Luxury Kaleidoscopic Kyoto w/Guide Photographer+Private Taxi
Joined 2015
Ancient Artistic Kyoto Highlights Tour!
An award-winning/magazine-cover photographer & an MBA grad (tourism & hospitality management) at Kyoto U will guide you to the iconic places+off-the-beaten tracks by a private taxi to take fantastic pictures. Knowing the city as a local student, an Eng teacher, and an in-house interpreter at SHIMADZU Corp Group for more than fifteen yrs in total, made me a bonna-fide professional guide in my hometown. I take great pride in my guiding and photography.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or Kyoto Station
Kinkakuji Ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites
Arashiyama
Bamboo groove+scenic Togetsu (moon over) Bridge and riverside walk
Japanese lunch
Tempura, Kobe Beef etc. (Vegetarians/vegan, gulten-free requests are welcome)
FUSHIMI Inari Shrine
The most popular destination of thousands vermillion Torii gates
Kiyomizu Temple+Gion District
Enjoy sunset from one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and traditional Kyotoite streets on east hills side
Ending Point
At your Hotel, Kyoto Station, or a dinner place
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
★Hotel pick-up & drop off
★entire tour with a private taxi (around 40,000～ 90,000 JPY/day+parking fees, depending on the number of guests and tour length)
★all entrance fees and transportations during the tour (from the meeting point to the ending point)
★My guiding, photography, meals, and transportations
(free & unlimited photo taking & sharing by an award-winnng+magazine-cover photographer)
★Your Lunch
(from 9,240～66,000 JPY/per, familiar with dietary restrictions, such as vegan, vegetarian, and celiac guests. I'll arrange the finest restaurant in town. )
(Small purchases, such as snacks, drinks, souvenirs, if any.)
Tour Important Information
1. Some potential guests have asked me that they don't need a photographer, therefore, they wanted to get some discount. However, since I am a professional guide and a photographer (only me and a Japanese-speaking private taxi driver will escort you), I am afraid that cannot be a reason for bargening the price.
2. I cannot accept bookings from the guests who stay at 【Ace Hotel Kyoto】 because their reception has ignored and left me for more than twenty minutes after I asked their receptionist to call my guests twenty minutes before the meeting time.
Besides, when I complained that they should have let me know that the guests had not replied their phone call, Mr. Makino called the police in Japanese, saying that I was a weirdo and just an unknown, ridiculous guide who screamed and behaved violently, which is a false claim as you can see in my reviews from my past guests.
In addition, while I was calling a taxi company on behalf of them, Mr. Makino talked to my guests in English to cancel my tours without my consent.
For those acts, I would never, ever accept guests who stay that hotel.
I take great pride with my vocation and promise to serve you high-end professional service.
Important message from the supplier
【Familiar towns】
My main areas are Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji.
Since I used to live in Tokyo and travel around Metropolitan area very often, if you could cover my transportations(+ accomodation if necessary), I can travel(+stay) with you.
【Anyone is welcome!】
If you or your family members/friends are:
Vegetarians/vegans,
LGBTQ,
physically challenged people,
senior citizens and/or babies,
don't hesitate to ask me special requests.
I'm willing to help these guests:)
【Insurance】
Please take out your travel insurance. My insurance will NOT cover your sickness, injury, and/or accident during the tour.
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 2015
About Tour Guide Ai A.
Ai obtained her MBA from Kyoto U in 2020, major in tourism & hospitality management.
She is currently a graduate student at Columbia U, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences(GSAS), Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, goes back-and-forth between NYC and Osaka.
She passed a national license of English guide interpreter exam in 2015 and speaks French.
In her tour, she offers you free photo taking & sharing digital data by using her award-winning + magazine-cover photography skill.
<Awards & Publications>
-cited by Columbia's Official Instagrams four times during her fist summer at Columbia (2022)
-got interviewed by Nikkei WOMAN, June issue of 2021, a monthly magazine that publishes 150,000 copies nationwide, and two other magazine and book, published in the same year
-won a top prize in Photo Contest at Tourism Expo in Osaka, hosted by SriLanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (in 2019)
-received Gold Award in CONRAD OSAKA opening Art Photo Contest among 367 entries
-coverered "NU7(top 7 national universities)" magazine, 50,000 copies (in 2018 and 2020)
-2nd Prize in Festival Tower West Opening Photo Contest and her shot became a billboard advertisement
(both in 2017)
She was raised in Kobe, had attended schools and universities in Kyoto for twelve years.
