Private tour in Kyoto Koichi W
5.0
(16) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Koichi W.
5.0
Guide rating
189
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Tours delivered
4 hrs
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Hi ! I'm Koichi. I was born in Osaka, I studied in Kyoto when I was a university student. Now I live in Shiga which is famous for the biggest lake in Japan. I am a national government licensed tour guide. I do this job as a freelance tour guide. I have been guiding about 160 groups over the past twelve months. I'm also a member of Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Center. I usually guide my customers mainly in Kansai region including Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Shiga by public transportation systems. But If you need a private car please feel free to contact me. Well, I am curious about Japanese history, especially the history of Japan's ancient times since I was raised next to the world biggest mausoleum of the ancient Emperor called "Nintoku" in Sakai-city Osaka which has just become the one of world cultural heritage sites. I dug out some ancient earthen ware when I was a primary school student. I felt I was like the adventure archaeologist "Indiana Jones" (It's our secret!!). That was my hobby. Now, one of my hobbies is outdoor activity such as mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and so on. So I can also take you to some good places where you can enjoy Japanese unique nature. I love to guide foreign visitors from all over the world. I think it is my calling, heavenly given job! Let's go and enjoy together. I hope to see you soon. National Government Licensed Guide Government Licensed General Travel Supervisor Certificate of Kyoto Sightseeing & Culture Examination Certificate of Home Care Worker Guide Helper Certification for the Visually Impaired Education Bachelor of Laws from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto
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Nara is a very beautiful and interesting city known by the old name of "Yamato（大和）". "Yamato" then became a word that referred to the whole Japan. It was established as the first permanent capital in the year 710. There are a lot of historical monuments in this ancient city, such as Todaiji Great Buddha Hall, Kasuga Shrine, Kofukuji Temple and so on. Todaiji has the Great Buddha Hall "Daibutsu-Den" the world biggest wooden architecture, and it also houses the world biggest bronze statue of Buddha cast in the 8th century. Nara"deer"park is also one of must-see areas. there are a lot of deer roaming around the park. They are said to be messengers of the deities of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. So they have been carefully protected since ancient times. You can feed them deer crackers. Let's walk around some of the historic sites and play with the lovely deer at Nara Park!!
Excellent tour. This was our second day of touring with Koichi-san. (see my review of his tour of Western Kyoto.) Koichi-san is a fantastic guide with so much knowledge that he loves to share with his guests. You will learn so much about Kyoto's history and culture while getting to know this interesting and lovely man. Temples, shrines, gardens, and people are his specialty. Don't hesitate to book with him!
Koichi-san was AMAZING! He was a pleasure to talk with about the area, have lots of great recommendations, and was so kind with our young daughter. He even came prepared with a very fun activity for the train ride. Truly a gracious host and we enjoyed our time around Nara and Uji so much more thanks to Koichi-san. Do not hesitate to book this tour with him!
Koichi was an amazing tour guide over 3 1/2 days in the Kyoto area. He's extremely friendly, knowledgable, and such a wonderful tour guide. We were sad when our time with him came to an end! I highly recommend Koichi for any tour you might be interested in taking.
Our tour of Nara, including the famous deer park, was absolutely delightful thanks to our guide, Koichi. His deep knowledge of Nara's rich history and culture, combined with their engaging and friendly demeanor, made the experience unforgettable. They expertly guided us through the ancient temples and shrines, sharing fascinating stories and insights. The visit to the deer park was particularly enjoyable, with Koichi providing helpful tips on interacting with the friendly deer. We highly recommend him for an enriching and enjoyable tour of Nara.
Koichi-san is amazing! We took the full day tour of Nara and got bonus knowledge of Sake and Geishas. He is a former taxi driver so there isn't a corner of Nara or Kyoto he doesn't know. We had a great time. Also if you like sake, he likes sake too and has amazing knowledge of the process and local breweries!
Koichi-San was such a gracious guide. He surprised our family with thoughtful experiences, from teaching our kids how to write their names in Japanese to exploring local food specialties. He had a wealth of knowledge about the various sites and was able to make it seem interesting to all of us. The kids (ages 11,15, and 17) felt like he was part of our family. That's the best kind of guide - one who feels like a friend instantly and then like family by the end of it all.
-Pick you up at your hote in Kyoto City area or at Kyoto Station -Depart from Kyoto Station (Kintetsu Railway:720 JPY/P, If you take the Ltd. express, there is an additional charge of 520JPY/P) -Arrive at Kintetsu Nara station (Walking) -Todaiji Great Buddha Hall via Kofukuji and Nara Park *Admission:800JPY/P (Walking) -Nigatsu -do Hall :You will be able to command a view of the Nara Basin from the terrace of Nigatu-do Hall. (Walking) *Play with cute deer, experience feeding them deer crackers. (Bus:250JPY/P or Taxi:1500JPY/Cab, or Walking) -Naramachi Old Town *Enjoy shopping and lunch, I recommend you Nara's specialty foods such as Persimmon Sushi, Yomogi-Mochi rice cake, Somen noodle etc.. (Bus:250JPY/P) -JR Nara Station (JR train:510JPY/P) -Uji Green Tea Town *Admission:700JPY/P for Byodo-in Temple Phoenix Hall (JR train to Kyoto Sta. :240JPY/P, or Keihan Railway to Gion-shijo:360JPY/P) -Arrive at Kyoto Station or a station in Kyoto city area
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There are two train lines from Kyoto to Nara, Kintetsu and JR. I recommend you use Kintetsu Special Express Train to save time. It's also convenient since the Kintetsu Nara Station is closer to Nara Park than JR Nara St. We will basically walk to our destinations from the station. On the way back to Kyoto from Nara, we will be able to choose either the Kintetsu or JR lines. If you have a JR Pass, you can use it for JR lines.
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: We will meet at your hotel or at Kyoto Station.
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8 hours
1
8 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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