This tour is designed for Kyoto repeaters who would like to explore southern areas of Kyoto rich in historic and scenic sites. Uji is famous for the production of high-quality tea and Byodo-in Temple, a World Heritage site. Fushimi well-known for the production of Japanese sake was a battle ground before the Meiji Restoration ( 1868 ) between pro and anti Tokugawa Shogunate troops.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Uji Station
Byodo-in Temple Ujigami Shrine ( a World Heritage site ) Walking along the Uji River
Teradaya Inn Gekkeikan Sake Museum Jukkoku-bune Boat Riding
Ending Point
Keihan Chushojima Station
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
transportation fee ( you and guide ), lunch, dinner and entrance fee for Byodo-in Temple ( 600 yen ), Teradaya Inn ( 400 yen ), Gekkeikan Sake Museum ( 600 yen ) and Jukkoku-bune boat riding ( 1500 yen ) .
You will take a train of Keihan Line from Uji to Fushimi, about a 15 minute ride.
The cost for dinner at the izakaya ranges from 3,000 yen to 5, 000 yen per person, depending on what and how much you eat and drink.
It is desirable to carry overseas travel insurance because the guide is not liable for any damage or loss incurred during the tour. It is also requested to bring enough Japanese yen with you because some restaurants and taxis do not accept credit cards.
Hi. My name is Yoshihisa. Call me "Yoshie", please. It means good or O.K. in Japanese. I live in Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, located just in between Kyoto and Nara. I was born and raised in Iga, Mie Prefecture. Iga is a birthplace of ninja and a renowned haiku poet, Matsuo Basho. I might be a descendant of ninja. I aim at becoming a linguistic ninja, following a part of Basho's lifestyle with the incorporation of seasonal changes into my tours. In addition to visiting famous temples and shrines, I invite you to lesser-known places of historic interest.
Once in a month I go hiking or mountain climbing with some friends mainly in mountains surrounding Kyoto and Nara basins. Recently I have got intrigued by the charms of Buddhist statues, which are manifestations of people's wishes and prayers. I also like izakaya (Japanese-style taverns) hopping, tasting delicious dishes and locally brewed sake at reasonable prices. Especially I like communicating with people from home and abroad, talking face to face. Some of the above-mentioned elements are included in my walking tours. I hope you will discover new aspects of cultural and natural beauty in Kansai area through one of my tours which you could never gain otherwise.
One of my favorite phrases that come from Zen Buddhism is Ichigo Ichie or this meeting-but only once in a lifetime. My interpretation goes this way: This place and this moment never cross again. Each and every good encounter, however, lingers on like the sound of a temple bell. Won't you explore a deeper world of Japanese culture in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka with me?
Rose-marie W.
“A wonderful day in Yoshie’s company ”
Yoshie was a lovely guide and took us around Kyoto visiting the key gardens and temples that Kyoto offers on his ‘Golden’ Tour. He has excellent English having been an English teacher and headmaster previously. He is kind, thoughtful and gentle and good company. It was like having a friend alongside you.
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Yoshihisa T.
Hi Rose-marie. Thank you very much for your heartwarming comment on my tour in Kyoto. I am pleased to learn that I was good company to you during the tour. I wish you and your husband the best of luck. Yoshie
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Sandy E.
“A day we will never forget!”
I wish we could give 10 stars to Yoshie! What an incredible day. He was so warm and friendly and so knowledgeable. We learned so much and had such a great time! I cannot recommend Yoshie enough. If you don't see Kyoto with Yoshie then you're not really seeing Kyoto.
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Yoshihisa T.
Hi Sandy. What a wonderful comment you gave me!! Thank you so much for your kind review for my tour in Kyoto. I really had a very pleasant time guiding and talking with you two. I hope you will continute a pleasant trip and return home safely. With best wishes. Yoshie
Jeannie K.
“Full and authentic experience from knowledgeable and experienced guide. ”
We had an incredible day exploring Kyoto with Yoshi. As Americans visiting Japan for the first time, we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Yoshi took us to many of Kyoto’s most important historical sites and shared fascinating insights that made the city’s history come alive. His deep knowledge, thoughtful storytelling, and ability to explain cultural details in an engaging way made every stop meaningful. Yoshi also knew exactly where to go for the best photos and how to navigate through crowds respectfully but efficiently—ensuring we had time and space to appreciate Kyoto’s most stunning spots. His understanding of when to pause, explain, or simply let us take in the moment showed his intuition and experience. What impressed us most was his genuine respect for the shrines and temples we visited. He greeted each with a bow, shared the traditions behind them, and brought a quiet spirituality to the experience that we truly appreciated. We also enjoyed sharing meals with him—a casual local lunch and later dinner at a family-run restaurant where he knew the owners personally. Both were memorable parts of our trip, filled with great food and conversation. Yoshi is knowledgeable, kind, and deeply respectful of his culture and guests. Our day with him was one of the highlights of our entire trip to Japan, and we can’t recommend him highly enough. Thank you Yoshi, for an unforgettable experience!
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Yoshihisa T.
Hi Jeannie. I really appreciate your thoughtful and considerate words of thanks. I had a very pleasant time guiding and talking with you three because you were all attentive to my explanation at each site. I am also glad that you liked the food and atmosphere of the two restaurants for lunch and dinner. I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again in the near future. Ichigo Ichie Yoshie
$247/ per group
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