each location.
I"ll create a fully customized 8-hour tour just for you, blending famous sights with local hidden gems!
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Pickup at your hotel or the nearest train station whithin Kyoto
- I will pick you up from your hotel and can accommodate your tour needs.
Arashiyama area
Visit UNESCO World Heritage site, Scenic Provate Garden, Bemboo Grove and Hidden Gems!
This area can be tricky to navigate alone. so let me show you the most amazing 7 spots in the area!
Lunch
Enjoy a relaxing lunchtailored to your preferences.
From casual local favorites to refined Japanese or Western-style cuisine,
I'll suggest places for a memorable meal.
Kinkaku-ji - Golden Pavillion
Stroll through the stunning gardens and admire the Golden Pavillion.
Afterward, enjoy match green tea and a traditional sweet unique to Kinkaku-ji. Also, if you like and time allows, I will show you another nearby scenic spot to round out the afternoon.
Ending Point
Tour ends at your hotel or any location of your choice
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee
Public transportation fees (460 yen per person).
Temple/villa entrance fees(400-1000 yen per person)
Meals or refreshments during the tour
or any other personal expenses are not included.
**At many sites,my official Guide license allows me to enter free of charge.
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable
shoes.
* This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
* This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
My days off vary each week, so I can't specify a fixed day I'm available, but I'm flexible and can adjust to your request.
I am a Certified English Interpreter Guide certifed by Kyoto City, Uji City, and Otsu City (recognized as the top performer in my training program!). I have lived in 7 countries—the US, Canada, the UK, Malaysia, Russia, Vietnam, and Iran—including 9 years in the US (California, New York and Texas). These experiences allowed me to embrace diverse cultures and develop a truly global perspective.
I am also a descendant of Hijikata Toshizo, one of Japan’s legendary “last samurai.” My family runs a private museum dedicated to his life and legacy, and I was raised with a deep respect for traditional Japanese culture and the spirit of bushido.
With this background, I guide international guests with a Japanese heart and a global perspective, creating warm and personalized experiences.
At Expo 2025 in Osaka, I served as a dedicated VIP liaison at the Japan Pavilion, assisting royal families and world leaders while honing advanced VIP protocol and hospitality skills.
Before guiding in Japan, I worked as a licensed tour guide in New York City and appeared on a national Japanese TV program as a field reporter, sharing local life and culture. My career has always focused on caring for people in English speaking roles: as a British Airways flight attendant, a medical interpreter at an international clinic, and an administrator at a UN international school with students from 65 countries.
Originally from Tokyo, I guide in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Uji, where I combine historical knowledge with personal experience. I also offer tours in Tokyo and surrounding areas upon request.
I look forward to welcoming you and sharing the unforgettable beauty, culture, and spirit of Japan!
$353/ per group