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- Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
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.
Nori I.
Meeting Point
At your hotel or wherever you choose
Your hotel or a place you would like to meet.
I will come and meet there.
Daitokuji including the oldest sweets shop
Will visit three temples inside Daitokuji. Each one has its own unique zen stone garden and interesting history behind it. After that, will visit the oldest sweets shop in Kyoto which started more than 1,000 years ago.
Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion)
Will visit the famous Kinkakuji which is surrounded by gold leaf.
Restaurant for lunch
Will decide where to go together either near Kinkakuji or in Arashiyama.
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Will hike up a small mountain to the top to see Japanese monkeys wondering around freely in the park.
Tenryuji and Bamboo forest/path way
Will go through the garden of Tenryuji and go to the bamboo forest.
Giouji with the beautiful moss garden
Will visit Giouji which is further in the back of Arashiyama to see the beautiful moss garden.
Your hotel
Will go back to your hotel.
Ending Point
At your hotel or wherever you choose
What to Expect
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!
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
- 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: The golden Pavilion ¥500, Daitokuji ¥1,550 for three sub temples,
Arashiyama Monkey Park ¥600
- Lunch for the guide also has to be borne by your side
Important Information
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.
- This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
- Need to allocate at least 45 - 60 mins for lunch time.
- 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.
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
Reviews
Xenia K.
“ Nori is awesome ”
Nori was a great guide. Attentive to our needs and overall had a well structured, memorable and overall fantastic day in Kyoto. Nori is the best, book a tour with him!!
Nori I.
Thanks a lot for your kind comments! I had a fun time also with you guys. I can not believe we went to Shinjyu-An too which was totally not included in the plan! That was a bit unique, wasn't it? ( : Also, because you asked so many great questions, I myself was able to learn new things too! Thanks again and hope to see you sometime again in the future!
Debbie S.
“ An interesting and highly enjoyable evening in historic Kyoto! ”
Nori is such a knowledgeable guide about all things Japan- history, culture and society, etc. He knows how to read his audience and offers the right amount of information. He speaks English fluently and having lived all over the world, he has much global insight. Additionally, he is detail oriented and a very responsive communicator, plus he crafts good itineraries while providing plenty of opportunities for input.
Nori I.
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I try not to overwhelm people with information and rather try to act as a local/knowledgeable friend. I am really glad that you liked the evening tour. Let's enjoy the full day tour coming up also!!
David K.
“ Spectacular guide!! ”
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!
Nori I.
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!!
Shawn Y.
“ Exceptional Tour Guide Experience with Nori in Kyoto! ”
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!
Nori I.
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!