GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
Kyoto Private Tour - approach to Nisonin covered with autumn leaves
approach to Nisonin covered with autumn leaves
Kyoto Private Tour - Togetsukyo Bridge and Mt. Arashiyama in autumn
Togetsukyo Bridge and Mt. Arashiyama in autumn
Kyoto Private Tour - Katuragawa River
Katuragawa River
Kyoto Private Tour - bamboo grove leads to Ohkouch Villa
bamboo grove leads to Ohkouch Villa
Kyoto Private Tour - Okhouchi Garden Villa
Okhouchi Garden Villa
Kyoto Private Tour - overlook at Kyoto city from Villa
overlook at Kyoto city from Villa
Kyoto Private Tour - field area in West-Saga
field area in West-Saga
Kyoto Private Tour - Rakushisya with persimmon tree
Rakushisya with persimmon tree
Kyoto Private Tour - main gate of Jojakkoji Temple
main gate of Jojakkoji Temple
Kyoto Private Tour - main gate of Nisonin Temple
main gate of Nisonin Temple
Kyoto Private Tour - cards of collection of WAKA poem
cards of collection of WAKA poem
Kyoto Private Tour - main gate of Gioji Temple
main gate of Gioji Temple
Kyoto Private Tour - footpath in North-Saga area
footpath in North-Saga area
Kyoto Private Tour - 8-statue of JIzo at corner
8-statue of JIzo at corner
Kyoto Private Tour - Daikakuji Temple
Daikakuji Temple
Kyoto Private Tour - pond in Daikakuji Temple
pond in Daikakuji Temple
Kyoto Private Tour - Saga Go-ryu Ikebana at Hankyu Department Store
Saga Go-ryu Ikebana at Hankyu Department Store
Kyoto Private Tour - Arashiyama Station at night
Arashiyama Station at night

Western Kyoto: A Hike around Historical Sites in Court Literature.

Art, Culture, & Historical
Kyoto Tour Guide - Yosshi S.

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.
5.00 / 5
(7 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Kyoto
English, Japanese (Native)
6 hours
Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)
Up to 6 people

In the 8th century, Kyoto became the capital of the nation led by the emperor.10 km west of the Imperial Palace, the Sagano area, with the Katsuragawa River and Mt.Ogura, offered stunning scenery throughout the seasons. The Emperor, Imperial court clans, and literati built their villas and hermitages here, enjoying the composition of WAKA poetry, boating, and cherry blossoms/autumn leaves viewing. This hike takes you to historical sites in Sagano area that have inspired many celebrities.

Itinerary

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

12:00 PM

Meeting Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center.

Arashiyama area

#Arashiyama Park: A viewpoint for the scenery created by the Katsuragawa River and Togetsukyo Bridge (155m long) with Mt. Ogura (296m height) and Mt. Arashiyama (382m height) in the background. A famous spot for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

West-Saga area

#Ohkouchi Garden Villa/ D.Ohkouchi, a SAMURAI film actor in the 1900s, built his villa over 30 years on the slope of Mt.Ogura where we can overlook the entire Kyoto city area.

#Rakushisya/A hermitage with a persimmon tree in the middle of a field where a 17th-century HAIKU poet lived and interacted with celebrities.

#JoJakkoji Temple & Nisonin Temple/The place compiled the collection of WAKA poem,“Ogura Hyakunin Isshu” (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each), in the 13th century, is a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves on the slope of Mt.Ogura

North-Saga area

#Gioji Temple & Takiguchidera Temple/ According to the Tale of the Heike (the 13th century), the former is the temple where a dancer who lost the favor of the most powerful Taira clan at the time became a nun, and the latter is the temple dedicated to a court samurai and a court lady who fell in unfulfilled love.

#Daikakuji Temple/ The villa of Emperor Saga was converted into a temple in the 9th century. The Saga Go-ryu school of flower arranging began when the Emperor arranged chrysanthemums he had picked from a small island in Osawa Pond in a vase. The temple is next to the Uzumasa film studio district and serves as a filming location for SAMURAI movies.

