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Kyoto Express Half Day Tour
Joined 2014
This tour is an express customized half-day tour that will take you to several of the following attractions in Kyoto in a short period of time, tailored to your needs.
Please choose 2 or 3 places of your choice.
I will pick you up from and drop-off at your hotel or location of your choice.
・Fushimi Inari Shrine ・Arashiyama area (Bamboo forests, Monkey park etc.) ・ kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
・Kiyomizu-dera Temple ・Nijyo-jyo Castle ・Nishiki market ・Others
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel or location of your choice
Your hotel lobby or location of your choice
I will meet you at your hotel lobby or location of your choice.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
It is a famous shrine representing Japan that enshrines
the god of fertility.
The characteristic of this shrine is that there are
more than 10,000 torii gates all the way to the summit, and
you can pass through many torii gates along the way.
Here you can learn about Japanese religion, such as
the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, and
how to worship.
（Entrance fee）free
Arashiyama area (Bamboo forests etc.) or Kiyomizu-dera temple
・Arashiyama area (Bamboo forests etc.)
It is a scenic spot where the emperor and aristocrats had
villas for more than 1000 years.
Please stroll through beautiful scenery such as
the bamboo forest and Togetsukyo Bridge.
(Entrance fee)
The bamboo forest and Togetsukyo Bridge : Free
Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple :
High School Student & Adult : 500 yen
Elementary & Junior High School Student : 300 yen
・Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The view from the terrace, called "Kiyomizu-no-butai"
(stage of Kiyomizu), is spectacular.
The main shrine enshrines one of the Buddhist statues, the
Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Other statues of Buddha, such as Niou and Jizo Bosatsu, can also be seen.
Located on a hillside, the temple commands a panoramic view of
the city of Kyoto.
There are many souvenir shops along the approach to the
temple, where you can buy traditional Japanese souvenirs.
Nearby is the five-story pagoda known as Yasaka-no-to (Yasaka Pagoda).
（Entrance fee）
High School Student & Adult : 400 yen
Elementary & Junior High School Student : 200 yen
Kinkaku-ji Temple (The Golden pavilion)
The Golden Pavilion and gardens are especially
breathtaking.
(Entrance fee)
High School Student & Adult : 400 yen
Elementary & Junior High School Student : 300 yen
Other spots (If time permits)
・Nijyo-jyo Castle
Nijo-jyo Castle was built by the Tokugawa shogunate in
the 17th century and has watched over the rise and fall of the shogunate.
In particular, the Ninomaru Palace is designated as a
national treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
(Entrance fee)
Adult : 1300 yen
Junior High School & High School Student : 400 yen
Elementary School Student : 300 yen
・Nishiki ｍarket
It is a traditional market called "Kyoto's kitchen", and the narrow
alleys are lined with fruit and vegetable shops, fish shops, and
other shops. Also, eating while walking is possible.
(Entrance fee) Free
Your hotel or location of your choice
We will say goodbye at your hotel lobby or location of your choice.
Ending Point
Your hotel or location of your choice
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
Licensed Tour Guide, Your hotel or location of your choice pick-up
Transportation fee, Lunch fee, Entrance fee
Tour Important Information
＊You will know following items.
・Japanese garden style and architecture
・Differnce between Shinto (Japanese original religion) and Buddhism
・The meaning of Torii gate etc.
・The type of Buddha statue
・How to pray at Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple
・Japanese history
・Japanese traditional cuisine
・Others
＊I can also guide in following spots if you pay additional fee.
・Nara ・Osaka ・Hiroshima ・Himeji ・Tayama & Shirakawa-go・Hikone Castle in Shiga
Important message from the supplier
Please feel free to contact me!!
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 2014
About Tour Guide Kazuhiko G.
Hello, I’m Kazuhiko. Please call me “Kazu”. I'm a national-licensed tour guide. I have a wife and 4 children.
I was born in Osaka city near Kyoto, although I have lived in many places across Japan. I used to work for multinational electric company and I traveled to many countries (U.S., Thailand, Hong Kong etc.) on business.
I have enjoyed guiding many foreign tourists in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji etc. for many years.
During your tour, you can discover a rich Japanese history spanning about 2,000 years, learn about and experience profound Japanese arts (tea ceremony, flower arrangement etc.), feel the spiritual atmosphere of Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, see a breathtakingly beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji, bamboo forest, Japanese gardens etc..
