Private Car Tour In Kyoto (Up To 4)

Kosuke was a fantastic guide, informative and engaging. He took us to the most interesting places, and his knowledge was incredible. He also gave us the opportunity sometimes to have time on our own, which we really appreciated. Kosuke had been recommended to us, and we would absolutely recommend him too.

Kosuke was an amazing guide. He was so flexible and went out of his way to take us everywhere we wanted to go. He had great suggestions and tailored his recs to our interests and what we wanted to see. His English is excellent and he is so knowledgeable about the area and points of interest. He definitely went above and beyond for our day and we were so appreciative. I can’t wait to come back for our next trip to see more of Kyoto!

Kosuke was the best! So knowledgeable about every topic, so patient with our toddler, and very good at customizing itinerary to meet your exact needs. Wish we had all week with him!

We engaged Ko to show us the very best of Kyoto and as a passionate local who lives in Kyoto he gave us a tour of his favourite local hidden gems and the must do tourist experiences. What we loved was the overall balance of the day he planned for us after understanding our must do’s. We started the day at the beautiful Komyoin temple (zen garden) followed by the amazing Sanjusangendo Temple. We then visited the vibrant red torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha and had a stroll through Kyoto Old town where we sampled local food and crafts. We then experienced the bustle of Nishiki Market at lunch time. The Golden Temple was truly beautiful and we finished the day in the amazing Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Honestly this was the most perfect day in Kyoto . Thank you Ko for making Kyoto so special for us and we hope to visit again one day.

Ko was the perfect companion for our last day in Kyoto. Born and raised in the city, he knew the best routes to every destination. Once he understood our interests, he tailored the day to our tastes, taking us to places we loved. Knowledgeable, energetic, and curious, Ko was engaging and easy to talk with. He listened thoughtfully, shared his knowledge with enthusiasm, and especially enjoyed talking with us about the plants and trees we saw along the way. His local knowledge and personal connections helped us arrive at just the right times—including at the top of the Snow Monkey reserve minutes before feeding time, when the monkeys come down from the forest. When it was lunch time, he asked about our food preferences and chose a restaurant that was exactly what we wanted, at a very reasonable price. All in all, a great day.

We had a wonderful day exploring Kyoto with Kosuke, and I think hiring him was the best way to spend our first full day in the city. We were traveling with our two young children, and he was fantastic with them. He suggested a few activities we wouldn't have thought to do ourselves, including feeding koi and visiting the monkey park, which ended up being the kids' favorite parts of the day! Kosuke was incredibly efficient while still keeping the pace appropriate for young kids, and he really went above and beyond to make sure we saw everything we wanted to. He even took us to a local grocery store to introduce us to Japanese foods and help us pick up lunch. He was also an amazing photographer! He helped us take photos throughout the day and somehow managed to make even the busiest tourist sites look completely empty. We came away with so many fantastic family pictures. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and would highly recommend Kosuke, especially to families traveling with young children!

It was an amazing day seeing Kyoto with Kosuke. We covered so much ground. He made the temples interesting for my children and including some kid friendly activities towards the end of the day when they would have otherwise been tired and bored. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things Kyoto and Japan. Highly recommend!

This was an excellent tour for our family (kids 12 and 14). Our guide Kosuke was very knowledgeable, had good English and was organized and kept a good pace for the tour. The pickup at the hotel and private car made it easy to see lots in a comfortable fashion. We saw all the sites we requested plus he took us to a couple of extra sites that he thought we would like based on our interests. The extra sites were off the beaten path nature sites which suited us perfectly. I would definitely recommend KSK tours to anyone wanted to make the most of their time and who enjoys learning as they travel. Thank you KSK tours for a great experience in Kyoto!

We had a great day with Ko… he built a tour that included many interesting places, and also added some that he thought we might enjoy, which we did. He was always conscious of our comfort and enjoyment. Our family loved talking to him and he even helped me find a great chef’s knife as a souvenir! All in all, highly recommended!

