Helen A.United Kingdom
Mike is very knowledgeable and helped us around via public transport with great respect and showed us a quiet local shrine his explanation of everything was insightful and he was a true gentleman
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Private tour in Kyoto Mike H
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Himeji Full-Day Excursion from Kobe Port with Culture & History Guide
4.9
(21) reviews
-
7 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
7 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size
1
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
Mike H.
4.9
Guide rating
129
Reviews
Tours delivered
4 hrs
Avg. response time
Hello, my friends from around the world. I'm a tour guide, a storyteller, and a nonfiction writer. Kyoto offers almost endless attractions: World Heritage sites, food, natural beauty, history, arts and crafts—and, of course, many famous and busy sightseeing spots. Visiting these places can be great fun. But perhaps you would also like to discover another side of Kyoto—a quieter, more serene Kyoto, away from the crowds. If so, I may be the right guide for you. My specialties include samurai culture, Zen Buddhism, Shinto, Japanese aesthetics, and karesansui dry landscape gardens. Rather than simply taking you from one famous site to another, I share the stories and ideas behind what you see. I want to help you not only see Kyoto, but understand it. Our destinations change with the seasons and conditions of the day. Sometimes famous landmarks may be included, but the purpose remains the same: to discover Kyoto beyond the usual sightseeing route. My book, Yamato Ratio: The Hidden Language of Beauty, will soon be published. It received the Notable Book Seal from Pacific Book Review in the U.S. and the Indie Books We Love badge from LoveReading in the U.K.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Mike H.
A private shore excursion for cruise ship tourists
Overview of your Kyoto tour
I am not only a licensed guide with over a decade of experience guiding more than 1,000 private tours across Kyoto and Nara—I am also the author of The Hidden Language of Beauty: A Journey through Western and Japanese Ways of Seeing. (Kindle amazon) My tours go beyond explaining temples and shrines. Together, we explore the deeper ideas that shaped Kyoto: why Japanese gardens feel so peaceful, how architecture creates harmony with nature, why simplicity can be more powerful than decoration, and how Japanese aesthetics differ from those of the West. The clients of this tour have some limitation about time, so destinations and itineraries are tailored case by case. Please let me know your port, arrival time and departure time. I recommend using bullet train when your tour starts at Kobe.
Recent Reviews
Ellen V.Belgium
Mike is such a wonderful and helpfull guide! He tailored our trip as we wanted to see Himeji castle. Everything was organized by him in great detail. His knowledge and stories are just fantastic. He also made sure to make the trip very interactive for our 2 teenager sons. We really appreciated the manuscripts of his book he wrote he gave to us as this was very informative re the difference between Japanse and Western cultures. Mike is the kind of person you will always remember fondly when thinking about your travels and the people you met. Just wished we could have spent another day with him! Thank you Mike!
Patrick K.United States
The tour was very enjoyable. Mike was flexible and very helpful from the meet up to the drop off. We had a wonderful day in Kyoto and riding the shinkansen.
Marisel A.United States
Exceptional tour guide. Very kind, respectful. Very knowledgeable on history of Japan.
Brenda M.Canada
We booked an unforgettable private custom tour with Mike. He met us at our port in Osaka and we travelled by train to Kyoto. We went to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu, Ninenzaka, Sanenzaka, Arashiyama Tenryuji, Bamboo forest, Golden Temple, Gion area and saw Geisha women, Genkoan area, Mike surprised us and went to the beautiful Keishunin Temple for a traditional tea ceremony and the Miracle rock. Mike arranged a private driver and van to tour the 4 of us Canadians around Kyoto as we only had one day there and wanted to see all the highlights and World Heritage sites. The tour was 11.5 hours long. Mike took us to his favourite famous small restaurant for lunch. Mike escorted us back to Osaka to the Dotonbori area, an entertainment experience! We experienced the culture, history and art! Mike is very knowledgeable about each location. We highly recommend Mike as a guide.
Mary Ann G.United States
Mike yhank you for the most educational fun tour you are very patient with us we were to maximize our day seeing the best places yet considering our physical limitations I will send friends your way again thank you for making our Osaka trip memorable
Your Kyoto tour itinerary
Kobe Port Kyoto Station Shorenin Furukawa Market Shirakawa Riverside Walking Nanzenji Konchin Water Bridge Mitsui Shimogamo Villa Keishunin Genkoan
Want to customize this tour?
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Transport details
Type: Public Transportation / Category: Train
Between Port - Kyoto Public Transportation or bullet train Kyoto Tour taxi, subway & bus.
What's included
Public Transportation
Tickets: My entrance fees during the tour
Other: all my transportation costs during the tour
What's not included
Other: All your expenses and transportation costs during the tour
Public Transportation
Food Drinks Snacks
Private Transportation
Private Transportation With Driver
Tickets: Your entrance fees during the tour
Services: Dropoff, additional 3000 yen
Accommodation
Meeting location
Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Kobe Port or Osaka Port
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Art And Culture
History
Architecture
Off The Beaten Path
Tour reference number
723300
Languages
Japanese
EnglishActivity level
Moderate
Traveller reviews
4.9
FAQs
Who is this private tour in Kyoto best suited for?
This private tour is ideal for cruise ship passengers looking for a shore excursion that delves into the culture and history of Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Himeji. It's perfect for those interested in exploring deeper ideas behind Japanese aesthetics and architecture with an experienced guide like Mike H.
Can this private tour in Kyoto be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
Is this private tour in Kyoto suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?
What languages is this tour offered in?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
-
7 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
7 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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Book with a deposit
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!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- The remaining balance will automatically be charged to your credit card 30 days before your tour date.