This tour is a bridge that connects you and unique cultural experiences in Kyoto.
Before the tour, a booking of a cultural experience will be made on behalf of you. On the day of the tour, you will be taken to the place of cultural experiences and the guide will work as an interpreter.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
At your hotel in Kyoto city
- Tea Ceremony
- Kimono Textile weaving
- Kimono Textile dying
- Pottery making
- Sake Tasting
- Zen Meditation
- A visit to traditional crafts workshop such as Bamboo, Lacquer ware, Incense, etc.
At your hotel in Kyoto city
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Interpreter Guide fee
Fee for making a booking of cultural experience
Fee for actual cultural experiences. (e.g. tea ceremony, pottery making etc.)
- The standard duration of this tour is three hours, however it may differ depending on a type of cultural experiences.
- Cancellation policy set by each cultural experience place is to be applied on this tour. Cancellation policy differs depending on the place and it will be notified to you when the tour is booked.
I was born and grew up in Osaka, later lived in Tokyo, then the UK and Singapore, and now I live in Kyoto. I have more than 15 years of experience working in a multinational corporation and now I am working as a national licensed guide interpreter, as well as a City of Kyoto visitors host guide.
One of my hobbies is travelling abroad and so far I have visited more than fifty countries.
Kyoto is the cultural center of Japan and has great historical importance. I can offer you unique experiences in this beautiful city, which can include visits to traditional Japanese gardens, ancient temples and shrines designated as world heritage sites, authentic Japanese cultural experiences such as the tea ceremony, sake tasting at local breweries, and exploring food markets. With a flexible approach, I can help you personalize your agenda.
I will endeavor to make sure that you will have an enjoyable and memorable trip.
I look forward to guiding you here in Kyoto.
Certified as
- National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
- City of Kyoto Visitors Host , interpreter guides who specialize in Kyoto and offer Kyoto quality service
- International Sake Sommelier (International Kikisake-shi)
- Kyoto Expert Certification 2nd grade
“Very informative and interesting walking tour of Kyoto's South Higashiyama area”
Katsuko met us after we had lunch in the South Higashiyama neighborhood, helpfully suggesting a place close to the restaurant to meet, and she took us on a 3-hour tour of the area that included multiple Buddhist temples, the Gion neighborhood, a Shinto shrine, and then ended at a shopping arcade in a convenient area for us to return to our hotel. Throughout the tour, Katsuko was very nice, very helpful in answering all of our questions, and very flexible when there were stores we wanted to visit, sights we wanted to see, or pictures we asked or she offered to take of my wife and I. After our tour, Katsuko proactively reached out us with ideas for our next day in Kyoto, even recognizing some sights that might be better to do on the rainy day that was forecasted. Thanks Katsuko for a lovely tour!
Katsuko O.
(31 reviews)Dear Brett, Thank you very much for your kind review. I'm glad to know that you enjoyed the tour. It was a great pleasure for me to guide such a wonderful couple like yourselves. I sincerely hope to see you again in the future. Warmest regards, Katsuko.
Elena B.
A Visit to Stunning Kyoto Japanese Gardens (1-day)
“Great Kyoto tour”
My husband and I had Kyoto Japanize Gardens tour with Katsuko. We’ve learned about Katsuko from our friends who were taking her tour and recommended it to us. And we really enjoyed having time with Katsuko. As first time Japan visitors we had many questions about Japanize culture. Katsuko not just answered them, but adjusted the tour to show us something we expressed interest in. She took us to the place where we could experience making and tasting matcha tea. Her lunch recommendation was excellent and introduced us to some food we didn’t try before. We also appreciate that the pace of the tour was just right for us and we could select waking vs. riding. Katsuko is very knowledgeable person and you can feel her love to her country.
Katsuko O.
(31 reviews)Dear Elena, Thank you very much for taking your time to write such a kind reivew. I'm glad to know that you enjoyed the garden tour. It was a truly memorable day for me too, and I sincerely hope to see you again in the future. Warmest regards, Katsuko Ozaki.
“A fantastic day in Kyoto in early September”
My wife and I had the pleasure of spending a fantastic day with Katsuko in Kyoto in early September. The entire day was simply outstanding from start to finish. Katsuko's manner and professionalism is only matched by her knowledge and passion for the city. Katsuko organised a personal itinerary that covered all of our main interests as well as making some brilliant suggestion for our other days in Kyoto. A guide in Kyoto is a great way to get around and I would have no hesitation in highly recommending Katsuko's services. Thank you Katsuko and thank you Kyoto !
Katsuko O.
(31 reviews)Dear Damian, Thank you very much for your kind review. I'm glad to know that you enjoyed the tour in Kyoto. I had such a great time with you and it was a memorable day for me too. I sincerely hope to see you again in the future. Warmest regards, Katsuko Ozaki
$79/ per group
Reserve