Kyoto Private Tour: 1350 Years of History, Hotspots & Hidden Gems

Amazing custom tour!

Amazing private tour by Kazu and Bianca! Communication was efficient and we were able customize it according to my family’s need and sticking within our budget!

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Kyoto tour

Kazu was a great tour guide in Kyoto! Kazu took us to Sanjusangedo temple in Kyoto which was very interesting and less touristy! Then we headed to a restaurant which was known for Japanese curry! Needless to say the food was excellent! We also did Matcha tasting at one of the traditional tea houses - where we had the best matcha drink and wagashi! Kazu is very knowledgable about the city, its history and food spots. He recommended us loads of hidden gems: restaurants, knife shops, sake tasting places! If you are ever in Kyoto and looking for a tour guide, Kazu is your guy!

Response from the operator: Dear Christi, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto and that the tour, including Sanjusangendo Temple, the local restaurant, and the matcha tasting experience, was memorable for you. It means a lot to us that you appreciated not only the famous spots but also the less touristy hidden gems. We also greatly appreciate your kind words about Kazu. He is very passionate about sharing Kyoto’s history and food culture, and we are glad that came through during your experience. Your feedback encourages us to continue providing meaningful and personalized tours for our guests. We would be more than happy to welcome you again on your next visit to Kyoto. Thank you once again, and we hope to see you in the future! Warm regards,Kazu

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The most kind and thoughful tour with Kazu!

This was our first time as a family going to visit Japan. I wanted to make sure we had a guide who was willing to build a tour around the many different things everyone in the family wanted to see and do. The people in our group ranged from teen to senior. I decided to book the tour with Kazu and it was the best decision we made. From the very beginning, he took my many ideas and built a detailed and thoughtful itinerary, with him providing his own suggestions to make our time a rich and fun experience. His responsiveness and communication weeks leading up to the trip was stellar and already put my mind at ease that we were in excellent hands. On the day of the tour, we were greeted with nothing but warmth and hospitality. Our time was short and while managing Japan’s relentless heat and moving from place to place, Kazu took incredible care of us, from the biggest to smallest detail and was attentive to our needs. One stop was for matcha ice cream and while my teen daughter was taking her needed social media pic of it, the ice cream began to quickly succumb to the summer heat and almost immediately started to melt all over her and with no bathroom in sight. Kazu quickly raced to find some napkins from a kind nearby vendor so that she could clean herself up. That’s the kind of guide Kazu is - he goes above and beyond with care! He slowed down when we wanted to linger, and sped up when he could to make up for lost time to keep us on schedule. Like many other reviewers have said, by the end of the tour, Kazu is not only the wonderful tour guide you probably already knew from the moment you met him, but a new discovered friend in Japan! It has been the top highlight with our time in Japan, and not just me, but for our entire family! Arigato Kazu for making the most memorable and amazing experience for us and for my family!!

Response from the operator: Dear Jennifer, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and heartfelt review. It was truly my pleasure to guide you and your wonderful family during your first visit to Japan. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting iconic places like Fushimi Inari Shrine and Sanjusangendo, and that the fresh sashimi and sushi at Nishiki Market left a memorable impression. I’m also happy that your visit to Uji and the matcha ice cream experience added a sweet touch to your day — those moments often become the most cherished memories. It was an honor to be a part of your journey and to help create an itinerary that reflected your family’s diverse interests. Knowing that I could help make your time in Japan enjoyable and stress-free truly means a lot to me. By the end of the tour, to be considered not just your guide but a new friend in Japan is the highest compliment I could receive. Thank you again for your kindness and trust — I hope our paths cross again someday! Warm regards, Kazu

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Our best day in Japan

What a great day we had! I asked my 2 teens and husband what the best part of our Japan trip was, and they all agreed it was the day we spent in Kyoto with Kazu. Kazu asked what we were interested in seeing and then he took us to even better spots that weren't crowded and let us truly enjoy our surroundings. He shared the history of each site, but was also able to joke and have fun with us as we walked the streets of the city. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Response from the operator: Dear Heather, Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt review. We are truly honored to hear that your day in Kyoto with Kazu was the highlight of your family's trip to Japan. It means a great deal to us that you and your family were able to relax, avoid the crowds, and fully enjoy the beautiful surroundings and rich history of the city. Kazu will be delighted to hear your words—he takes great pride in making each tour personal and memorable, and we're so glad to know he brought both knowledge and joy to your experience. Should you visit Kyoto again in the future, we would be absolutely thrilled to welcome you back. Thank you once again for taking the time to share your experience with us. I really appreciate you and your wonderful family. I look forward to seeing you again when I visit your country! Warm regards, Kazu

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Don’t do Kyoto without Kazu!

As a family we travel as much as possible and have been to some amazing places with some amazing guides but Kazu is certainly at the top of the list. Kazu asked us what we wanted out of our days in both Kyoto & Osaka and he delivered. Kazu was very knowledgeable about the area, provided our family with the type of sights we were interested in and explained in detail what we were seeing. If you have the opportunity, you need to allow Kazu to show you around both Kyoto & Osaka. Traveling to Japan as someone who speaks only English can have its challenges. If you are looking for someone to guide you through what to see, how to get there and make your time as efficient as possible… BOOK KAZU. While in Osaka we requested to see how the real people of Osaka lived and it was great. We caught 3 trains to get to the outskirts of Osaka in the countryside to a little town that was charming and inviting. We often post our trips to our blog and we will be sure to include Kazu. CliffandCarla.com

Response from the operator: Dear Cliff, Thank you so much for your warm and thoughtful review. It was truly an honor to guide your family through Kyoto and Osaka. I’m very grateful that you entrusted me with your precious travel time, and I’m delighted to hear that the experiences matched what you were looking for. It was a pleasure customizing the tour to suit your interests and sharing the stories and culture behind the places we visited. I'm especially glad you enjoyed exploring the local side of Osaka and that the countryside town left a charming impression. Traveling together through three trains to reach that little hidden gem was certainly a memorable part of the journey. I'm also sincerely touched to hear that you'll include me in your blog. Thank you for your kind support—it means a lot. I hope our paths cross again, whether here in Japan or somewhere else in the world. Please send my warmest regards to your entire family. Warm regards, Kazu

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