The locations shown on this page are suggestions rather than a fixed itinerary. You can request locations based on your interests and let us know about places you have already visited.

After booking, you’ll receive a Custom Tour form where you can share your interests, preferred locations, hotel details, food preferences, preferred timing and other requests.

Japan Awaits will then plan a recommended itinerary based on your preferences, selected tour duration, transportation option, operating hours, availability, route and what can realistically be covered within the booked time.

Your tour can generally begin at your hotel or accommodation when it is located within Kyoto, the city covered by this tour.

Depending on your selected transportation option, your guide may meet you at your hotel or a private vehicle may be arranged for pickup. Drop-off can also be planned within the booked tour time.

Same-day travel to nearby areas outside Kyoto may also be possible. Japan Awaits will review the request based on total travel time, transportation, route, operating hours and what can realistically be covered within your selected tour duration.

Standard guide service hours are generally between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Earlier start times or later finishes may be possible when requested in advance, depending on the itinerary and guide availability.

Your booked tour duration is the scheduled service time, so same-day extensions are not guaranteed.

Any extension must be arranged and approved by Japan Awaits in advance and is subject to guide and transportation availability.

We recommend booking your custom tour 3–9 months in advance to secure the best availability, especially during peak travel periods. Requests made at least 1 month before the tour date are recommended whenever possible.

Last-minute requests within 30 days may still be accepted depending on guide, transportation, attraction and service availability, but availability cannot be guaranteed.

Meals, food and drinks for guests are not included unless specifically stated otherwise.

You can share your preferred cuisine, food interests, approximate budget range, dietary requirements and allergies through the Custom Tour form. Japan Awaits may assist with restaurant recommendations and reservations where they are compatible with the itinerary and availability.

Entrance fees for guests and the tour guide are also generally not included. For regular attractions, guests normally pay the applicable entrance fees during the tour.

If your itinerary includes an attraction requiring advance reservation or advance ticket purchase, Japan Awaits may be able to assist with the arrangement, subject to availability and applicable booking conditions.

There is no consultation fee for custom Single-Day Tours.

Once Japan Awaits has issued your Custom Itinerary Sheet, 15% of the total tour cost becomes non-refundable in the event of cancellation.

If your cancellation falls within the applicable cancellation policy above, the applicable cancellation charge will take precedence over the 15% Custom Itinerary Fee. The two charges are not applied separately.

Additional charges may apply where your request requires additional guide, vehicle, transportation or other services beyond the original booking, or where supplier, fare, payment-processing or currency-conversion costs are incurred.

Where an additional arrangement requires approval in advance, Japan Awaits will confirm the applicable cost before proceeding.

Japan Awaits also offers other custom travel services depending on your destination, itinerary and transportation needs.