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Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour - Golden Pavilion
Golden Pavilion
Kyoto Private Tour - Lunch at Nishiki Market
Lunch at Nishiki Market
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour - Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market
Kyoto Private Tour - Pound with reflection
Pound with reflection
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -
Kyoto Private Tour -

Private Kyoto in One Day: Golden Pavilion, Zen Temples, Nishiki Market & Gion—Customized for You

Art, Culture, & Historical
Kyoto Tour Guide - Akari Y.

Joined 2024

Akari Y.
5.00 / 5
(10 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Kyoto
Chinese (Simplified), English, Japanese (Native)
6 hours
Private tour (only you and Akari Y.)
Up to 8 people

Enjoy a full-day private tour of Kyoto, tailored to your interests and pace. Visit Ryoan-ji’s Zen rock garden, admire Kinkaku-ji’s Golden Pavilion, explore Nishiki Market, and stroll through historic Gion. End at peaceful Kennin-ji or the Gion Kagai Art Museum. This is a sample itinerary and can be customized to include places you would especially like to visit.

Itinerary

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

08:30 AM

Meeting Point

Kyoto station

- Meeting points at Kyoto Station: Starbucks Coffee near the Shinkansen Central Exit JR Kyoto Station Central Exit Hotel pickup is also available. Please let us know the name of your hotel when booking.

Ryoan-ji /Zen temple

Ryoan-ji is a 15th-century Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rock garden of 15 stones. Queen Elizabeth II also visited this peaceful and iconic Kyoto temple.

Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion)

Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 14th century by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Its gold-covered upper floors reflect beautifully on the pond, making it one of Kyoto’s most iconic sights.

Entrance of Nishiki Market

Known as Kyoto's kitchen, this bustling market is a feast for the senses, offering local delicacies, fresh produce, and traditional crafts. It's the perfect place to experience Kyoto's culinary and cultural diversity.

Explore the charming streets of Gion

Gion is one of Kyoto’s most famous historic districts and the setting of Memoirs of a Geisha. Stroll through its charming streets, lined with traditional wooden townhouses and tea houses, and experience the atmosphere of old Kyoto.

Kenjinji is one of the oldest Zen temples in Kyoto.

Kennin-ji, founded in 1202, is one of Kyoto’s oldest Zen temples. Near Gion, it is famous for its Twin Dragons ceiling painting, Wind and Thunder Gods screens, and peaceful Zen gardens.

Ending Point

The tour can end at Kennin-ji or the Gion Kagai Art Museum, depending on your preference.

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

What‘s included

A private, English-speaking guide

A customized full-day itinerary

Tour planning based on your interests

Guide service throughout the tour

What‘s not included

Public Transportation:

Approximately JPY 1,300 per person


Admission Fees:


Ryoan-ji: JPY 500 per person

Kinkaku-ji: JPY 500 per person

Kennin-ji: JPY 800 per person


Food and Drinks:

Lunch is approximately JPY 2,000 per person.


Please note that transportation, admission fees, and food and drinks are not included in the tour price. If the guide accompanies you inside the attractions or joins you for lunch, guests are kindly asked to cover the guide’s admission fees and lunch as well.


Payments will be made in cash, so please have enough cash available on the day of the tour.




The tour may end at the Gion Kagai Art Museum upon request. Museum admission is not included in the tour price. General admission is JPY 1,500 per person. If you are interested in visiting the museum, please let me know in advance.

Tour Important Information

* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Important message from the supplier

Transportation fee and lunch fee for yourself ans the guide will be paid by the customer.

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
Kyoto Tour Guide - Akari Y.

Joined 2024

Akari Y.
5.00 / 5
(10 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Akari Y.

I have started guiding in the Kansai area since 2023. I am passionate about introducing the history of Japan.

I am happy to introduce guests from overseas to the Japanese culture established by our predecessors.

I will introduce Japanese culture, food, cuisine, sake, nature, manga, spiritual culture, history, Buddhism, Shinto, Shugendo, pilgrimage paths, and other topics of interest.


Let me introduce myself. I was born in Osaka and grew up in Osaka and Kyoto. I have lived in the U.S., China, and Australia when I was young.

Reviews

An Unforgettable Day with Akari at Mount Kurama and Kibune

Our family of four had the pleasure of spending a day with Akari exploring Mount Kurama and Kibune, and it was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Japan. Akari is far more than a guide—she is a wonderful storyteller, teacher, and ambassador for Japanese culture. Her knowledge of the history, spirituality, mythology, and traditions of the area brought every temple, trail, and shrine to life. She answered countless questions from both adults and children with patience, enthusiasm, and remarkable depth of knowledge. What made the experience truly special was Akari herself. She is warm, kind, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about creating meaningful experiences for her guests. She connected wonderfully with our two sons, making them feel engaged and included throughout the day, while also sharing insights that we as parents deeply appreciated. Thanks to Akari, we did not simply visit Kurama and Kibune—we experienced them. We left with a much deeper understanding of Japanese history, nature, and spirituality, along with memories our family will cherish for years to come. If you are considering a guide in Kyoto, we cannot recommend Akari highly enough. She turned a beautiful day into an unforgettable one. Thank you, Akari, for helping make our family’s journey to Japan so special. — Daniel, Lisa, Jack, and Alex Srour Highland Park IL USA

Daniel S.

Akari Y.

Thank you very much for your beautiful review. I was truly touched by your generous words. It means a great deal to me to know that your day in Kurama and Kibune became such a memorable part of your family’s journey in Japan. I also remember the day very fondly—the quiet sound of the river, seeing the deer, our conversations about Reiki, the history of the mountain, the hero legends, and the stories of the dragon. Even the simple moments, such as enjoying lunch together and riding the bus and train, felt like a meaningful part of the experience. It was a pleasure to share Kurama and Kibune with all of you. Your family’s warmth, curiosity, and openness made the day very special for me as well. Thank you again for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review, and also for kindly sharing the photos on GoWithGuide. I am sincerely grateful. I hope your memories of Japan will stay with you for many years, and I would be delighted if our paths cross again someday.

Want to Personalize?

$277/ per group

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