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Toshiyo O.

Kyoto Private Tour - The process of makig Yuba, the healthiest, protein-rich Japanese food. After the beans soaked overnight, they are ground into a paste and boiled in a large kettle. The resulting porridge is strained through finely woven cloth and separated into yuba soup and okara( bean curd). The yuba soup is transferred to a flat pan and boiled. The solid film which forms on the simmering soup is then carefully scooped up. This is Yuba.

The process of makig Yuba, the healthiest, protein-rich Japanese food. After the beans soaked overnight, they are ground into a paste and boiled in a large kettle. The resulting porridge is strained through finely woven cloth and separated into yuba soup and okara( bean curd). The yuba soup is transferred to a flat pan and boiled. The solid film which forms on the simmering soup is then carefully scooped up. This is Yuba.

The owner of Yubakichi, my friend. He makes Yuba, made only from soybeans of the highest quality. He work hard every day,

In the Nishiki Market, you can buy fresh sea food, Kyoto-brand vegetables,pickles, kitchen tools (kettles, knives, basekts and so on) and handicrafts. This narrow street lasts about 400 meters. This market is always busy and active. In the market we eat sushi lunch.

Kyoto Private Tour - Yasaka shrine is dedicated to the worship of Susanoo no Mikoto who is thought to protect people from evil and bring success in business.Enter through the torii shrine gate, purify yourself at the washbasin, and then bow twice, clap twice and bow once more. In front of the outer shrine, slightly bow your head, make a monetary offering and the ring the bell.

Yasaka shrine is dedicated to the worship of Susanoo no Mikoto who is thought to protect people from evil and bring success in business.Enter through the torii shrine gate, purify yourself at the washbasin, and then bow twice, clap twice and bow once more. In front of the outer shrine, slightly bow your head, make a monetary offering and the ring the bell.

Kyoto Private Tour - In front of the outer shrine, slightly bow your head, make a monray offering and ring the bell, wishing your dream come true.
You can draw sticks at the shrine to tell the fortunes.Correspondins slips of paper are given to indicate your fortunes, such as very lucky, lucky moderately lucky and unlucky.

In front of the outer shrine, slightly bow your head, make a monray offering and ring the bell, wishing your dream come true. You can draw sticks at the shrine to tell the fortunes.Correspondins slips of paper are given to indicate your fortunes, such as very lucky, lucky moderately lucky and unlucky.

Kyoto Private Tour - Kennin-ji temple is a temple of the Zen sect, one of the main branches of Japanese Buddhism. Buddhism, founded about 2,500years ago in India by Shakyamuni Buddha, teaches that the inherent suffering of life can be transcended through equanimity,wisdom, and compassioon.The temple was founded in 1202 by the preist Eisai. It has a bearutyful dry landscape garden. You can sit in front of the garden, enjoying the view as long as you like.

Kennin-ji temple is a temple of the Zen sect, one of the main branches of Japanese Buddhism. Buddhism, founded about 2,500years ago in India by Shakyamuni Buddha, teaches that the inherent suffering of life can be transcended through equanimity,wisdom, and compassioon.The temple was founded in 1202 by the preist Eisai. It has a bearutyful dry landscape garden. You can sit in front of the garden, enjoying the view as long as you like.

Kyoto Private Tour - You can see two dragons on the ceiling of the hall near the main building.. It measures 11.4m by 15.7m and is drawn with the finest quality ink on thick traditional Japanese paper. Dragons are beilived to be protectors of the Buddhist teachings They are also considered to be gods of water,sending the nourishing rain of the teachings of Buddhism down onto followers.

You can see two dragons on the ceiling of the hall near the main building.. It measures 11.4m by 15.7m and is drawn with the finest quality ink on thick traditional Japanese paper. Dragons are beilived to be protectors of the Buddhist teachings They are also considered to be gods of water,sending the nourishing rain of the teachings of Buddhism down onto followers.

Joined 2014

Toshiyo O.

4.71 / 5

(279 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Date

People

Available Areas

Kyoto (Living), Nara, Osaka, Shiga

Languages

English, Japanese

Response Time

1 day on average

Availability Updated

2 days ago

About Tour Guide Toshiyo O.

I was born and raised in Kyoto.Kyoto has a lot of things to see and experience. Kyoto is an ancient city with a lot of world heritage.

I am happy to show you both traditonal aspects of Japan and modern things.

I use public transportation and I am good at walking.

Also I am very flexible.

