Kyoto private tour (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

We had the absolutely best day in Kyoto with Kaori. We have been in Japan for almost 3 weeks now, having used several guides, and hands-down Kaori was the best guide we have had. Can I give her 10 staprs (or TripAdvisor circles?). We arrived in Kobe port via a cruise ship and woke to a warn, sunny day . I booked All Star Osaka directly with the company based on reviews I had read on a cruise forum and asked for Kaori. We took the option for a full day using the Shinkansen both ways from Kobe to Kyoto to save time, and so we could make the most of our day. Kaori met us at the port and returned us there, with everything included except for some personal things and some optional stops. We took taxis several times as well in the interest of time saving. Kaori skillfully guided us through the train station (yes, everyone claims it is easy, and it probably is, but I know I would be much slower trying to navigate, get tickets, etc.). Kyoto was crowded because this is high season with cherry blossoms in full bloom, but Kaori helped us see all the highlights without us being overwhelmed by the vast number of people. We saw all the "must-do" sights - The Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji, the bamboo forest, the Gion Geiko (geisha) district and Fushimi Inari shrine with its many torii gates. In addition, we had a break for matcha tea, saw another garden and had a yummy ramen lunch. Kaori had 2 big notebooks with many illustrations so she could explain the details and significance of what we were seeing. My husband has a great interest in Asian cultures and philosophy, so he and Kaori had very good conversations. When my husband engages in conversation with a guide, rather than just listening and looking around, then I know this person is a good guide. We needed to add some funds to our Suica cards and also get some more Japanese yen. Kaori made sure that was mission accomplished before bringing us back to the port. We were so sad to have to say good-bye to Kaori. In fact, when my husband woke up this morning, he even said that he wished we were touring with her again because he missed her. Well, we both miss her. All in all a great tour with a stellar guide. Highly recommend this, especially if Kaori is your guide. Okini, Kaori

We spent a wonderful full day in Kyoto with Akie as our guide. She was lovely, very knowledgeable, and shared many insightful stories and details. It was a fantastic tour and I would highly recommend it.

It was incredible. Our tour guide, Asuka H was the nicest man. He was so knowledgable and attentive. We have never been on a tour where it was just us and the tour guide. My wife and I could not believe all the information he provided. He lives in Kyoto so talk about an expert. He answered every question. We opted for public transportation which really gave us local flavor. We went on local trains, bullet train, subway, and taxis from Osaka to Kyoto. He was always conscious of where we were in crowds, took numerous pictures, and truly gave us an appreciation for Kyoto.

A perfect day in busy Kyoto—a much larger city than we expected. Taking taxis around made seeing a lot possible. The conveyer belt sushi was fun. Our guide, Kori, made it all possible, personal, and perfect. We cannot recommend her more highly.

Tour guide very knowledgeable and friendly. Excellent English speaker. Like going on a tour with a good friend.

Menya Nerinosuk was exceptional ❤️felt like family as we toured Kyota and Osaka ..the traditional sites and local gems for lunch, and authentic experiences .. she is a very skilled professional who we will keep in touch with over a lifetime ❤️

Ichu was a very attentive and knowledgeable guide. We visited four different sights in different parts of Kyoto which we would not have managed on our own.

We had an exceptional tour with Ichiro from Kobe to Kyoto! My only request was to ride the Shinkansen, and the rest of the itinerary was planned by our guide. The thousand Torii gates, Buddhist statues, and Golden Pavilion were all uniquely memorable. Having a personal guide made it much easier to navigate the crowds and understand the significance of the sights. With so much to see one day is really not enough, but we made the most of it.

We did a private full day tour of Kyoto with an amazing guide, Kaori M. We’ve travelled to more than 25 countries, done many, many tours, and Kaori is one of the best guides we’ve ever had. She was extremely detailed, planning a day filled with the best sights in Kyoto. She was extremely knowledgeable, sharing interesting information throughout the day. She was extremely thoughtful, going above and beyond to provide the highest level of service, from personalized gifts and samples of local sweets, to recommending photo spots and pointing out details other guides would miss. She was also extremely thorough, helping us navigate the trains and making sure we made it back safely. We highly recommend this tour, and especially Kaori as a guide. Okini, Kaori!

What an informative tour by Kaori! She was great at explaining so much of Kyoto’s history and even catering the tour to what we preferred to see. Must do the bullet train if you can swing it! We loved our sweet homemade gesture she gave to us at the end of the tour too. Thanks again!