Moreover, you can taste Japanese cuisine that each season has to offer (Sushi, Tempura, Soba or ramen noodle etc.).
You can get close to nature and feed wild deer or monkeys or even a build snowman in winter.
I’m sure that I can provide a splendid tour of Japan that will be a lasting memory for you to treasure.
Experience the mysteries of Japan with 5 senses !!
Your memorable tour awaits you.
Please feel free to contact me!!
Reviews
“Fantastic time exploring Osaka with Kazuhiko G”
Just finished an amazing tour of Osaka with Kazuhiko G. Kazuhiko picked me up from my hotel, very punctual, arriving early. Kazuhiko was very polite and genuine with all the information he shared whilst on our tour. Our eight hours together gave me a very good insight and history associated with each site we visited and he also agreed to flexibility during the tour to visit some places and do some shopping as well. Can’t recommend Kazuhiko G enough. Thank you for an amazing tour of Osaka.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry that I made you walk so much. I walked over 20000 steps too, but I was happy to have had a good time with you. Also, I'm sorry that I didn't have enough knowledge about knives to be able to give you enough support. How was the food tour? Did you enjoy the local food of Osaka? I hope this tour will be a memorable one for you in Japan. Thank you!!
“A wonderful day in Nara with Kazu”
We decided to take a guide to Nara rather than Kyoto and we were so glad we did. Kazuhico is a charming gentleman. He took us to the deer park and the most beautiful Todaiji temple and the Kasuga Taisha shrine. Both really beautiful, but without the crowds of Kyoto. After a delicious Economyaki lunch, Kazu took us to a great shop with really elegant local products, so different from the usual souvenirs. I bought lacquerware and my husband bought a crazy Japanese puzzle. We then went to the local shopping arcade- very interesting with some great bargains and no crowds. It ws so interesting to be able to speak to a Japanese person, and Kazu took all the stress out of finding our own way from place to place. I would recommend Kazu and Nara: I'm so pleased we went.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry that I made you walk so much. I'm glad that you and your husband enjoyed it. I was also happy to spend a pleasant time in the clear autumn weather. Please continue to enjoy tours of various parts of Japan. I hope this tour will be a memorable one. Thank you !!
“Two day trip across the Kansai”
Kazuhiko guided us very ably across Osaka and Nara. We travelled very efficiently and saw the best each place had to offer. He was very prepared with handouts and a brand new Ipad to help explain the history and importance of each site we visited. We particularly enjoyed his explanations of Sumiyoshi Taisha. He is very attentive to detail and had our initial booking requests with him to ensure he covered what we were interested in. He also helped us with contacting a Kimono booking place to reschedule.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry I made you walk so much early in the morning. Did you enjoy walking around Kyoto in your kimono? I'm also glad that I was able to spend two fun days. I hope this tour will be a memorable one in Japan. Thank you!!
$182/ per group
More tours by Kazuhiko G.
Your most memorable tour in Kyoto
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The city of Osaka flourished around the eponymous Osaka Castle during the Edo era, and is now the third largest city in Japan. It is said to be the center of commerce and is a vibrant city with an atmosphere distinct from that of Tokyo or Kyoto. Please visit Osaka and get to know a different side of the country.
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In Nara deer Park, you can feed many cute wild deers. After playing with deers, you will go to Toudaiji Temple. You can see huge buddaha statue. Next, you will go to kasuga shrine After lunch, you will viist Koufukuji Temple and you can see a five-storied pagoda. Morover, based on your request, I will take you to other spots.
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Hikone City is only an hour away from Kyoto by train and faces the largest lake in Japan. Hikone Castle, a national treasure, and its castle town are located there. There are also some old temples and shrines nearby. You feel like you have slipped back into the Edo Period ( about 200~400 years ago). This is a half-day tour where you can learn about Japan's medieval period.
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This tour covers the most popular spots in Kyoto. We will visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama area, Kinkakuji, Nijo Castle. I will pick you up at your hotel. You can visit almost all the popular tourist sites in Kyoto, incliding Kinkakuji, Arashiyama ( Bamboo forest, Togatsu bridge, and Tenryuji temple), Nijo castle and Fushimi Inari shrine. The itinerary can be customized according to your request.
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