Outstanding - 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!

Best tour guide ever - 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.

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

10/10 Highly recommended - 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!

Magical Tour of Kyoto with Kosuke - https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g1023526-d28151043-r1010226049-Full_Day_Tour_of_Kyoto_with_Private_Transportation-Mino_Osaka_Prefecture_Kink.html

The best day in Kyoto - 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.

An Unforgettable day in Kyoto - 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.

The best day of our Japan trip so far - 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”)

Our best day in Japan with Kosuke! - 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... - Tour guide was excellent knowledgeable and very willing to please . His car was comfortable and clean