Important

I can guide in Kyoto,Nara Osaka and Shiga.

I live in Kyoto city so my transportation fee is needed if I guide in Nara Osaka and Shiga.

Tours

All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

Kyoto has many beautiful places to visit. I especially would like to take you to the most exciting spots in Kyoto in 1 day. Please pick a few of the options from the following sightseeing places and I will take you as many places as possible at a reasonable price.

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

FROM$203/ per group

Kyoto

6 hours

６hour Kyoto exciting private tour

概要 You can experience both temples and shrines as well as visit beautiful Japanese bamboo grove and gardens. With my help, you will be able to understand Japanese culture and food. I will take you to these places by public transportation. Such transportation costs about 1500yen for 1 day. It is your own tour. You can stay in the place you like as long as you want to, taking pictures and enjoying

６hour Kyoto exciting private tour

FROM$153/ per group

Kyoto

4 hours

Half day special customized tour in Kyoto

This is a half-day tour for the people who would like to visit Kyoto in a limited time. Please pick one or two sightseeing places from the following list and I will take you there at a reasonable price.

Half day special customized tour in Kyoto

FROM$114/ per group

One day tour From Gion to the Nishiki Market

Kyoto

5 hours

One day tour From Gion to the Nishiki Market

Kyoto is an ancient city, which used to like be the capital of Japan for 1000 years. There are about 1600 temples and 400 shrines and beautiful gardens. It also has a lot of traditional crafts,such as kimono, fans, Japanese artistic sweets. There are a lot of things to do and experience. First of all I will take you to Gion area.I will take you to Yasaka Shrine and Kenninji Temple. Then let's move to the Nishiki market. and have sushi lunch in the market. Gion is the area of entertainment, where there are many bars and taverns. Some important business and political talks have been conducted. You may run across Maiko and Geiko, Japanese entertainers in kimono. If you want to wear Japanese costume in Gion, I can arrange with extra charge. NIshiki market is the kitchen of the Kyoro, where local people buy their everyday food. Fish stores, vegetable stores, pickles stores and so on. A friend of mine owns a Yuba shop in the market. Yuba is vegan, dairy-free ,gluten free,preserve-free, additive-free and protein rich. You can see the yuba making process.

One day tour From Gion to the Nishiki Market

FROM$129/ per group

Katsura Imperial Villa and Fushimi Inari

Kyoto

4 hours

Katsura Imperial Villa and Fushimi Inari

Katsura Imperial Villa is too beautiful to express! In the early Edo period, Prince Toshihito, who excelled in both literature and the martial art from childhood, built the Villa. That is both tasteful and simple. We need to apply for the Imperial Household Agency to get in. I will apply for you by postcard. It takes an hour to see the villa by the special guide of the villa. The fee is free.

Katsura Imperial Villa and Fushimi Inari

FROM$114/ per group

Experiencing Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony

Shiga

2 hours

Experiencing Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony

You can experience real traditional Japanese tea ceremony privately. I will pick you up at Otsu jr station or Hamaotsu Krishna station. Please feel relaxed to contact me.

Experiencing Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony

FROM$64/ per group

Kyoto

7 hours

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

Kyoto has many beautiful places to visit. I especially would like to take you to the most exciting spots in Kyoto in 1 day. Please pick a few of the options from the following sightseeing places and I will take you as many places as possible at a reasonable price.

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

FROM$203/ per group

Kyoto

6 hours

６hour Kyoto exciting private tour

概要 You can experience both temples and shrines as well as visit beautiful Japanese bamboo grove and gardens. With my help, you will be able to understand Japanese culture and food. I will take you to these places by public transportation. Such transportation costs about 1500yen for 1 day. It is your own tour. You can stay in the place you like as long as you want to, taking pictures and enjoying

６hour Kyoto exciting private tour

FROM$153/ per group

Kyoto

4 hours

Half day special customized tour in Kyoto

This is a half-day tour for the people who would like to visit Kyoto in a limited time. Please pick one or two sightseeing places from the following list and I will take you there at a reasonable price.

