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Western Kyoto, Film Tour with Matcha in Cine City

Tram in front of Koryuji Temple

Film tour led by the local NPO

Movie booklet of Chiritsubaki

Railway station nearby movie studio

Ninjya on the wall of Kyoto Studio Park

Still photos at the sta.

Light poles on the shopping street

Statue of Daimajin wearing mask during the pandemi

Monument of the Grand Prix

Entrance leading to the Villa

Garden in the Villa

Matcha and dried sweets

Togetukyo Bridge from nearby a cafe

Omuro station

Illumination at Arashiyama sta.

Western Kyoto, Film Tour with Matcha in Cine City

Highlights

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(7 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)

Up to 6 people

Aesthetic Sense and Matcha at a garden villa designed by a SAMURAI star.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Uzumasa/Arashiyama area had about 10 film studios (2 and a theme park still alive), and outdoor filming took place on temple grounds and riverbanks. A star (Ohkouchi Denjirou) built a garden villa to represent the aesthetic sense that he had.

This tour takes you on the tram that runs through the center of the area, tracing the history of film production in the glory days.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

12:00 PM

Meeting Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center.

- Somewhere sta. of the Arashiyama Line of Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen for short) is convenient. It has a Y-shaped network with 22 sta. on the 11km long.

Taisyogun Area (Kitano-Hakubaicyo starting sta.)

>Jizoin Temple/ “Samurai’ s Soul” (premiered in 2018) was inspired by a rare type of camellia in this temple (at its best in Spring).

Uzumasa Area (Katabirano-tsuji sta.)

>Community development that people live with films/streetlamps designed with cameras, the monument to the Grand Prix at the 12th Venice International Film Festival ("Rashomon" premiered in 1950).

Arashiyama Area (Arashiyama terminal sta)

#Arashiyama Park:/A viewpoint for the scenery created by the Katsuragawa River and Togetsukyo Bridge (155m long) with Mt. Ogura (296m height) and Mt. Arashiyama (382m height) in the background. A famous spot for cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves.

#Ohkouchi Garden Villa/At the west end of the bamboo grove, D.Ohkouchi, a SAMURAI film actor in the 1900s, built his villa over 30 years on the slope of Mt.Ogura where we can overlook the entire Kyoto city area.

#Arashiyama sta./ illumination at dusk with 600 poles decorated with Kyoto Yuzen-dyed fabric.

Ending Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center

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

What‘s included

>guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto City center

What‘s not included

>Transportation fee (you and guide)/Randen (1-day ticket:700JPY(adult))

>Admission fee (you and guide)/Ohkouchi Garden Villa (1000JPY including Matcha(adult))

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>Please wear comfortable shoes on foot and by tram.

>Please be aware that during the cherry blossom viewing season, transportation and tourist facilities will be crowded, which may take longer than expected, and some of the facilities on the itinerary may not be accessible

>This tour is not covered by insurance.

>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spots, so please bring some JPY.

Important message from the supplier

>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)

>If you want a listed/customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.

>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport.

>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.

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 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(7 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I’d love to guide you to an ancient capital city with over 1,000 years of urban development history and a 100-year film history. I grew up in OSAKA and studied in KYOTO. Then, I worked in TOKYO and Osaka as an urban planning expert for national and local governments for 20 years. I have been striving to create cities where residents can live safely and comfortably and where visitors are attracted by their charms.

Quitting my career, I became a freelancer and a National Licensed Consulting Engineer (Urban and Regional Planning). I inspect urban development sites and film locations at home and abroad, and post about the charm of these picturesque towns on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now).

Present-day Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara formed a metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace from the 7th to the 19th centuries, serving as the political, economic, and cultural center. Residents still cherish their connections with local temples and shrines, continue to host local events, maintain traditional lifestyles, and protect their cultural heritage.

These three cities offer a unique landscape each season: cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, autumn foliage, and snowy scenery in winter. They are also easily accessible within a 1-hour train ride, with an international airport (KANSAI) and seaports (OSAKA, KOBE).

I am not only a National Licensed Guide Interpreter but also a General Travel Service Manager. I create an ideal customized tour for you, combining your preferences with my knowledge of transportation options and sightseeing spots.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

Chuck Y.

5 / 5

May 1, 2025

Osaka : OLD & NEW Tour 6 hours

May 1, 2025

Osaka

6 hours

“A very nice day in Osaka”

Yoshi was knowledgeable and happy to show the city to us at a leisurely pace. A very nice man who did a great job of speaking at a loud enough level so we could all hear him which was appreciated. He was very hospitable and we appreciated that.

Yosshi S.

Dear Chuck Thank you for sending me such a warm review. Osaka is a commercial city, so Osaka citizens are interactive and talkative. We looked at citizens' lives while strolling to the bustling shopping streets and the OKONOMIYAKI place. At the Rose Garden, we could see the harmony with roses, the rivers, and the skyscrapers. Thank you for including me as one of your close friends during the tour and for the topics we shared. I hope Osaka will be one of your friends' fond memories. Regards Yosshi

John M.

5 / 5

Apr 23, 2025

Hike along the Philosopher's Path brings three pleasures in one place.

Apr 23, 2025

Kyoto

8 hours

Customized

“Kyoto visit to Imperial Palace gardens and tour of Palace State Guest House, with a special tour of the guest house. Also, Philosopher’s Walk, national Treasure Silver Palace, and Kyoto Aqueduct. ”

We had a very high quality time with Yosshi S for our visit in Kyoto. He was well prepared from both experience and study, and gave us rich background into each site to result in a strong connection with Kyoto’s history, its rich spiritual traditions and its very special people living and working in Kyoto. We are grateful for this day and would recommend Yosshi S. with our highest regard.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, thank you for your review. We had the experience of seeing how to treat guests at the state guesthouse and having a lunch of Kyoto pickled sushi at a shopping street where ordinary people shop. The Philosopher's Path is a course where I often walked with friends during my student years. Walking with John on the tour, I got back the feeling of being a student. Unfortunately, I could not become a philosopher, but I learned the philosophy of "going my way" and became a guide. Thank you very much. Yosshi

John M.

5 / 5

Apr 23, 2025

Nara, Mixed Scenery with Temples and Mountains

Apr 23, 2025

Nara

8 hours 30 mins

“Mixed scenery with towns, temples, and National Museum of Nara”

Yosshi S provided us with a joyful life adventure for our day with him in Nara. He was helpful in finding our ways to Nara’s treasures, gardens, temple grounds, and shrines as well as an English audio-guided tour of the National Museum of Nara, containing unique treasures on special exhibition for the period of our visit. We would recommend others for Yosshi’s informative, well-researched, and personalized tours, aimed to give us a full appreciation of a place, its people, and what is special about both.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, Thank you for your valuable review. The day of our planned tour was the opening day of the National Treasures Exhibition at the Nara National Museum, so I decided to take you to the museum and let you fully appreciate the national treasure Buddha statues. The city of Nara has a long history of more than 1,300 years since Heijo-kyo. The citizens of Nara enjoy this long history through the deer relaxing in Nara Park, crawling through the pillar hole of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Karakuri Toy Museum. Those are appealing and attract both domestic and international tourists. I am happy to have conveyed this to you through this tour. Thank you. Yosshi