The summer in Kyoto is so hot, especially in the afternoon. This is a 4-hour tour which starts at 7:30 AM (or 8:00) for avoiding the heat in the afternoon. The visiting spots are mainly in forests or indoor. Highly recommended to choose this tour from later July to Middle of September. Upon request, I will take you to a nice local Japanese restaurant for lunch without any extended guiding fee.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At the lobby of your hotel in central Kyoto
Please select one of the courses below.
< A course > - Fushimi Inari shrine - Sanjusangendo temple - Gion - Kenninji temple
- Fushimi Inari shrine: Going through the path in the fresh air of the forest
- Sanjusangendo temple: Visit the temple with spectacular 1, 001 Buddhist statures
- Gion: Walk through the traditional entertainment area where you might see Geiko(Geisha) or Maiko
- Kenninji temple: Visit the temple with splendid Zen garden
< B course > - Bamboo forest - Tenryuji temple - Ohi river - Nijo castle or Ryoanji temple (choice of either one)
- Bamboo forest: Going through the path with so fresh and clear air
- Tenryuji temple: Visit Zen temple with beautiful garden
- Ohi river: Nice & cool view of the emerald green river
- Nijo castle or Ryoanji temple (choice of either one): Visit real Samurai Palace or Famous Zen rock garden
Ending Point
At the lobby of your hotel in central Kyoto or any requested location
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee, hotel pick-up in central Kyoto area
transportation fee(apx. 1,000JPY by subway or local train (taxi may be used depending on the situation), entrance fee(apx. 1,500 or less)
Both courses require around 4 Km's walking throughout the tour.
The visiting spots may be changed based on the communication with the customer.
In case you want to book my tour for two or more consecutive days, please send me a message in advance.
My nick name is Rick and Japanese name is Ryoichi. I was born and grew up in Kyoto. Kyoto has so many sightseeing spots based on its 1000 year history. I will propose you the "must see" spots from local eyes not only temples & shrines but also alternative side of Kyoto. As Kyoto certified English guide, I will guide you with high hospitality for your satisfactory stay in Kyoto.
1. For the first visitors
I will prepare the tour with selection out of the spots as Nijo-castle, Imperial Palace, Nishiki-market, Gion amusement quarter, Arashiyama area and some temples and shrines of World Cultural Heritage Sites based on your request and taste.
2. For the visitors who want to see more spots than regular tours
I will prepare some unique tours like visiting Fushimi area for Sake brewery and riding classical boat, visiting some traditional handicrafts ateliers, enjoying traditional performing art, etc.
Please make any inquiry for your preferred type of Kyoto guiding without hesitation. I would be happy to propose you with the type of tour that makes your visit in Kyoto unforgettable one.
Credentials:
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (EN01767)
Kyoto City Licensed English Guide (EN00004)
2nd Grade of the licensing examination on knowledge of Kyoto history & culture
Thomas S.
“good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice”
good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice
Rick I.
Dear Thomas, Thank you for the nice review. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. I appreciate your comment that I should have given you a little more historical information and I will improve my tour based on your advice in future. Thank you anyway for the tour with me and all of your members were so nice! Best regards, Rick
Philipp Z.
“Fantastic half day early bird tour in Kyoto ”
We took the four-hour early bird tour with Rick and had a fantastic time. He is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide who explained many fascinating and unusual details to us and brought us closer to the culture and history of his hometown. In Arashiyama, we visited the beautiful bamboo forest, the Nonomiya Shrine, the impressive Tenryuji Temple, and the idyllic Ohi River. Finally, we visited the old part and the garden of Nijo-jo Castle. Rick explained the exciting period of the Tokugawa shogunate in a very interesting and vivid way. His English is excellent. He lived in the USA for an extended period. Thank you very much for the wonderful and very interesting tour of Kyoto! Philipp & Dominik from Munich, Germany
Rick I.
Dear Philipp, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad you enjoyed the early morning of Kyoto and I'm sure this is the best timing of the day when we can feel this historical city. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. Best regards, Rick
Laurent H.
“Great one day discovery of Kyoto with Rick”
We just had a wonderful time discovering some of the gems of Kyoto. Rick was a great guide; very flexible with regard to our interests, pleasant, knowledgeable of the sites we visited and skilled at communicating - use of pictures, English was easy to understand.
Rick I.
Dear Laurent, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad that you enjoyed the tour. I also enjoyed the conversation with all the members and everybody was so nice. I hope your memory of Kyoto will be the one of best memories in Japan. Rick
$184/ per group