Private tour in Kyoto Katsuhiko I
5.0
(8) reviews
3 hours
1
3 hours
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Katsuhiko I.
5.0
Guide rating
13
Reviews
Tours delivered
25 hrs
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Hello, nice to meet you! My name is Katz (Katsuhiko). I’m a big fan of travel and have visited many places both in Japan and abroad. One of the greatest adventures of my life was when I did a solo motorcycle tour across the United States in my twenties — from Key West, Florida all the way to San Francisco on the West Coast. While running a motorcycle shop, I worked as a motorcycle mechanic and gained experience as a motorcycle tour guide. Later on, I also began producing car tours and walking tours. I’m proud to say I have 20 years of experience as a professional tour guide. I was born and raised here in Kyoto, Japan, and have lived in this historic city for over half a century. I know everything about its history and culture. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan — the very heart of the country — and even today in the 21st century, it still preserves its rich cultural heritage. If you truly want to experience the real Japan and understand its culture, you must visit Kyoto, the ancient capital. And of course, to fully appreciate it, you need an excellent tour guide. I’m here to answer all your “I want to know more about Japan” questions. You won’t regret it. Let’s enjoy a tour together!
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Katsuhiko I.
Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, from 794 AD to 1869 AD. Many historical buildings and cultural traditions are still carefully preserved to this day. Among them, the Gion district stands out as an area where geisha culture and traditional Japanese customs remain deeply rooted. In this tour, we take a leisurely walk through the district in the evening, listening to detailed explanations about the scenery and atmosphere that become especially captivating after sunset. One of the biggest advantages is that, unlike the daytime when many landmarks are crowded with tourists, the evening allows for a much more relaxed and peaceful experience. Of course, we’ll visit all the must-see sites in Gion, such as Yasaka Pagoda, Nene-no-Michi, Yasaka Shrine, Yasui Konpiragu Shrine, and Pontocho. Along the way, you’ll learn about Japanese customs, spiritual beliefs, and historical architecture that make this ancient capital so unique.
We enjoyed immensely walking the Gion district with Katsuhiko and sharing a meal with him at the end of the walk. Kats grew up in the Gion District and has an insider's knowledge of its customs and history. He is fun, kind and engaging and was at all times responsive to our needs and interests. Walking the Gion District after dark added to its character and our understanding of its culture. We highly recommend this tour.
Katsuhiko is an excellent guide who is knowledgeable, clear in his communication, and makes you feel like you are seeing the most interesting things in Gion District.
A nighttime Gion district tour with Katsuhiko is a must do tour in Kyoto!! He is an excellent guide and it’s a magical experience to see the district at night. He is fun, knowledgeable and communicates information about the area perfectly. Highly recommend!!!
Our family enjoyed our night tour so much. It was a great way to start our stay in Kyoto. We learned some new things and our guide was amazing! We had the best time with him. He made it enjoyable for the whole family. High,y recommend!!
We had a wonderful evening with Katz! The Gion District in Kyoto is an amazing area with lots of history, culture and night life. Katz had so much to share, including an introduction to his mother as we passed his childhood home. We would highly recommend this tour to everyone. We visited Gion three more times after our experience!
Katsuhiko was an amazing guide. He gave a great tour of the Gion district by giving just the right amount of history and context to the streets we visited on this tour. He also was good at navigating around the crowds and had the perfect spot for a break. A bonus was that we passed by his parents home and his mother was out and was so friendly! We learned so much about the geiko and maiko culture and the traditional houses that line the streets. This was the perfect tour for our first evening in Kyoto.
5:20 PM: Meeting Point: In front of Edion Garden at the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection corner 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM Gion District Strolling Tour • Cross the Kamo River • Hanamikoji Street • Kennin-ji Temple • Yasui Konpiragu Shrine • Ninenzaka Street • Yasaka Pagoda • Short break at a café near Kodaiji Temple • Yasaka Shrine • Pontocho Alley 8:30 PM: Tour ends at the northern end of Pontocho
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Walking tour.
Kyoto, Kyoto, 600-8001, Japan
Kyoto Kawaramachi Garden 〒600-8001 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Shincho, 68 The southeast corner of the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection — It’s the spot where you can see the elevator of the Edion Garden Building.
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