Half Day
¥40,000
Up to 4 hours
Weekend private guide in Kyoto
Kyoto made simple, calm, and personal.
I am Don Tanaka, a Kyoto-born National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. I plan calm private Kyoto tours for couples, families, senior travellers and first-time visitors, mainly on Saturdays, Sundays, and Japanese public holidays. Arriving by Shinkansen? I can meet you at Kyoto Station and your tour can start there.
From ¥40,000Weekends & public holidaysKyoto Station arrival optionKyoto-born licensed guide
Guide fee
Price first — clear and simple
Rates are per guide, not per person. The Kyoto Station Arrival Tour uses exactly the same guide rates.
Most requested
Full Day
¥80,000
Up to 8 hours
Extra Hour
¥10,000
Per additional hour
Mainly weekends
Regular guiding is mainly on Saturdays, Sundays, and Japanese public holidays. Weekdays are generally not available.
Guiding only
I provide private guide services only. I do not arrange or book hotels, private cars, vans, hired vehicles, or transportation services.
Other costs
Transport, luggage delivery, meals, entrance fees, taxi fares, and personal expenses are paid separately by the guests.
Public transport and taxis may be used during the tour, but guests book or pay the transport provider directly.
Guest feedback
What guests value about the experience
Clear explanations without too much information at once.
A comfortable pace with practical breaks when needed.
Simple planning that makes Kyoto easier for first-time visitors.
Calm communication before and during the tour.
Local Kyoto insight beyond guidebook-level information.
Flexible support for families, senior travellers, and mixed-age groups.
Recurring feedback themes from guests.
Recent guest experiences
Real days in Kyoto with recent guests
Private tours are never exactly the same. These are recent moments from tours around Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera.
Recent guiding moments, shared with permission from the guests.
Private Kyoto tour ideas
Seven useful starting points — then we adjust them to you
A private tour is easier to picture when you can see a real route. These are practical examples, not fixed packages. I adjust the final plan to your interests, hotel area, walking pace, weather and crowds.
Kyoto Station Arrival Tour
Up to 4 or 8 hours
Best for: Travellers arriving from Tokyo or elsewhere by Shinkansen who want to start exploring Kyoto immediately.
Shinkansen platform welcome → same-day luggage delivery → start sightseeing → finish at your Kyoto hotel
I meet you on the Shinkansen platform at Kyoto Station. If your arrival time, luggage and hotel are eligible, we can use JR West's pikuraku PORTER so your bags are delivered to your hotel the same day. Then we start your private Kyoto tour without first going to the hotel. The route remains flexible and can use walking, public transport or taxis when useful. The tour finishes at your Kyoto hotel.
First-Time Kyoto Half Day
Up to 4 hours
Best for: First-time visitors who want classic Kyoto without feeling rushed.
Kiyomizu-dera → Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka → Yasaka Shrine → Gion
A compact private Kyoto tour with temple views, traditional streets and Gion atmosphere. It works well in either the morning or afternoon.
Kyoto Highlights Full Day
Up to 8 hours
Best for: Guests who want several major Kyoto sights in one balanced day.
Fushimi Inari → Sanjusangendo → lunch → Kiyomizu-dera / Higashiyama → Gion
A full-day route that combines major sights with enough time for lunch, explanations and practical breaks instead of racing through a checklist.
Nijo Castle & Kyoto History
About 4–6 hours
Best for: Guests interested in shogun history, architecture, gardens and cultural background.
Nijo Castle → Kyoto Gyoen area → lunch or tea → Nishiki / central Kyoto
A calmer history-focused route. Nijo Castle is especially rewarding with a guide because the buildings, political history and details are easy to miss on your own.
Ryoan-ji & Northwest Kyoto
About 4–5 hours
Best for: Guests who enjoy Zen, gardens and a quieter side of Kyoto.
Ryoan-ji → Kinkaku-ji → Kitano Tenmangu or a local lunch / tea stop
A practical northwest-Kyoto combination with very different temple experiences. The route can be shortened or adjusted depending on crowds and walking pace.
Family-Friendly Kyoto Day
About 5–7 hours
Best for: Families with children or teenagers who want variety, photos, food and culture.
Fushimi Inari → lunch or Nishiki area → Yasaka Shrine / Gion → sweets or matcha stop
A flexible day with famous sights, food, photo stops and easy breaks. The order and pace can change during the tour if the family needs it.
Comfortable Kyoto for Senior Travellers
About 5–7 hours
Best for: Senior travellers and couples who prefer shorter walks, more breaks and optional taxis.
Sanjusangendo → Nijo Castle → relaxed lunch or tea → Kyoto Gyoen or Gion
The emphasis is comfort, not the number of stops. We can reduce stairs and long walks, add taxi rides when useful, and keep enough time to sit down and enjoy the day.
Think of each as a sample route, not a final reservation. The final plan depends on your group, meeting area, walking pace, weather, crowds, and opening conditions. Same-day luggage delivery is provided by a third party and is subject to that provider's eligibility and operating conditions.
See something close to what you want?Choose a route in the enquiry form, or simply select “Not sure yet.”
Ask me to adjust a routeAbout your guide
Hello, I’m Don Tanaka
I was born and raised in Kyoto and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. I have many years of international experience supporting visitors from overseas.
My guiding style is calm and practical. I prefer a comfortable day with enough time to understand Kyoto rather than rushing through a long checklist of places.
I personally handle enquiries and normally guide the tour myself. Families, senior travellers, first-time visitors, and mixed-age groups are especially welcome.
FAQ
The questions I receive most often
My regular guiding days are mainly Saturdays, Sundays, and Japanese public holidays. Weekdays are generally not available.
Contact
Build your Kyoto day
You do not need a finished itinerary. Choose whatever catches your interest and I will suggest a practical route.
This is intentionally easy to play with: pick a sample route, places, interests and pace. A rough idea is enough.
Sending this form is an enquiry only. It does not create a reservation.