Excellent tour guide. Speaks good English and he is very knowledgable. If you visit Japan, he will be the perfect tour guide for a memorable experience.

We had a fantastic day with Kosuke showing us around Kyoto. The best day of our trip to Japan! We found Kosuke by accident through a random referral on Facebook. I’m so glad we did. We decided to only have a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka rather than stay there and had to try and cram in a lot of sightseeing. From first contact Kosuke asked to build the day around what we wanted to see but we left it entirely up to him. Starting at a very quiet Buddhist shrine, Kosuke explained the meaning and rituals throughout the small site in great detail, took some great photos of our family and gave us some brief quite time alone to soak it in, afterwards we went to the Fushimi Inari Taisha (10000 red gates) and despite it being overrun with tourists Kosuke whisked us around the site quickly showing us little hidden hotspots where we could get more photos without being photobombed! After here it was off to Sanjūsangen-dō temple with 1000 golden statues. Again Kosuke took plenty time to explain all about the site, the history and importance of the temple. After this off to lunch at the market. One of our party had a food allergy which we explained to Kosuke, he made three recommendations where we could eat based of tastes taking into account the allergy and they did not disappoint. We were left for an hour to eat and look around the market with a very simple pickup point at the end where we went off to the bamboo forest. Again whizzed through all the tiny streets right to the forest entrance, again moving through the hundreds of tourists with ease to the best spots and WOW the photos that Kosuke can take for you with your own camera are amazing! Finally it was off to Togetsukyo Bridge and Arashiyama Monkey Park. A warning that although amazing, he can’t drive up to the top of the park so there is a pretty steep 20min walk up to the park but it’s worth it not just for the monkeys and seeing them in their own natural home but for the stunning views over Kyoto! The final little bit before being transported back to the train station was some shopping around the Togetsukyo Bridge area which is also beautiful. All this in his comfortable air conditioned van, we could never have managed all of these sites ourselves in probably 2 days never mind one without the fantastic Kosuke! We will be back and will hire home again!!!

Kosuke is an amazing tour guide. Excellent communication, very helpful and he engaged even the kids. Highly knowledgeable about the area, he gave us information- in a.relatable way. Flexible and very pleasant. His price is also very reasonable! Kosuke is amazing, book him

Our family of four just returned from a great 2 week trip to Japan. One of our best days was definitely our private tour with Kosuke through Kyoto! He took us to some of the coolest spots, including the Bamboo forest and the Monkey Park. He also gave us a great recommendation for lunch. He was so kind, friendly, and full of great historical and cultural information about Japan and the sites we visited. He also took some great photos of our family, which I especially appreciated, being the primary photographer for my family. I would highly recommend Ko to anyone looking for a private tour guide through Kyoto!

We had an amazing time with Ko as our tour guide! He tailored our tour to our needs as our family had both younger and older ages. It was also record breaking temperatures in Kyoto and Nara so it was amazing to be driven around with a/c. Ko knew the hidden gems of the area and knew how to maneuver easily around the crowds. I would highly recommend Ko to anyone!

Ko was an exceptional guide who made our day in Kyoto truly memorable. He knows the city in a way that reveals hidden tricks and small details that most visitors would never notice. His passion for Kyoto comes through in every explanation and every stop. He is also a fantastic photographer. Ko framed shots so well that it looked like we were the only ones at some of Kyoto’s busiest landmarks. These photos are some of our favorite memories from the trip. After the tour, Ko continued to help with thoughtful recommendations and guidance for the rest of our stay. His support didn’t end when the tour did, which made a big difference. A dedicated, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring guide. I highly recommend Ko to anyone visiting Kyoto.

Great experience and Kosuke was very flexible with our schedule and last minute changes. Hoping to go back in the next year and plan on working with him again!