Ending Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Kyoto City center

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

>guide fee, hotel pick up in Kyoto City center

What‘s not included

>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/train (some 2000JPY)

>admission fee (you/per adult)/Ohkouchi Garden Villa (1000JPY includes Macha service),JoJakkoji Temple(500JPY),Nisonin Temple(500JPY),Rakushisya(300JPY),Gioji Temple(300JPY),Daikakuji Temple(500JPY)

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>This tour involves walking about 5 km, so please wear comfortable walking shoes.

>In addition to the temples mentioned above, there are many other temples, scenic spots, cafes, and souvenir shops along the way. I'll adjust spots and time according to your requests.

>The above transportation and admission fees are often charged in CASH on-site, so please bring Japanese yen.

>This tour doesn't include insurance, so please purchase your travel insurance.

Important message from the supplier

>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)

>If you want a listed/customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.

>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport.

>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.


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 - Yosshi S.

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.
5.00 / 5
(7 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I guide you to the ancient capital cities of 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming history.

I grew up in OSAKA, studied in KYOTO, and worked in TOKYO and Osaka for 20 years as an urban planning expert for national and local governments. I surveyed community development sites throughout Japan, welcomed scholars and business managers from inside and outside Japan, and guided them in the cities.

Quitting my career, I became a freelancer as a Professional Engineer (Urban & Regional Planning) who loves movies. I have visited unique cities overseas, inspected urban development sites and filming locations, and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries). The more I see cities overseas, the more clearly, I understand the characteristics of Japan's ancient capital cities.

The Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara areas were Metropolitan areas centered on the Imperial Palace, and their locations have changed 15 times since the 7th century. The three cities have many historical spots and hidden attractions depending on times and places: temples, shrines, landscape gardens, traditional townhouses, bustling entertainment districts, and the filming locations of period dramas where stories were born (SAMURAI Dramas). In addition, the three cities are all within an hour's train ride, making it easy to travel around.

To convey to as many people as possible the charms of these ancient capital cities that I have discovered through years of practice and theory, I obtained national qualifications as a Guide-Interpreter and General Travel Service Manager. I have begun my guided activities based in the ancient capital cities.

From my extensive list of tourist destinations, I will create a tour to suit your tastes and guide you. I look forward to hearing from you.




Reviews

Kyoto visit to Imperial Palace gardens and tour of Palace State Guest House, with a special tour of the guest house. Also, Philosopher’s Walk, national Treasure Silver Palace, and Kyoto Aqueduct.

We had a very high quality time with Yosshi S for our visit in Kyoto. He was well prepared from both experience and study, and gave us rich background into each site to result in a strong connection with Kyoto’s history, its rich spiritual traditions and its very special people living and working in Kyoto. We are grateful for this day and would recommend Yosshi S. with our highest regard.

John M.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, thank you for your review. We had the experience of seeing how to treat guests at the state guesthouse and having a lunch of Kyoto pickled sushi at a shopping street where ordinary people shop. The Philosopher's Path is a course where I often walked with friends during my student years. Walking with John on the tour, I got back the feeling of being a student. Unfortunately, I could not become a philosopher, but I learned the philosophy of "going my way" and became a guide. Thank you very much. Yosshi

Mixed scenery with towns, temples, and National Museum of Nara

Yosshi S provided us with a joyful life adventure for our day with him in Nara. He was helpful in finding our ways to Nara’s treasures, gardens, temple grounds, and shrines as well as an English audio-guided tour of the National Museum of Nara, containing unique treasures on special exhibition for the period of our visit. We would recommend others for Yosshi’s informative, well-researched, and personalized tours, aimed to give us a full appreciation of a place, its people, and what is special about both.

John M.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, Thank you for your valuable review. The day of our planned tour was the opening day of the National Treasures Exhibition at the Nara National Museum, so I decided to take you to the museum and let you fully appreciate the national treasure Buddha statues. The city of Nara has a long history of more than 1,300 years since Heijo-kyo. The citizens of Nara enjoy this long history through the deer relaxing in Nara Park, crawling through the pillar hole of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Karakuri Toy Museum. Those are appealing and attract both domestic and international tourists. I am happy to have conveyed this to you through this tour. Thank you. Yosshi

Want to Personalize?

$257/ per group

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