In this tour, I'll take you on a journey to experience the ancient culture deeply rooted in Kyoto, which only locals can truly appreciate, in my car.
Kyoto is a basin surrounded by mountains over 900 meters high in three directions. For most of its 1200-year history, it has thrived on this flat basin. However, once you step into the mountains surrounding the area, you'll discover a world that can only be experienced with my tour.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Any place you point me (Hotel, Station, Store etc.)
- I’ll pick you up at any place in Kyoto city. * Large suitcases may not fit in the car. Please consult about the amount of luggage beforehand.
It's a charming small temple welcomed by thousands of adorable Jizo statues. Located at the northernmost tip of the Arashiyama area, it's a delightful spot where you can hear the soothing sound of a stream flowing from the mountainside. If you're lucky, you might even encounter stream crabs under the waterfall within the temple grounds.
Mizuo is a secluded paradise surrounded by mountains, with a population of about 50 people. It's a completely different world from Kyoto, with its rows of old houses. It's located about 4 kilometers away from the nearest JR Hozukyo Station. During the summer to fall season, the air is filled with the scent of yuzu. I'd like you to take a leisurely stroll for about 15 minutes and explore the area.
The lunch Place where you can enjoy Soba noodle.
This restaurant is operated with the cooperation of residents living in the Atago district. They use domestically produced buckwheat flour and hand-make soba noodles every day. The tempura cooked with locally sourced vegetables is exquisite. You might have to wait a little, but be sure to enjoy the authentic soba noodles.
Koshigata is a utopia in Kyoto where nature and human life blend most beautifully. This village, carved out of the mountains about 600 years ago, now boasts some of Japan's finest terraced rice fields, producing the most delicious rice in Kyoto. In spring, butterbur sprouts, followed by dragonflies in summer. Persimmons ripen in autumn, and winter blankets the area in snow, revealing the rich natural beauty throughout the seasons.
At the heart of the village lies a cherished elementary school, where locals can share insights into Japan's education system. Finally, at the Yasaka Shrine in the village center, I'd like to convey the true essence of Shintoism from the perspective of the locals, explaining its significance to Japanese culture.
Haneda Sake Brewery is nestled in Keihoku, north of Kyoto, in a picturesque mountain valley where majestic Kitayama cedars stretch skyward in perfect alignment. The pure upper waters of the Katsura River flow through this forest-surrounded town, creating a serene landscape. Just east of the brewery, the tributary Yuge River marks the passage of the seasons, bringing pristine air, crystal-clear water, and the harsh winter chill that can drop to -10°C—all of which are invaluable to the brewing process, aided by the rich natural environment of this rural mountain region.
Keihoku’s forests benefit from the clean waters of the upper Katsura River, a source so pure that, from early June to early July, fireflies dance under the starry sky. While Kyoto's famed Fushimi water is a soft water, low in iron and manganese with balanced calcium and bicarbonate, Haneda Brewery uses medium-hard water from the underground streams of the Kamikatsura River, with a slightly higher mineral content (hardness of 130). This unique water produces sake with a delicate, refreshing acidity and a clean, smooth finish.
With a history spanning over 120 years, Haneda Sake Brewery continues to uphold traditional brewing methods in Keihoku. Time-honored practices, such as hand-washed rice and brewing in wooden barrels, have been carefully preserved and refined. This dedication to heritage is infused in every drop, defining the brewery’s distinct quality today.
Once you've savored the local culture of Kyoto, it's time to shop for souvenirs. At Woody Keihoku, you'll find a variety of items including vegetables, sweets, and crafts from the northern part of Kyoto. If you're fond of sake, it's also possible to take a visit to a nearby brewery.
Any place you want
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee, meet-up at anywhere in Kyoto
Transportation fee regarding car (Gas, Parking)
To buy ticket for Kosanji temple and Otagiji temple.
Lunch. Purchases.
This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
In week day, I am only available after 18:30.
But if you kindly request me 1 week before, I may fix my schedule.
Thank you.
I am Ryuichiro, a 27-year-old who was born in Tokyo.
For the past 12 years, I've been living in Kyoto, having moved there after high school.
My university years saw me studying abroad at National University of Singapore, enriching my perspective of the world. I've served as a guide throughout my college years, volunteering for four years and assisting over 30 groups of tourists.
My extensive overseas experiences enable me to empathize with travelers, helping to alleviate their concerns and ensuring they create delightful memories.
I hope to have the opportunity to assist you on your journey.
See you soon.
Leica B.
Journey to the Heart of Kyoto: A Guided Car Tour of Hidden Treasures
“The perfect Kyoto day trip, off the beaten track!”
I booked this private tour as a surprise for my husband who is not fond of the "cookie-cutter" overcrowded guided tours that usually feature the same things and places. I am very glad that I discovered this tour and booked it! We had the most beautiful laid-back day spent in Kyoto's countryside, 500m above sea level!! Ryuichiro was very welcoming, patient and nice. We travelled with our 11yo son and 1.5 year old daughter (who didn't always want to cooperate and had a few tantrums during the trip), and Ryuichiro was very mindful of this. He ensured that we were all comfortable and kept checking on us if we needed to do stops and advised us to take our time (for nappy changes etc). He gave us some insights to the places we visited and answered our questions to the best of his ability, but without sounding like a know-it-all or a text book. My family and I would not have seen the beautiful views and places we have seen during this tour nor learnt about the way of living in the small Japanese towns we visited without Ryuichiro's tour. There are so many highlights during our trip but to name a few... seeing the cute Jizo statues, our visit to Yasaka Shrine in Koshihata which we had for ourselves to explore and pray, the visit to Haneda Sake Brewery for delicious sake tasting, lovely lunch at Friend Park Matsubara with their hand-made soba noodles and local tempura vegetables, the scenery during the drive and lastly, my son participating in the local school's Halloween/farming activity! This day tour didn't feel like your typical 'paid guided tour' at all. Ryuichiro's approach was like meeting a new friend and him sharing with us the best kept wonderful secrets of his town. If you dont mind a bit of a road trip and you would like to see and experience Kyoto, off the the beaten track then this tour is for you. Highly recommended!
Ryuichiro M.
(1 reviews)Thank you for entrusting me with your precious day in Japan the other day. And thank you again for your very warm message. I am really glad to hear that. I am very happy that you had a memorable time in the pleasant autumn weather. I very much look forward to seeing you again. Thank you very much. Have a safe trip back home. ありがとうございました!