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Off the Beaten Path

Kyoto Private Tour - Matsubara bridge used to be Gojou bridge because Matsubara street used to be Gojou street. There was a very famous story of fighting on tihs bridge between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei who had big influence to end aristocatic period Heian.

Matsubara bridge used to be Gojou bridge because Matsubara street used to be Gojou street. There was a very famous story of fighting on tihs bridge between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei who had big influence to end aristocatic period Heian.

Matsubara street is east-west street in old capital Kyoto. This picture shows the location.

Kyoto Private Tour - Matsubara street used to be very busy street, but now It is not. There are lots of traditional shop, but they are closing and are rebuilt into houses like hotel inn.

Matsubara street used to be very busy street, but now It is not. There are lots of traditional shop, but they are closing and are rebuilt into houses like hotel inn.

Kyoto Private Tour - "Tetsurin no Ido" shrine is famous for breaking off bad relationship with a man or woman. It is located in front of a person's house (or inside of the premise). So this shrine is one of the most difficult shrine to find.

"Tetsurin no Ido" shrine is famous for breaking off bad relationship with a man or woman. It is located in front of a person's house (or inside of the premise). So this shrine is one of the most difficult shrine to find.

Kyoto Private Tour - If you buy some tea leaves, you can chat with tea master(?). This picture shows small tea corner in a tea leaf shop when the tea shop master offered tea.

If you buy some tea leaves, you can chat with tea master(?). This picture shows small tea corner in a tea leaf shop when the tea shop master offered tea.

Kyoto Private Tour - Urushi is a Japanese lacquer which is used for not only dishes but also boxs, cups, and other craftworks (Lacquerware). You can make your own lacquerware (There is a starters-kit).
In this picture two dishes in right side are before coating urushi, and two dishes in left side are after coating urushi.

Urushi is a Japanese lacquer which is used for not only dishes but also boxs, cups, and other craftworks (Lacquerware). You can make your own lacquerware (There is a starters-kit). In this picture two dishes in right side are before coating urushi, and two dishes in left side are after coating urushi.

Kyoto Private Tour - Anyway this street has a lot of shops. From left-upper picture, japanese pickles shop, cooked Eel shop, Buddhist altar shop, tea utensils shop, Kimono shop, japanese candy shop, japanese roof tile shop, japanese candle shop, japanese folding fan shop, silk yarn shop, japanese folding fan shop, Buddhist altar fittings shop, material shop for japanesae silding door, japanese antique shop, japanese sweets shop.

Anyway this street has a lot of shops. From left-upper picture, japanese pickles shop, cooked Eel shop, Buddhist altar shop, tea utensils shop, Kimono shop, japanese candy shop, japanese roof tile shop, japanese candle shop, japanese folding fan shop, silk yarn shop, japanese folding fan shop, Buddhist altar fittings shop, material shop for japanesae silding door, japanese antique shop, japanese sweets shop.

[Matubara street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto

Off the Beaten Path

Joined 2018

Yoshiharu K.

4.72 / 5

(50 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

Japanese (Native), English

5 hours

Private tour (only you and Yoshiharu K.)

Up to 4 people

There are many old streets in old capital Kyoto area. I design a walking tour set of 31 streets.You can see the true Kyoto in this tour which is not in current tourism. It is like Kyoto of 30 years ago.In some streets, You could see traditional dying shops for Yuzen which is a traditional dyeing method of Kyoto.You can visit some of the shops and I will interpret between the shop owner and you.

Itinerary

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

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

At the lobby in your Hotel (in Kyoto city)

9:00 We start from Gojou station or your hotel. Then we go over Matsubara bridge to the West.

12:00 We have lunch at the restraunt along Matsubara street.

14:00 We gat our distination, Tanbaguchi station (JR) or Saiin station(Hankyu railway)

Ending Point

Tanbaguchi station (JR) or Saiin station(Hankyu railway)

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.

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Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

guide fee, Guide's transportation fee between guide's house and Kyoto, hotel pick-up in Kyoto city

What‘s not included

lunch, dinner, entrance fee(If we visit. There is no place where enterane fee is needed as far as I know) ,

Public transportation fee for you and guide during the tour(less than 1000yen for each),

Hotel pick-up in Osaka city(optional).

Tour Important Information

In this tour, you can drop into your favorite shops. And the guide gives you basic explanations and interprets between you and shop clerks.

You will walk long(the street length is around 4.7km from Gojou station to Tanbaguchi station).

So you have to wear suitable shoes for walking.

The tour hours are fixed, so even if we are in the middle of course, we finish the tour.

If we leave hours, we can go a neighbor street.

Important message from the supplier

I can guide you from Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara if you pay the pick up fee.

Please ask the fee.

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 2018

Yoshiharu K.

4.72 / 5

(50 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yoshiharu K.

Hi! I'm Yoshiharu. Please call me Yoshi. Yoshi means "good" in Japanese! I'm a good man (^^);;;.

I was born in Kyoto but I lived there 3 months. Then my family moved to Osaka and I grew up in Osaka.

So I am almost Osakan.

When I was young, my hobby was traveling by bicycle. I went cycling around most part of Japan except Shikoku.

In my family rule, Shikoku is in bad direction because my grand father died just after his Shikoku pilgrimage.

So I want to have a cycling tour not only in Kyoto (coming soon!) but also all part of Japan someday.

I am interested in Japanese history.

I am a National Certificated Guide. And I have "Kyoto Tourism Culture Certification 3rd grade", "Osaka Expert Certification 3rd grade", "Nara Concierge 2nd grade" and "Karuizawa Web test 3rd grade".

So I have expert knowledge about Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Karuizawa and common knowledge about Kobe.

Besides I like gadgets, so I can guide you DenDen town in Osaka.

When you have a chance to visit Kyoto or Osaka or other city in this area,

please contact me anytime and join my tour!

I'll be looking forward to seeing you, spending wonderful time with you.

Reviews

Ann S.

5 / 5

Nov 22, 2024

[Bukkouji street] Hanging around east-west street in Kyoto

Kyoto

5 hours

Nov 22, 2024

“Street walking/shopping”

He is so very knowledgeable, and helpful. And if you have specific questions or needs, he will help you! Very nice, and easy going. I bought many items.

Yoshiharu K.

Dear Ann Thank you for your evaluation! I also enjoyed the tour because I could know new things in Bukkouji-street. For instance, in Japanese cooking knife shop, the very old master used google translation to communicate with foreign customers. I was very surprised. Anyway, thank you very much. Yours sincerely, Yoshi

Salim K.

3 / 5

Nov 3, 2024

Osaka Highlights (Osaka departure)

Osaka

7 hours

Nov 3, 2024

“Osaka Highlights”

The guide was friendly and courteous but lacked the details of the sites. Too expensive, not worth the money.

Yoshiharu K.

Thank you for your evaluation. But I could not understand what you really want to do. And I should have ask it, but I confused what I should ask you and I should explain. Next time I will have effort to ask it and to explain what you are interested in. Yours sincerely, Yoshi

Kristin C.

5 / 5

Nov 2, 2024

Osaka Highlights (Osaka departure)

Osaka

5 hours 30 min

Nov 2, 2024

“Great day exploring Osaka ”

Yoshi did a great job showing us around Osaka, helping us get a dinner reservation at a Kobe steak restaurant. Highly recommended him to show you around Osaka.

Yoshiharu K.

Dear Kristin Thank you for your evaluation. I enjoyed the tour too as I was interesting to know the place, "only women's floor of Siseido" in department store. Anyway, thank you for your evaluation. Yours sincerely, Yoshi