American group of couples that spent the day with Kosuke. He even went out of his way to pick us up in Osaka. Great communication before and day of tour and on time. What I love most about Kosuke he adapts to your group-tired, hungry, change of stops-no problem! He also customized the tour to our likes. His van is amazing and roomy! Thank you for showing us your city Kosuke! -Mike, Sean, Tricia and Colleen

Kosuke is amazing! He was great with the kids and knows all the best spots. He also took amazing pictures for our family. It was truly a “Ko VIP” experience. We will recommend he to all our friends and family! And will definitely use him again next time. I wish we would have booked two days.

Friends had recommended Kosuke as a guide for Kyoto and surrounds. We booked him for our first full day in Kyoto. Ko had a van so was our driver and guide. We were delighted with his service. Our only plan was to visit locations that we wouldn't get to readily ourselves. Ko built upon these during the day with suggested places to visit, lunch and shopping. By the end of the day it felt like we were saying goodbye to a dear friend. Thank you so much Ko. Our mistake was not booking Kosuke for more days!

Amazing service, family friendly and easy going, took us to all the best places to see so much in 1 day, knew all the tips and tricks to get most out of our day, our daughter was so excited with the Koi feeding place he showed us, highly recommend Kosuke for a tour when in Kyoto.

Spent a full day with Kosuke We visited Bamboo forest - Golden pavilion - Hirano shrine - Ryuhonji temple - Sanjyusangendo - Fushimi inari shrine He took us to areas less frequented by tourists for cherry blossom photos , a large local supermarket and a homewares store for shopping. He navigated Kyoto streets with ease knowing all the shortcuts to save time. Was so knowledgeable about history and the city. He was easy to talk to and very flexible. He was also happy to collect us and our luggage from one hotel at the start of the tour and deliver us to another hotel in Kyoto at the end. To top it all off he knew all the great photo spots and we ended up with some fabulous photos Thank you Kosuke.!!! Hope to see you again soon

Our Kyoto day trip was absolutely unforgettable, and it was all thanks to Ko! 🎋 From the peaceful beauty of Komyoin Temple and Hashin Garden to the vibrant torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, Ko made every stop meaningful with stories and insights we never would’ve discovered on our own. He is an excellent photographer as well as he knows all the angles to capture the perfect photo of our family while blocking out the crowds in the background - amazing! Walking through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest felt magical, and the hike up to the Monkey Park was such a fun and rewarding experience — Ko kept the energy high the whole time! We also explored the charming streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka and it felt like stepping back in time. We also had a quick stop at the Shinsen-en Temple with the Koi pond where our kids enjoyed feeding the giant koi fishes! Ko was knowledgeable, organized, and incredibly thoughtful — making sure everyone was comfortable (moving the van closer to us each time so no need to walk far), enjoying each moment . We learned so much about Kyoto’s history and culture while still having plenty of laughs along the way. Highly recommend Ko if you want a Kyoto experience that’s seamless, fun, and truly memorable. Thank you for such an amazing day!

Ko gave us a wonderful and full two-day experience of Kyoto& Nara for our group of 4 older (active) adults. His knowledge about the landmarks and history of Japan enriched our experience, and he had great recommendations for our free time away from him. We took a casual approach to planning our itinerary, and he accommodated all of our wishes, adding in some unique visits (2 private Buddhist temples, one with tea ceremony). I highly recommend Ko for a great way to see Kyoto!

Kosuke was the best! It was our first time to Kyoto and he took us to six must see places. His recommendations were spot on and he even helped us find the perfect souvenirs to take back to our kids. He also took tons of photos of us which was a nice bonus. We would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Kyoto.

We loved our time with Ko. He is flexible, very accommodating, and took us to amazing places that we would not have known to go on our own. Moreover, Ko is a genuinely nice person. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him — and he also takes fantastic pictures. I recommend him very highly.

