[Kyoto Highlights] Eastern and Central Kyoto
Welcome to Kyoto! This is a private tour to cover the most popular sights in eastern and central Kyoto. Please also see "Western Kyoto" page if you wish to book highlight tour in two days. Longer tour request is welcome. Please contact me and I will customize the itinerary.
**Hello! My name is Lisa **
I am a government licensed tour guide offering tours in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara.
If you are looking for a guide who can take you to must-see sights in Kyoto, this tour will be perfect for you.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Meet up at your hotel in Kyoto city
Kiyomizudera temple
( Admission fee 500yen/person )
-Buddhist temple that belongs to "Kita-Hosso sect" which is derived from one of the oldest sects in Japan.
-UNESCO site
-Beautiful landscape of architecture and nature
-400 year-old wooden hall standing on a cliff with traditional architectural method called Kake-zukuri.
-Buddha statue of Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
-Headquarters of all Inari shrines in Japan.
-Shintoism which is Japan's two biggest religions along with Buddhism.
-Famous for vermilion Torii gates lining up along the path on the mountain.
-Fox statues
Lunch
Udon noodle, Soba noodle, Yakitori chicken skewers, Yakiniku beef BBQ, Ramen, Tsuke-men ( dipping ramen ), and more!
Please let me know your request.
*If you have any special dietary request please let me know in advance and I will propose delicious lunch recommendations accordingly.
Nijo castle Ninomaru palace
( Admission fee 1,300yen/person )
-Shogun's palace from the 17th century
-UNESCO site
-Ultimate meeting rooms with traditional architectural style called Shoin-zukuri.
-Screen paintings of auspicious animals, birds, plants, and seasonal flowers drawn by legendary painters from Kano art school. ( High quality reproductions )
-A Japanese garden designated as a nation's special scenic site, designed by a legendary garden designer from 400 years ago.
Note :
-We will take off our shoes to enter.
-No photo allowed inside of the palace.
-Honmaru-palace is NOT included in the tour. Please let me know if you are interested in visiting both two palaces in Nijo castle.
Ending Point
4PM : Tour ends at your hotel in Kyoto city
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
-Guiding Service
-Guide's local transportation fee
-Traveler's admission fees for temples and a castle : Please see the price in the itinerary. *Please have some cash available with you.
-Traveler's transportation fee : About 1,500yen-2,000yen/person each day depending on your hotel location.
-Taxi fare if used.
-Food and drinks
Tour Important Information
-Transportation
The primary mode of transportation is subways and trains, but I will recommend using taxis in some locations when it saves a lot of time or if you prefer to take a taxi over public transportations.
-Walkability
The tour includes a lot of walking. Please wear comfortable shoes. If you would like to avoid a lot of walking , slope and stairs, please contact me and I will propose a less-walking itinerary!
-Lunch
Your lunch request is welcome. If you have any special dietary request please let me know in advance and I will propose delicious lunch recommendations accordingly.
Please feel free to contact me if you have special requests on the days my profile calendars are off.
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
About Tour Guide Lisa W.
Hi everyone! My name is Lisa.
Thank you very much for checking out my profile.
I am originally from Osaka, Japan, and completed my Bachelor’s Degree from Kyoto Prefecture University in architecture. During my stay in Kyoto I volunteered as a tour guide for foreign visitors.
After graduation I moved to Tokyo and worked in the marketing and promotions field. On weekends I continued to work as a tour guide volunteer in Tokyo.
I have also studied at the University of California, Irvine and worked for a tech company in Anaheim California. It was great oppotuniay for me to see Japan from foreigner's perspective.
My happiness for meeting new people and learning my own culture through guiding foreign visitors kept increasing and that made me decide to become a professional tour guide.
I offer tailor-made tours for individuals or groups. I have met a lot of wonderful people through tour guiding and look forward to the many more friends I will make.
My strength is the stock of Japan's historical and architectural knowledge, which I believe makes your Japan experience fun and interesting especially when you are visiting Japan's old capitals.
During my tour I will share with you historical contents of places or structures you are visiting so that you can understand the reason why you meet present Japan. I have friendly and mindful nature which will make your Japan experience greater!
Please feel free to message me if you have any question about your Japan trip!
Hope to see you soon in my tour.
Best,
Lisa
Reviews
Frank T.
“An Unforgettable and Authentic Kyoto & Osaka Experience with Lisa”
Lisa was an exceptional guide and truly made our 7 days in Kyoto and Osaka unforgettable. She did an incredible job curating our itinerary and tailoring the experience beyond simply visiting tourist sites. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and thoughtful planning gave us a much more authentic understanding of Japan’s culture, history, and local life. What stood out most was her ability to create experiences that felt genuine and personalized. From hidden gems and local insights to food recommendations and cultural context, she consistently went above and beyond to make every day engaging and memorable. She was organized, flexible, and always attentive to our interests and pace. Thanks to Lisa, we experienced Japan in a way that we never could have on our own. We left with wonderful memories and a much deeper appreciation of Kyoto and Osaka. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a truly authentic and well-curated experience.
Fred V.
“Japan- Kyoto and Osaka”
Our guide, Lisa W was exceptional. She was pleasant, knowledgeable, and listened to all our requests. The sites that Lisa took us to, The Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Torii Gates, the Gion districts and shopping streets in Kyoto, to name a few, were definitely great choices to enjoy seeing. In Osaka, we visited the Osaka Castle, whereby we learned about the Shogun history, which was very exciting. Lisa made our visit very enjoyable with her knowledge of the various temples. Ending our tour, we hiked the Minoh Mountain, along a river to see the gorgeous waterfalls. Lisa W was a fantastic guide and we highly recommend her.
Stephen S.
“Osaka Tour with Lisa”
Lisa was an amazing tour guide - professional, yet friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Osaka and Japanese history. Her itinerary based on our desired destinations and activities was perfect - thorough yet, not rushed at all. We highly recommend Lisa to anyone seeking a deeper connection with all that Osaka has to offer.
$443/ per group
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【7hours】Time Travel Tour in Kyoto Part2
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[Kyoto Highlights ] Western Kyoto
Welcome to Kyoto! This a private tour focusing on the popular sights in the west side of Kyoto. Please also see "Eastern and Central Kyoto" page if you wish to book highlight tour in two days. Longer tour request is welcome. Please contact me and I will customize the itinerary. **Hello! My name is Lisa. ** I am a government licensed tour guide offering tours in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. If you are looking for a guide who can take you to must-see sights in Kyoto, this tour will be perfect for you.
[Kyoto Highlights ] Western Kyoto
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