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The best of Kyoto in any season
Joined 2023
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,200 years! There are so many historic sites and beautiful places that you will be at a loss for what to choose. Please tell me about your favorite. Considering the access, the season, and the time, I will make a suitable plan.
I recommend some hidden gems if you like going off the beaten track. And also the charming famous popular tourist spots worth visiting when it is so busy. I will tell you stories to help you appreciate the place.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At you hotel lobby
Meeting point
At your Hotel Lobby in Kyoto, etc.
Nijyo-jyo castle
It is a rare place where you can see the residence and office of the Shogunate with many masterpieces of art along with beautiful gardens.
Kinkakuji temple
Beautiful golden palace with wonderful gardens and northern mountains on its backdrop. One of the must-see places in Kyoto.
cozy restaurant
This restaurant is a kind of a hidden gem. They serve a beautiful lunch. We can spend time silently in a small home-like restaurant.
Ryoanji temple
Zen Buddhist temple, famous for its dry garden, which Elizabeth Ⅱ admired. Please feel the universe of Zen Buddhism.
Kiyomizu temple
It's not just a temple. As it is jutting out of the cliff, you will enjoy the panoramic views of Kyoto. And please enjoy the quaint feel around it. You shouldn't miss it.
Higashiyama Hills
downhill course with stairs
Gion district
Gion district is famous for Geisha(Geiko and Maiko). Many high-class Japanese restaurants and houses exist where Geisha live. As we are now in the evening, you may see some dressed-up Geisha on the way to the party places if you are lucky.
Your Hotel or the station
Ending spot
Ending Point
At you hotel or train station
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
guide fee, hotel pick-up
transportation fee (you and the guide), taxi(about 4,800 yen) bus or metro (depends)
lunch (you and the guide) of about 3,000 yen /per person, or a more reasonable lunch of about 1200 yen
admission fees of about 3000 yen/per person, no guide required
Tour Important Information
If you have some request for the meal, please let me know beforehand at least 3 days.
This course is mostly flat or downhill, but there are a few uphill sections. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
We will visit many must-sees efficiently in a limited hours.
To avoid being in a hurry, let's use taxis. Taxis are not expensive in Japan, and you can easily catch one in Kyoto.
I will plan to visit scenic beauties at a good time of the day. I will take some nice photos of you.
You will have a happy time in Kyoto.
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 2023
About Tour Guide Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport.
I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan.
If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Reviews
“Incredible, Magical Day Trip to Mount Koya!”
Mount Koya (Mount Koyasan) is a beautiful, mystical and sacred place, like another special world, filled with history, spiritual meaning and serenity. We’ve traveled many places in the world, but this unique UNESCO World Heritage site is perhaps our favorite due to the gorgeous mountainous locale in the early autumn. Shuji, our very knowledgeable professor and guide, met with us at our hotel (for our second terrific tour with him) and provided meaningful lessons about Kukai during our train ride and also while we walked the magnificent grounds surrounding the beautiful temple grounds. We thoroughly enjoyed a delicious lunch he arranged and had prepared just for us at the temple. Our day was full, and we loved every minute with our new friend, Shuji. We highly recommend this full day with Shuji and wish we had more time to spend with him! His resourcefulness and kindness is beyond measure.
Shuji O.
(21 reviews)Thank you so much for your great review. I love every word of it. Yes, we had a really exciting tour. We called it Mission Impossible, although the reason is a secret here. You are incredible travelers who make anything possible. I had so much fun with both of you. I hope you have a wonderful time for the rest of your trip to Japan. I have learned a new English expression: your kindness is beyond measure! From your true friend, Shuji O.
“Perfect Introduction to Osaka: Customized Half-Day Tour with Expert Guide Shuji”
For our first time in Japan, an awesome orientation and introduction to Osaka was provided by the wonderful Shuji, who is an extremely knowledgeable historian. He planned a fun and well-paced half-day customized tour for just the two of us. We HIGHLY recommend him to be your guide! Our day began with meeting him in our hotel lobby where we reviewed an Osaka map and discussed in general our itinerary for the day. From there Shuji provided practical tips for navigating our Umeda hotel location, the local metro and train stations, and introduced us to the Namba area, including the Dotombori district and markets, where many options are available for dining. We chose to enjoy lunch at one of his favorite restaurants for an authentic sit-down meal. From there we visited Osaka Castle park and grounds where Shuji presented an interesting and historic overview as well as showing us great photo opportunities. Then, per our request, we had reservations for a ride on the Aqualiner for city views from the water. We disembarked for a lovely waterfront stroll along the embankment of the Daini Neya River, followed by ending our lovely day with Golden Hour drinks at one of Shuji’s hidden gems overlooking a gorgeous rose garden. Shuji is such a kind and generous gentleman and professor. We thoroughly enjoyed our discussions and afternoon with him as he provided the “master key” for fantastic inside tips, traditions and suggestions for making the most of our travels in Japan.
Shuji O.
(21 reviews)Thank you for the fabulous review! You are such excellent travelers, even without my guide. There is a Japanese saying that one hears one and knows ten, which is exactly what you did. We had a wonderful afternoon. It will be a good memory for me. Thank you so much!
“Narra day trip and Uguisu Waterfall”
We really wanted to see some of Japan's wild forrest, so Shuji organized for a taxi van to take us (from Narra)to Uguisu waterfall. This was really off the beaten track and was quite unique.Although It was very wet we really enjoyed it.He also guided us through Nara's Deers, buddhist temples and statues. I would recommend Shuji for anyone looking for a guide, he is a long time Osaka resident, great with kids, good English and a nice Man.
Shuji O.
(21 reviews)Thank you very much for your kind message. Your request made this tour a fantastic one. Despite the rain, we explored the sacred forest and met many beings and wonderful views. I hope your children had fun and it was exactly what you wanted. I also enjoyed it very much. And I hope this tour will be a good memory for your family. Thank you very much.