My family and I spent the most amazing day with Kosuke on the 27/10. Kosuke absolutely nailed everything I asked and even went out of his way to show us some extra spots that blew us away. Kosuke’s expertise ensured our family made the most of our jam packed day and was even able to help us avoid the hoards of fellow tourists. We were able to visit Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Komyoin Temple, Otaginenbutsuji Temple & The Arashiyama Monkey Park - the highlights for us though were the spots he took us that were complete surprised The Shinsenen Koi Fish and Sanjyusangendo 1000 statues of Buddha. Not only did he provide us with extensive knowledge of all these places but he took some amazing family photos for us and was incredibly patient and kind to my boisterous 10 & 5 year olds. Do yourself favour book with Kosuke. It was genuinely one of the highlights of our entire trip and his prices for an entire day tour and incredibly reasonable. Thank you Kosuke! You helped us make core memories

Kosuke-san is an absolute delight, very accomodating to my family's requests. His info nuggets of the city are great and he has vast knowledge on where to go for elderly people. His vehicle is also spacious, a plus for larger people. He definitely made our trip in Kyoto a memorable and comfortable one!

We are a couple from Brazil traveling around Japan. We had a blast in Kyoto! Ko was the perfect guide and, in one day, took us to see the best spots in the city: two Buddhist temples, Shinto Shrine, Bamboo forest, a Monkey park (where you can feed the animals!), a Koi pond (where you also can feed them), lunch at a street with plenty of delicious options (we had a skewer with Kobe beef and caviar!). Highly recommend Ko! Perfect! Thank you, Ko!

Kosuke was amazing! We had the best tour. It was the highlight of our trip to not only Kyoto, but Japan as a whole! He was punctual, polite, engaging with my children, and overall very knowledgeable. His English was excellent. He took great photos of our family and knew all the "spots" to go to see the sites and avoid the crowds. With the photos, he did an awesome job so that in many of them, we look like we are the only ones there! I cannot recommend him enough and plan to contact him again when we return to Japan. I one hundred percent recommend him without hesitation! Book the tour, it is worth it!!

Amazing tour and stress free experience with Kosuke San! It was by luck I found Kosuke San through a Japan FB group recommended by others and reached out to him. Kosuke responded promptly and was very flexible in how I wanted my tour to be. He made sure I hit all the spots I wanted to see and took me to hidden gems to take pictures and experience the non touristy sites-exactly what I requested. I wish I had more time to spend in Kyoto to visit Uji and other areas but that will be next time when I return to Japan. Words cannot express how grateful I am to meet Kosuke San and to be able to reserve the date I wanted. I highly recommend Kosuke services for a stress free and amazing tour of Kyoto and surrounding areas. Kosuke San was always prompt in responding to messages/emails and ensure directions and instructions were clear and precise spoken in perfect English. He was our family photographer as well, helping us take beautiful pictures and explained the history of each site to us. Thank you so much Kosuke San and hope to see you again in the near future!

Kosuke was an amazing tour guide and was very helpful and informative throughout the trip in Kyoto. I highly highly recommend using him if you are in the city as he is very knowledgeable about all the different places to explore and extremely humble and honest human being. I truly mean this from the bottom of my heart.

Kosuke was knowledgeable and very kind. A lot of fun to be with. Was flexible to the schedule when we wanted add something in.

Such an incredible day, we saw so much and leant about some really interesting history. Highly recommend Kosuke, very friendly. We would have never seen what we did without Kosuke. Thank you so much

We had such a fantastic day! Kosuke was very knowledgeable and accommodating making the day ours. We had plenty of time to see and do everything and learnt lots about Kyoto. He has so many recommendations and an excellent photographer helping us get fun family shots and helping us capture amazing memories of the day. I loved Kyoto and Kosuke was a large part of showing us how beautiful it is. He tended to our every need ensuring we were well catered for all day! Highly recommend and will be ensuring any of my friends and family book this tour when they get to Kyoto! Thank you Ko!

