About Tour Guide Shuji O.

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 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.

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Osaka

Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～

Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.

Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～

Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto

Since there are so many beautiful places densely in eastern Kyoto, we can take a walking tour there. Please add or skip some. This is an example of a walking tour in eastern Kyoto, emphasizing history and culture. We will use the train only once or twice.

Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto

Himeji

5 hours

Day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka

Among the many castles in Japan, Himeji Castle is truly special. You will feel happy just to be there when you see its beautiful figure over the surrounding cherry blossom or maple trees. It has a long and touching history. It is definitely a must-see in Japan.

Day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka

FROM$223/ per group

Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~

9 hours

Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~

There are so many temples on Mount Koya. The famous graveyard is also massive. The scene is mysterious. It takes about two hours by train from Osaka, but you are in another world once you arrive. You can learn about Buddhism in Japan while immersed in a unique atmosphere there. Mt. Koya is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese esoteric Buddhism. High Priest Kukai founded it and began building temples here. I will explain why the Japanese people love Kukai.

Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~

Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.

Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.

Arashiyama is the hottest tourist destination. It is incredibly beautiful in spring and fall because of its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn brown or red! In the outstanding Tenryuji, you will see a beautiful garden with beautiful mountains in the background. There are many other beautiful places with touching stories in this area. On the way back to downtown, we can visit two world heritage sites, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji. What a wonderful route!

Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 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.

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Osaka

Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～

Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.

Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～

Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto

Since there are so many beautiful places densely in eastern Kyoto, we can take a walking tour there. Please add or skip some. This is an example of a walking tour in eastern Kyoto, emphasizing history and culture. We will use the train only once or twice.

Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto

Himeji

5 hours

Day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka

Among the many castles in Japan, Himeji Castle is truly special. You will feel happy just to be there when you see its beautiful figure over the surrounding cherry blossom or maple trees. It has a long and touching history. It is definitely a must-see in Japan.

Day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka

FROM$223/ per group

9 hours

Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~

There are so many temples on Mount Koya. The famous graveyard is also massive. The scene is mysterious. It takes about two hours by train from Osaka, but you are in another world once you arrive. You can learn about Buddhism in Japan while immersed in a unique atmosphere there. Mt. Koya is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese esoteric Buddhism. High Priest Kukai founded it and began building temples here. I will explain why the Japanese people love Kukai.

Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~

Reviews

Myra S.

5 / 5

Jan 5, 2026

Kyoto Art and Sake tour

Jan 5, 2026

Customized

“Great 2 days in Kyoto with Shuji O”

Our second day getting to know Kyoto with Shuji O was just as great as the first. We spent the day wandering through neighborhoods and shrines far away from the usual tourist crowds, traveling mostly by foot and train. From the Vermillion Gates at Fushimi Inari to the sake museum and brewery lunch, everything was delicious and fascinating. We topped it off with the Geiko and Maiko Museum and a walk through Gion. Shuji turned our random travel notes into a perfectly relaxed two-day plan. He was so kind, attentive, and even sent us a bunch of photos he took along the way. We’re so glad we followed his advice!"

Shuji O.

Thank you for the great review again! You were so kind to understand my intentions. We included some lesser-known places and some very unique places. I'm glad everything went well. And thank you very much for your interesting talk about life in your country. I hope you have a comfortable flight to your country!

Myra S.

5 / 5

Jan 4, 2026

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Jan 4, 2026

“Outstanding Day with Shuji O Looking Forward to Round Two!”

We had an excellent 8 hour touring day with Shuji. Shuji has good listening skills and understood us while arranging our itinerary and during it. His discussions were clear and organized. We found him professional , friendly and positive. Sightseeing was well timed. We never felt hurried and yet we did everything we planned. We were very happy with Shuji’s lunch suggestion and it was timed well with our location. He helped us order and it was a treat to try something we were not familiar with. We are looking forward to another day of touring tomorrow.

Shuji O.

Your kind words are out of measure. Yes, we were a little lucky to visit less busy Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera. And maybe very lucky to see the Kemari! It was a beautiful day, and we got a wonderful memory. Thank you for such a happy time. See you tomorrow!

Luis felipe G.

5 / 5

Dec 8, 2025

The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.

Dec 8, 2025