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Kyoto: Bamboo, Mountains and Markets [8 hours]

Bamboo Forest

Kamogawa river in the evening

Fushimi Inari torii gates

A momentary view

Kyoto: Bamboo, Mountains and Markets [8 hours]

Nature & Outdoor

Joined 2024

Jay T.

4.33 / 5

(3 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

English (Native), Japanese

8 hours

Private tour (only you and Jay T.)

Up to 7 people

The tranquility of a meticulously maintained bamboo forest, a mountain shrine with vibrant red torii gates, and a breathtaking view of the city from a mountaintop temple.

In this adventure we will explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, visit the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, and wander through the Tofuku-ji temple (especially beautiful in Fall or Spring). Later, we check out Kiyomizu-dera and walk through Yasaka Shrine, Gion, Shirakawa Lane, Pontocho, Teramachi, and over to the Nishiki Market.

Itinerary

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

08:00 AM

Meeting Point

Kyoto Station

- Central Exit between the escalators leading downstairs, just in front of the main exit turnstiles.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

A tourist town surrounding a meticulously maintained bamboo forest. Autumn leaves change with the season in the surrounding mountainsides.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

This is a mountainside shrine dedicated to foxes. Thousands of red torii gates surround the pathway leading up and around the mountain.

Tofuku-ji temple

This Buddhist temple is beautiful anytime, but especially lovely in the Spring and Autumn, as the trees change their displays to match the changing season.

Higashiyama hillside walk-down

We start at Kiyomizu-dera, enjoy the panoramic city view, then down and across through famous Yasaka Shrine and into Gion.

Gion to Shirakawa

We start at the Geisha home in Gion, then stroll through the ancient homes and shops of Shirakawa Lane.

Evening spots and shopping streets

Crossing the river, we'll take in the evening alleyways of Pontocho, and explore the covered shopping streets from Teramachi all the way over to the Nishiki Market.

Dropoff at Nishiki, or...?

Up to you. I can guide you back toward Kyoto Station, or let you find your own way back from here. (From the neighborhood station, Kyoto Station is only a short subway ride to the south.)

Ending Point

Kyoto Station (but see above)

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

Private Guide (me!)

Pickup and drop-off on foot

What‘s not included

I suggest a total of about 5000 yen cash per person for incidental expenses. These may include:

Entry to certain shrines, temples, gardens, museums. Such fees are usually small

Public Transportation

Personal expenses. Drinks, Snacks, Meals at your expense. (YOUR food, not mine!)

Good idea to bring change/small bills to use in vending machines to buy drinks. There will be convenience stores, and may be souvenir shops on the road

Shrines and many small shops still only take Japanese cash

Train/Bus/Subway (not included)

OPTIONAL Fee to cover transit for each person who needs it: ¥4,000

Tour Important Information

Itinerary listed is merely a loose guide! I don't guarantee we'll be able to visit any particular place, although I'll do my best. We will at times need to change the order of events, places we visit, etc. as determined on the day of the tour. Japanese attractions also have a habit of suddenly closing without notice. If this occurs, I'll simply fill in that time with something else I think you'd enjoy.

These are all WALKING tours, and we may cover significant distances (sometimes >10km per four hours) on foot. Please dress appropriately for that, and for the weather. Japan can get quite hot and humid in summer, and it gets chilly in the winter. Sunblock, insect repellent, etc. recommended.

Roadways and walking areas in Japan can be quite rough and uneven. Please watch your step! Injury liability is usually determined by the courts to be the walker's fault for lack of care, not that of anyone else.

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

Jay T.

4.33 / 5

(3 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Jay T.

Welcome to my world of Small-group Private Walking Tours in Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka, Japan! Each tour is meticulously designed to showcase the local area, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all. Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

Below are just a few tantalizing samples of tours I have provided. Get ready to explore Japan like never before! Remember, all tours are completely private and can be customized at a moment's notice to suit your group's preferences. If you don't see what you want, please contact me. Let's turn your dream tour into a reality!

Although I'm not superstitious, I have a fascination with monster, ghost, magic, and horror stories. I find the Japanese versions of these tales especially intriguing, as they put their own spin on history and superstition. You can expect to hear some interesting tidbits about these cultural nuances during my tours.

My walking tours are all about providing a personalized and focused experience for my clients. I aim to take you to lesser-known sites, share hidden secrets, introduce you to cultural curiosities, and of course, let you taste some delicious local Japanese foods. I want to show you the most unique features of each area we visit.

While there may be quite a bit of walking involved, don't worry - I'll make sure to adjust the pace and frequency of rests to suit your needs. Everyone has different physical abilities and preferences, and I want to ensure that everyone has a comfortable and enjoyable experience. So lace up your walking shoes and let's explore Japan together!

I'm a professional entertainer and former teacher, so I may add a bit of flair to my tours by sharing some stories about myself and my background. I have taken dozens of cruises, love meeting people from all over the world and am a proud supporter of Ukraine, Israel and Democracy in general. Plus, I'm LGBTQ+ friendly!

Reviews

Ray R.

5 / 5

Nov 9, 2024

Kyoto: Bamboo, Mountains and Markets [8 hours]

Nov 9, 2024

Kyoto

8 hours

“Great time touring Kyoto”

Touring Kyoto with Jay was an absolute blast! He was very knowledgeable and informative in all the places we visited. You cannot go wrong with choosing Jay as your guide. We highly recommend him.

Jay T.

You got some great photos. Glad you had fun!

William P.

3 / 5

Oct 22, 2024

Osaka "Free Itinerary" Tour [6 Hours]

Oct 22, 2024

Osaka

4 hours

“Not Quite the Tour We Hoped For”

While the rain wasn’t an issue for us—after all, we embraced it during several outings—overall, we felt this tour didn’t deliver the value we expected. It was the most expensive tour we booked, yet it was also the shortest, and we didn’t manage to visit all the locations. The guide shared some great stories, but in the end, we just didn’t feel it was worth the price we paid.

Jay T.

Thank you for your honest criticism. I sincerely apologize for not meeting your expectations during the tour. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I value the time you took to share your opinion. I am dedicated to learning and improving from this experience to enhance future tours. I hope you will give me another opportunity to provide you with a better experience on a future tour.

Nancy M.

5 / 5

Oct 20, 2024

Osaka "Free Itinerary" Tour [6 Hours]

Oct 20, 2024

Osaka

6 hours

“Jay T in Osaka”

Jay was amazing. We went to Osaka Castle, a home market, an entertainment area and we navigated all of this by train/subway. We walked thru food tasting markets and found a restaurant willing to only serve us drinks as we weren’t yet hungry. I would highly recommend him. He knows the city like the back of his hand.

Jay T.

Thanks, Nancy! You guys were amazing, too.