If you’re considering booking a tour in Kyoto, stop looking and book Kosuke immediately. He is, without exaggeration, one of the kindest and most genuine people we’ve ever met while traveling. From the moment we met him, it felt like we were reconnecting with an old friend rather than meeting a guide for the first time. His warmth, humility, and deep love for his hometown of Kyoto shine through in every part of the experience. Kosuke is a native of Kyoto and speaks absolutely flawless English, which made everything so smooth and comfortable for us. But beyond language, he has that rare gift of being able to read the room and adapt the pace and tone of the day to the energy of the group. We were traveling with teenagers in the sweltering summer heat, and Kosuke handled it all with such thoughtfulness. He would drop us off close to entrances and then drive around and pick us up in more convenient spots, always with the van cooled and ready with ice water. These small gestures made a huge difference, especially in the heat, and were just one of many examples of his care and professionalism. As for the tour itself—wow. He blended must-see highlights with hidden gems in a way that felt completely seamless. We visited a serene, less-crowded shrine tucked away from the tourist trail, ate at an incredible local sushi spot we never would’ve found on our own, and enjoyed what may have been the most unique and atmospheric coffee shop I’ve ever seen. It felt like stepping into a movie set—quiet, beautiful, and authentically Kyoto. We explored the enchanting bamboo forest, strolled through the winding streets of old town Kyoto, saw the original Starbucks housed in a traditional machiya townhouse (a perfect blend of old and new), and hiked up to the monkey park for unforgettable views and close encounters with the monkeys. At every stop, Kosuke shared not just facts but the stories and cultural context that made everything come alive. His knowledge of Kyoto—its history, traditions, and soul—is immense, and he shares it with humility and heart. What stood out most to me was how nothing ever felt rushed. Even though we covered a lot of ground, it never felt like we were being herded from one photo op to the next. Kosuke gave us time to breathe, look around, and truly experience each place. He struck the perfect balance between structure and spontaneity. We could tell how much thought and care went into the flow of the day. By the end of the tour, we didn’t want to say goodbye. I genuinely hope to stay in touch with Kosuke—he’s just one of those rare people you feel lucky to have crossed paths with. It’s no surprise his reviews are so glowing and that he’s in such high demand. If you’re coming to Kyoto, I recommend planning your trip around his availability. His tour wasn’t just a highlight of our time in Japan—it was one of the most memorable travel experiences we’ve ever had. Thank you, Kosuke, for everything. You gave us more than a tour—you gave us a beautiful, heartfelt introduction to Kyoto that we’ll never forget.

Very helpful couldn't do enough for us, highly recommend Ko. Was very courteous and so knowledgeable. Very punctual, just an absolute gentleman.

This tour was hands-down the highlight of our trip to Japan! We were looking for a private experience to explore some of Kyoto’s hidden gems without the hassle of public transport—and wow, did Kosuke deliver! From the moment we met him, Kosuke brought great energy, local insights, and a relaxed, friendly vibe that made the whole day feel like an adventure with a friend. We zipped comfortably between breathtaking spots we never would’ve found on our own, snapped some stunning family photos (thanks, Kosuke!), and learned so much along the way. Even our teens, who usually zone out on tours, were totally engaged and had an awesome time. The mix of culture, stories, scenic views, and chill moments made for the perfect day. If you're coming to Kyoto and want to see more, learn more, and enjoy every second—book a private tour with Kosuke. You won’t regret it!

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g1023526-d28151043-r1010226049-Full_Day_Tour_of_Kyoto_with_Private_Transportation-Mino_Osaka_Prefecture_Kink.html

Booking this tour was the best decision I made. Our tour guide Kosuke was amazing , and very knowledgeable. I traveled with my 75 year old father and although he is very active for his age, he tires easily. Kosuke was very kind and patient, specially when we were climbing Fushimi Inari and the monkey forest. Kosuke would go ahead of us to secure a spot in a bench so my father and I could rest. Not only does he know the best spots, he is also a great photographer. When it was time for lunch, he took us to a delicious local noodle shop, it was one of the best bites we had on our trip. I will definitely book more than one tour with him on my next trip to Japan, it was worth every penny.

