1 Day_Best of Kyoto or Nara or Osaka with Kyoto-born native guide

We spent the day with a lovely, local tour guide named Ayumi. ❤️ Arashiyana Bamboo Forest ❤️ Kinkaku-ji Buddhist Temple aka Golden Temple ❤️ Ton Katsu JuJu for lunch ❤️ Daitoku-ji Temple ~ Ayumi taught us the difference between the original Japanese Shinto belief versus the incoming Buddisum beliefs and how they blend. ❤️ SBUX Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku ~ downtown location that offers an incredible view of historic Rokkakudo Temple = fusion of old Kyoto & new! ❤️ Nishiki Market ~ aka Kyoto's Kitchen 400-year-old covered market that spans 400 meters! 100 vendors selling traditional street food, fresh seafood, skewers, & souvenirs.

We spent half a day in Nara with Ayumi. She knows the area well. Was able to help navigate transit to and from and to the extent possible , avoid crowds. She also made arrangements for an excellent lunch. Ayumi knows the area and history well She is committed to helping visitors understand aspects of Japanese culture that give more meaning to the sights

Katie H.United States

We had the pleasure of spending six hours exploring Kyoto with Ayumi, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we met her, she radiated kindness and genuine enthusiasm for sharing her city. Ayumi has an incredible depth of knowledge about Kyoto’s culture, history, and traditions. Whether we were walking through ancient temples or learning about local customs, she explained everything with clarity and passion. She brought the city to life in a way that felt personal and meaningful, not just informational. She added several thoughtful touches throughout the tour that showed how much she loves what she does. If you’re visiting Kyoto and want an experience that’s insightful, memorable, and guided by someone who genuinely cares, Ayumi is the perfect choice.

Ayumi was a fantastic guide and host for Kyoto. Request her and you will not be disappointed. She went above and beyond. Her English is impeccable unlike several other guides we have had. Ayumi made restaurant suggestions that were all excellent. She was born and raised in Kyoto, knows the history and when to focus on the things the guest is most interested in. I would give her many more stars if that were an option.

I cannot say enough great things about Ayumi. Not only is she knowledgeable she’s a kind and good person. You could not hope for a better guide.

We had Ayumi as a guide for a one day tour of Kyoto, and she was phenomenal. Not only for her knowledge of Kyoto as a local, but for her extensive knowledge of many topics, including history, Japanese culture generally, and local art and artists. We asked her to show us some popular Kyoto sites (and she navigated the crowds and transportation very well), but she also showed us more interesting local merchants, and gave us extensive tips for the best things to see and areas to eat with our remaining time in Kyoto. She even told us about other more underrated areas of Japan worth seeing in the future if we ever returned. Ayumi has great energy and empathy for people, and that kind of energy really contributes to making the tour more than just a checklist of sites or recitation of basic local facts — Ayumi really wants you to feel the heartbeat of a place and succeeds. We loved her and would happily engage her in any future tours of other places in Japan when we return.