Before enrolling to Columbia, since COVID19 forced her to suspend her vocation, she had served as a contract in-house interpreter at an IT department of SHIMADZU Corporation group(2020-2022), waiting her opportunity to fly to Manhattan.
She resides in her hometown Osaka now and lands on Upper West in May 2024.
Tours in Japan are available in Spring, early summer(May), Autumn, and Winter.
…………………………………………………………………
Feel free to contact me! Just inquiry is totally fine.
Let's have fun together☆★＊* Ai
Reviews
Romina A.
“Tour feedback from a group of 46 people. ”
Hi Ai, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share some feedback from our recent tour. Overall, we appreciate your efforts in managing a group as large as ours — it's no small feat, and you handled it admirably. However, there are a couple of areas where we believe there's room for improvement. While your interactive approach of asking questions was engaging, we noticed that the responses given by participants weren't always repeated into the microphone. This made it challenging for those at the back of the bus to follow the conversation. Perhaps a slight adjustment in amplification or repeating crucial responses could enhance the overall experience for everyone. Another point is that we felt a bit underinformed about the places we visited, particularly Kinkaku-Ji and Arashiyama. It would have been beneficial to receive more detailed briefings before arriving at these locations. For instance, a pre-visit overview would have greatly assisted us in navigating Arashiyama, what to see, expect and look for. While we did receive information after the visits through a flyer, having you telling us a story, facts or experiences beforehand would have added to the experience. We understand the complexity of managing such a large group and acknowledge your overall great job. These suggestions are merely aimed at enhancing the experience for all participants. We look forward to future opportunities with improved logistics and communication. Thank you for your understanding and for your services accommodating our requests and managing our group. We appreciate your help. Best regards, Romina
Malose K.
“AI - a great tour guide who fits in with young people”
It was great to have a tour guide who was able to connect with my 16 and 14 year old kids. Initially the idea of using public transport / rail to go to our excursions seemed a bit too much but it was the best idea. We were after that able to use rail to move around which saved us time. Her tips for the rest of the travel were invaluable. And what an amazing photographer. We got very beautiful pictures taken with her camera.
Ai A.
Dear Malose, Thanks for having me and writing me a great review. It was a great place to have your family all the way from South Africa. I hope to meet you again when your children enter universities in NYC and/or study in Japan in the near future. Visiting your country has become my bucket list. Until then, please keep in touch. Thank you very much once again. your guide and new friend, Ai
Zain G.
“100% Would Recommend and Use Again”
The highlight of our trip. We had an amazing time working with Ai to create a custom trip for our group for 3 days. The photos she took were such high quality which was a great perk of booking with her. She showed us places and gave us the history, as well as helped us book private taxis to make it easier to keep the whole group together. We 100% recommend working with her!
$1,525/ per group
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Kyoto
Early Bird Tour Western Kyoto including Bamboo Forest and Kinkakuji Kinkakuji
Shall we explore some of the most popular sightseeing destinations in Kyoto while most tourists are preparing for their tour? I would also like to take you some hidden gemes in Kyoto. Beat the crowds!
Kyoto's most popular sightseeing spots tour and enjoy a various kinds of Kyoto's specialities
This tour covers 4 must-see sites and Nishiki Market. You visit the most renowned sites such as the Golden Pavilion, Ryo-an-ji temple where you may find an elegant beauty in its simple rock garden Nijo-castle ,the luxurious palace of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Sanjyu-sangendo temple, where the thousand life-size statues and the Principal statue make you feel like you are in a forest of Buddha! says " It's amazing ! Lastly visit Nishiki Market, where you can enjoy eating Kyoto’s cuisine.
Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
Arashiyama is the hottest tourist destination. It is incredibly beautiful in spring and fall because of its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn brown or red! In the outstanding Tenryuji, you will see a beautiful garden with beautiful mountains in the background. There are many other beautiful places with touching stories in this area. On the way back to downtown, we can visit two world heritage sites, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji. What a wonderful route!
Kyoto 1 Day Tour covering Most Popular Spots
This tour covers the most popular spots in Kyoto with scenic beauty.The spots are selected from Fushimi area, Arashiyama area, and Kitayama area of Kyoto.From the point of scenic beauty, you will see Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo grove, and Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion, whereyou can take memorable pictures. You will visit the major scenic sites in one day effectively. These three areas are apart from each other, but can be travelled by JR-train and bus in relatively short time.