Hiring Kosuke for our full day tour of Kyoto was the best decision we made. We hired him based on his excellent reviews and we were not disappointed. We requested a pick up and drop off at our hotel in Osaka. His van was spacious and clean. He was very flexible to whatever we wanted for the day and added in a stop at a zen garden because we had some extra time. We were travelling with our kids and he was wonderful with them. You can sense his passion and love for his hometown and he explained historical details and facts about the places he showed us, in a way that kept our children interested. He also took the most beautiful family photos that we will treasure for many years to come. Please don't hesitate to hire Kosuke as your guide in Kyoto.

If you’re looking for a reliable tour guide in Kyoto/nara/osaka, Kosuke Kyoto is your guy! We have had the best day. Kosuke is local to Kyoto so knows it like the back of his hand. Took us to all the major sights we wanted to, stress free, and knew the perfect spots for photos and recommended good local snacks, souveniers and also places for lunch/dinner! - his ramen recommendation for back in our hotel off pontocho street was amazing! Kosuke had phone chargers in the car ready, umbrellas and water so was fully equipped for us tourists. If we ever come back we’ll be in touch again for tours of other areas as we wished we’d used him for Nara. Highly recommend. Such a pleasant guy and very knowledgable guide! business card in images Thank you Kosuke we had one of the best days in our Japan trip today! Lauren and Mike (today was “Boss”)

I 1000% recommend booking a tour with KSK Tour. Kosuke is an amazing tour guide of Kyoto! We booked him for a full 7 hour tour and were able to customize the itinerary. Kosuke also recommend some quieter sights which we also enjoyed. Our tired legs were so happy to have Kosuke drive us around for the day. He was very accommodating of my requests for the day. Kosuke knows so much about Kyoto and the sights we visited and he used his perfect English to explain a lot of the history about the sights. We were able to cover so much in our day with Kosuke. We did the Sagano romantic train, Arashiyama bamboo forest, kimono forest, Togetsukyo bridge, Otagi Nenbutsuji temple, a quick side trip to a small village with very scenic views close to Otagi temple, lunch at Gontaro, Kinkakuji golden temple, and finished the day at a very serene and quiet temple called Komyoin temple. The best part was all of the family pictures Kosuke took of us at the various sights. He has very good photography skills and suggested many great photo opportunities. We even have pictures at the bamboo forest with nobody else in the background! We can't wait to go back to Japan and book another tour with Kosuke!

Tour guide was excellent knowledgeable and very willing to please . His car was comfortable and clean

Ko San tailored the tour to meet our specific needs and interests . He was able to share his considerable knowledge in an informative and interesting way. He showed us the best photo points and knew all the short cuts. We had an excellent day with him.

Great day that was well structured as well as being flexible to our needs. we felt relaxed with a guide who genuinely wanted to showcase Kyoto. Great value for money!!

My husband and I had a great tour with Kosuke! He was very flexible (we asked to start the tour 1 hour earlier to avoid the crowd; and he immediately said yes). He’s very keen to share all his knowledge about the city and even tried to take us to a lunch place that is mostly known by locals. And he takes very good photos for us too!! We would highly recommend him!

Kosuke is an outstanding tour guide. He is from Kyoto and takes pride in showing you around his city and sharing his local knowledge. Ko picks up and drops off from hotel and will customise tour for you to suit your interests. He was patient and playful with the kids. Recommend booking in advance.

It was a pleasant experience with KSK-Tour. Kosuke was very accommodating so we can see more attractions. He provides history and background related to the attractions. He also take good pictures and knows the good spots. He also brought us to a nice udon place for lunch. I would highly recommend Kosuke.

We had an amazing day with Kosuke as our guide! He was incredibly prompt and communicated with us throughout the day, ensuring everything went smoothly. Kosuke had fantastic recommendations and was very flexible, adjusting our itinerary to fit exactly what we wanted to do. I accidentally left my goshuin book in the car at one stop, and he immediately ran back to retrieve it, saving the day! His deep historical knowledge of each site we visited made the experience even more enriching, and he was a lot of fun to spend the day with. Highly recommend Kosuke – we'll definitely be booking him again on our next trip!