Welcome to my hometown, Kyoto.
I will take you to the special temples and shrines that I personally think are the most beautiful, among all the many places I have visited in Kyoto.
Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, I’d love to show you the places I personally love — calm, friendly, and peaceful spots where you can truly feel Kyoto’s spirit.
Let’s enjoy a relaxing time away from the crowds together.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel
- Your hotel or a nearby convenience store.
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
This is my favorite moss garden in Kyoto — it’s truly beautiful.
It feels philosophical, modern, and artistic, like a living picture.
Ginkaku-ji was built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa during the Muromachi period.
He created it as a peaceful villa to enjoy art, poetry, and nature after retirement.
Later, it became a Zen temple and has inspired Japanese culture for centuries.
The garden is covered with green moss and white sand patterns, Walking here feels like entering a poem written by nature.
Entrance fee: 500 yen
Parking: 1,000 yen
Shimogamo Shrine
A peaceful shrine surrounded by a rich, sacred forest.
It’s a truly lovely place with a warm, calm atmosphere.
There is also a small shrine where people pray for love and strong relationships.
Founded in the 6th century, Shimogamo Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is said to bring good luck, protection, and happiness in relationships.
The surrounding forest, called Tadasu-no-Mori, is believed to purify people’s hearts.
Parking: 1,000 yen
Lunch
Let’s go for lunch! I always choose local restaurants only.
They’re not tourist-style places, but we can enjoy delicious, authentic food together.
Otagi Nenbutsuji temple
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple is a small, peaceful temple located in the Arashiyama area.
It is famous for its 1,200 stone statues of Rakan, the disciples of Buddha.
Each statue has a different facial expression — some are smiling, laughing, or even holding musical instruments — which makes the temple feel both charming and unique.
Entrance fee: 500 yen
Parking: 500 yen
End/your hotel or your next spot
Ending Point
your hotel
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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.
-Tour planning fee
-Guide fee
-Private transportation via Nissan cube (5-seater)
-Car gasoline / toll cost
-Pick up your hotel
-Entrance fees and temple admission fees
(Please note that the guide’s admission fee is also required.)
-Parking fees (in this case, it will probably be within ¥3,000)
-All food and drink expenses
-Travel insurance fee
-We will walk quite a lot at all three spots, so please wear comfortable sneakers.
-I love wine, but since I will be driving, I won’t be able to drink this time.(But of course, you can enjoy a drink if you like!)
-I’m good at taking photos with a smartphone.After the tour, I will share the photos only with you.
-If you would like to change or arrange the route, there will be an additional fee of 7,000 yen.
Not available on Sat/Sun
-Last-minute bookings (1 day before) are sometimes possible — feel free to ask!
-If you want me to make reservations for shops or restaurants, please contact me at least 1 week in advance.
-A walking tour is also possible, but to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it. Kyoto is an extremely popular tourist destination, and buses and public transportation are often very crowded. For the places I would like to show you, I believe traveling by car would be much more comfortable.
-Please note: I love wine! But if I drink during the tour… I might forget where we’re going. So I’ll stay sober—but if you like, I can show you some great wine spots in Kyoto!
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page!
I’m Michiko, a local guide born and raised in Kyoto.
I love meeting people from around the world and sharing the spirit of Japanese hospitality.and I love fun things!
I went to the UK to watch musicals, and recently I spent a year living in Thailand — experiences that deepened my love for art, culture, and people.
Besides guiding, I also work in theater and performance art, creating unique shows in shop windows!
Let’s explore Kyoto together and find its heart — the beauty, people, and stories that make it special! with BIGLOVE!
Muna S.
“Amazing custom tour of Kyoto”
Couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Michiko. It felt like a friend was showing me around her hometown, which included local restaurants and coffee shop stops/recommendations. She really catered to my interests and took me to the spots she thought I would enjoy the most. She also is extremely knowledgeable on the area and temples, and I really enjoyed getting to see Kyoto through her eyes. Thank you again Michiko-san. Hope to see you on future visits to Japan.
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Michiko N.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I truly enjoyed the tour with you and your partner! It was such a fun and heartwarming day! I’m so glad you enjoyed the local izakaya lunch. I always hope that my tours also bring something positive to the local community, so it makes me very happy to know that you had a good time. Let’s definitely meet again someday! Wishing you both lots of happiness from the bottom of my heart.withBIGLOVE! Michiko
Tetiana B.
“Heartfelt Kyoto Journey”
My tour with Michiko-san was absolutely wonderful! She guided me not only through the beautiful places of Kyoto but also through their deeper spiritual meaning. I felt calm, inspired, and connected to Japanese culture in a very personal way. Michiko-san was incredibly attentive to every detail and perfectly adapted the route to the rainy weather, making the day comfortable and magical at the same time. She also shared fascinating stories about Kyoto’s history that brought the city to life in such a captivating way. The restaurant she chose for lunch was simply amazing - the food was delicious, authentic, and gave me the true taste of Kyoto. Every moment of the tour felt special, and I’m deeply grateful for her guidance, kindness, and warm heart.
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Michiko N.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I’ll never forget the time we spent together. Traveling with someone as friendly and cheerful as you made my heart feel truly happy. We were lucky to see so many beautiful things and enjoy delicious food together. I believe you brought something special and lovely into my life. I hope we can meet again someday.with BIG LOVE! MICHIKO
Alex M.
“Beautiful Kyoto with excellent guide ”
We had an amazing time with our guide, Michiko! So knowledgeable, friendly, and full of energy – truly made our trip unforgettable! Highly recommended!
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Michiko N.
Alex-san! Thank you very much for your review! I’m looking forward to the day I can see you both again! Michiko
$198/ per group
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