There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. Also, Kyoto is getting very crowded due to a lot of foreigners visiting there. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference.
I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with Wabi Sabi such as those in Sagano and the oldest Japanese sweet shop in Murasakino.
At your hotel or wherever you choose
Will visit Kiyomizu temple which is one of the most well known temples in Japan. Established in the 8th century and the temple has been welcoming people from across Japan and now from all over the world. It is one temple that is better to have someone explaining the meanings of all the areas inside.
Will stroll on the famous Sannenzaka after seeing Kiyomizu temple and see the well known Yasaka pagoda. We will continue walking towards Gion by going through the old traditional narrow paths.
Will go through Gion area where you can see the traditional tea houses that Maiko/Geiko (Geisha) entertain customers. If you are lucky, we might be able to come across the beautiful geisha ladies going out and about.
After going through the traditional Gion area, we will walk over to the Kyoto's Kitchen, the Nishiki Market. All kinds of Japanese food especially ones famous in Kyoto such as Kyoto pickles are there to see and possibly try. Kitchen related items such as the famous Aritsugu knives are sold here.
West side exit of the Nishiki Market (Takakura street)
The itinerary shows a sample tour.
By creating a tour together, you can spend the day efficiently and we can make it a memorable one for sure. Not only places to visit, but also cultural experiences can be included too though depending on availability. Plus Kyoto is well known for great restaurants and cafes. We can include them in your tour according to your liking.
I will be your private interpreter, travel guide and local friend. Let's have a wonderful day in the amazing city, Kyoto!
- Interpretation/guide fee, hotel pick up
- Transportation fee (you and the guide), lunch (you and the guide), entrance fee, experience fee (if included)
Examples of entrance fees: Kiyomizu temple ¥400, The golden Pavilion ¥500, Daitokuji ¥1,550 for three sub temples,
Arashiyama Monkey Park ¥600
For some tours I can not guide everyday due to store closings. Please check my availability on each tour page. Thank you!
- In order to create a fully customized tour, we need enough time to plan together. Please book well ahead of your time of travel to allow
enough time to communicate by email and come up with the best tour for you.
- This tour involves walking and public transportations.
- The guide will not be liable for any injuries or loss incurred during the tour. It is recommended to have overseas travel insurance.
Also, please remember to carry enough cash in Japanese Yen since some small stores do not accept credit card. Thank you.
We are a mid 30s and 40s couple from the USA and UK, and we spent 2 full days with Nori experiencing Kyoto. It could not have been a better decision. We saw and learned so much that we otherwise would have missed, and his guiding is seamless. Definitely highly recommended!
Thank you so much for kind comments. I also had a lot of fun exploring Kyoto with you guys! As for taiyaki today’s was good but the one I mentioned is even better. Please try it! Hope you can come again sometime. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
We had an incredible experience with Nori as our tour guide in Kyoto, Japan! Having worked in the US for many years with a major Japanese corporation, Nori speaks excellent English and was incredibly kind and engaging, especially with our two kids. His passion for traveling and surfing, which has taken him to many places, shines through in his tours. Nori was one of the best tour guides we have encountered in our travels across different countries. He communicated with us well before the tour started, discussing the itinerary and offering helpful suggestions for transportation options. Impressively, he provided multiple itinerary options to accommodate both sunny and rainy days, ensuring we had a fantastic experience no matter the weather. We highly recommend Nori to anyone visiting the Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka areas. His professionalism, friendly demeanor, and thorough planning made our trip unforgettable!
Thanks so much for leaving such a kind and detailed message. I really appreciate it! I am really glad that you all were able to enjoy the tour. Hope you can come again and explore more amazing places in Japan together someday!
We had a very Nice day with Nori as guide in Kyoto. A Nice mixture of culture, nature and city life. He was very accomodating to our suggestions. Maria and Igor
Thanks guys! It was a real fun day for me as well!! I hope you will continue to have a safe and exciting trip! Will go to your country someday to try the best chocolate in the world!
We had a wonderful first day exploring Kyoto with Nori! He took us to the sites we wanted to see while providing information and fun on our tour! Nori tailored the tour so we explored everything we wanted to and he provided information on other in Kyoto that we were curious about. Nori arrived on time and is a fabulous tour guide!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. It was really hot that day but you two had enough energy and stamina to go around the places we planned. Please come back sometime to see other beautiful places in Kyoto someday!