TK
| Language(s) | : | English |
|---|---|---|
| Expertise | : | Traditional industries |
| Qualification | : | Itinerary management supervisor |
| Fee | : |
24,000 JPY / half a day (4hours) |
| Home Page | : | http://www.yamatoratours.com |
| Recommend Course | : |
Northern Kyoto Bike Tour Daitokuji Zen temple → 1,000 year old sweets shop → Fabric weaving district → Local shopping arcade |
|---|
★Local insight by an insider in the Ancient capital Kyoto.
Using a City of Kyoto Visitors Host as a guide will redefine your whole travel experience.
Equipped with an extensive knowledge of the city, and its unique arts and culture, acquired through participating in the Visitor's Host course, I am passionate to share my knowledge of Kyoto with you. Let me help make your trip be only the beginning of a lifelong love of the magical city of Kyoto.
Please feel free to contact me with your trip ideas. I'm happy to work with you to create your unique travel experience in Kyoto. If you have enough time or have visited the city before, I can help you find the quirky, interesting local places that you would perhaps otherwise not get to see or experiences. If you are lucky enough to time your trip for cherry blossoms/autumn colours or seasonal events, I can take you to the best possible places to see and experience the most you can.
The range of tours I can provide includes bike tour, walking the Kyoto hills, evening tour, morning tour, art tour, a tour called "Zen and tea ceremony experience for vegetarians" and more. Also, I'm also happy to arrange a visit to traditional artisans' studios.
★Tours given since October 2017 : 250 tours
★Number of guests guided since October 2017 : 670 guests
★Number of 5-star review : 130
★Rates:
Guiding fee for a group of up to 4 people
4-hour tour 24,000 yen
6-hour tour 32,000 yen
8-hour tour 40,000 yen
3.5 hour Gion evening tour: 24,000 yen
4.5-hour afternoon tour + 3.5-hour evening tour : 48,000 yen
Additional charge would apply to starting and/or finishing outside Kyoto City.
Please inquire for a larger group.
*All tours are private, just your own group.
*Up to 2 children age 6 or younger free of charge. e.g. standard guiding fee is applied for a group of 4 adults with two 5-year old kids free. Children in strollers will not be count
★What's included:
Private custom tour
Guide's local transportation costs (intercity train fares are exception, eg from Kyoto to Nara, which will be traveller's responsibility)
Guide's entry fees ( there are some exceptions, like Kyoto Tower, which will be traveller's responsibility)
★Travellers are responsible for the following expenses:
Traveller's transportation costs and entry fees to gardens, temples etc... (where applicable)
Dinner/lunch for guide and traveller (where applicable)
Other expenses (e.g. rental bikes, tea ceremony) for both guide and traveller
Please note that starting and/ or finishing in other city like Osaka will require extra charge.
★Payment method:
PayPal or bank transfer in advance
Cash may be acceptable in some cases.
Your booking will be confirmed when the payment is complete.
★Rescheduling policy
IF my availability allows, one time only rescheduling may be acceptable up to 11 days prior to the tour date.
★Cancellation policy
After the tour is booked, a cancellation fee may be charged when traveller(s) intend to cancel the tour.
For bike tours, please ask for bike tour special clause.
No-show or termination after the commencement of the tour: No refund
On the day: No refund
Previous day: No refund
2-3 days prior to the tour: 50% refund
4 -10 days prior to the tour: 75% refund
11 days or more prior to the tour: 100% refund
★Liability waiver
Takaaki Yamane or associated guides do not provide health and accident insurance for tour participants, and any medical expenses, property loss, or other personal expenditures that result during or from this travel/tour, are to be borne by the participants.
★Bike tour special notes:
Bike tours are subject to the weather and other natural disasters (heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat, typhoon, earthquake). Please understand that bike tours will switch to non-bike tours using public transportation or taxi in case it is not possible to run bike tours. If you would like to choose not to have an alternative tour, please note that 100% cancellation charge will be incurred.
Takaaki Yamane
tk.privateguide.kyoto@gmail.com
Information on this page is subject to change without notice.
Guide's Calendar
Performance
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Dec 2017, I lead a tour for a family of 4 form Australia for a day and a half. On Day 1, we covered the must-see sites in Kyoto. On Day 2, I incorporated off-beaten-path upon the guests' request, which included a small temple that had a well that was believed to be connected to the hell in the ancient time. All of them enjoyed backstreets with me that perhaps otherwise wouldn't have been accessed.
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Dec. 2017, I got an enquiry through this website from a group of three Italians. I crafted their own itinerary for a half-day bike tour. The guests hopped on a bike and explored backstreets of the Northern Kyoto City. In a small Zen temple called Zuiho-in was the highlight that a friendly abbot appeared and taught us how to do seated meditation. All of us tried to clear thoughts for 5 minute.
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May, 2018: I guided a group of three from Canada to Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Tofukuji Zen temple and the Gion. In the Gion we were incredibly fortunate to see a maiko making the rounds of the area, greeting clients and local people, as part of her ceremonial debut. It was a very rare moment and the perfect opportunity to learn more about Geisha culture in Kyoto.