Half day special customized tour in Kyoto

FROM$114/ per group

Kyoto

5 hours

One day tour From Gion to the Nishiki Market

Kyoto is an ancient city, which used to like be the capital of Japan for 1000 years. There are about 1600 temples and 400 shrines and beautiful gardens. It also has a lot of traditional crafts,such as kimono, fans, Japanese artistic sweets. There are a lot of things to do and experience. First of all I will take you to Gion area.I will take you to Yasaka Shrine and Kenninji Temple. Then let's move to the Nishiki market. and have sushi lunch in the market. Gion is the area of entertainment, where there are many bars and taverns. Some important business and political talks have been conducted. You may run across Maiko and Geiko, Japanese entertainers in kimono. If you want to wear Japanese costume in Gion, I can arrange with extra charge. NIshiki market is the kitchen of the Kyoro, where local people buy their everyday food. Fish stores, vegetable stores, pickles stores and so on. A friend of mine owns a Yuba shop in the market. Yuba is vegan, dairy-free ,gluten free,preserve-free, additive-free and protein rich. You can see the yuba making process.

One day tour From Gion to the Nishiki Market

FROM$129/ per group

Kyoto

4 hours

Katsura Imperial Villa and Fushimi Inari

Katsura Imperial Villa is too beautiful to express! In the early Edo period, Prince Toshihito, who excelled in both literature and the martial art from childhood, built the Villa. That is both tasteful and simple. We need to apply for the Imperial Household Agency to get in. I will apply for you by postcard. It takes an hour to see the villa by the special guide of the villa. The fee is free.

Katsura Imperial Villa and Fushimi Inari

FROM$114/ per group

Shiga

2 hours

Experiencing Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony

You can experience real traditional Japanese tea ceremony privately. I will pick you up at Otsu jr station or Hamaotsu Krishna station. Please feel relaxed to contact me.

Experiencing Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony

FROM$64/ per group

Reviews

Mauro L.

5 / 5

Feb 14, 2026

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

Feb 14, 2026

Kyoto

7 hours

“Arigatou Toshiyo”

Toshiyo is a very experienced tour guide. She has an enormous wealth of knowledge and as a native of Kyoto she is perfectly knowledgable about this city. We felt well taken care of in every situation. Our goal to see as much as possible in this short time (1 day) was fulfilled. Our gratitude goes to this unique woman.

Toshiyo O.

Hi Mauro Thank you very much for having me as your guide. I’m glad you have enjoyed my home town,Kyoto. It was a warm beautiful winter day and we could see the plum blossoms. Hope to see you again here or Zurich . Toshiyo

Pablo V.

5 / 5

Jan 11, 2026

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

Jan 11, 2026

Kyoto

7 hours

“A Perfect Day Exploring Kyoto with Toshiyo”

We had a wonderful customized one-day tour in Kyoto with Toshiyo, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. She met us at our hotel and took care of all the logistics, allowing us to enjoy the city in a relaxed and well-organized way. The itinerary was perfectly balanced and thoughtfully planned. We visited Nijo Castle, explored the Arashiyama area—including temples and beautiful surroundings—and finished at the iconic Kinkakuji Temple. At each location, Toshiyo shared clear and insightful explanations about the history, culture, and significance of what we were seeing, which made the experience much more meaningful. Toshiyo was always attentive, flexible, and considerate of our pace and interests. She adjusted the timing as needed and made sure we were comfortable throughout the day. Her local knowledge and calm, professional approach added great value to the tour. This was an excellent way to experience Kyoto in a single day, and we highly recommend Toshiyo to anyone looking for a personalized, high-quality guided tour in Kyoto.

Toshiyo O.

Dear Pablo Thank you very much for having me as your guide and writing me such a great review. I appreciate it. I am glad you and your lovely family enjoyed my home town and Nara and Osaka. I hope this trip to Japan has been memorable for you. Thank you so much. And excellent language learner. Arigatogozaimashita. Toshiyo

Pablo V.

5 / 5

Jan 11, 2026

1 day special customized tour in Kyoto

Jan 11, 2026

Nara

7 hours

“A Perfect Day in Nara and Osaka with Toshiyo”

We had an excellent experience with Toshiyo as our guide during our visits to Nara and Osaka. From the very beginning, everything was perfectly organized, allowing us to enjoy the day comfortably and without stress. In Nara, Toshiyo guided us through the historic sites and the park with great knowledge and care, explaining the cultural and historical background in a clear and engaging way. In Osaka, he helped us experience the city’s energy, food culture, and unique character, tailoring the visit to our interests and pace. Toshiyo was always attentive, patient, and flexible, making sure we were comfortable and enjoying every part of the journey. His explanations, local insights, and thoughtful recommendations added tremendous value to the experience. She is a highly professional guide and a wonderful person to travel with. The experience with Toshiyo was outstanding, and we would gladly recommend her to anyone visiting Nara and Osaka.