Private Tour in Kyoto

This was a great way to see a lot of sights, easily and quickly, in Kyoto Takakazu Machi is an amazing man and guide. He has a spotless car that is very new and his english is fantastic. Taka knows where to take you if you say just take me or he will take you to any of your favorite places… but he knows the history and stuff that you will not get from walking around. Even better is to have a few places you have in mind and then tell him to show you some off the beaten track places.
The places I saw were:
1) Nijo Castle (yeah anyone can go but he expalined the history, showed how they created the nightingale security floors and a ton of more facts.
2) Golden Pavilion: I wanted to see it and it was great. Taka of course gave us great history and perspective and things you dont usually get.
3) Ryoanji Temple: I would not have chosen this one but it is a very cool Buddhist temple with an amazing dry garden.
4) Bamboo forest in Arahiyama: Yes I would have gone even if he did not take us there but driving through the country side with all the great narative was amazing.
5) Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple: We first got to viist a 100 year old traditional house and than this very out of the way and cool temple with over 1200 Statues of monks playing guitar, drinking, listening to a walkman… and all kinds of crazy.
For one person it would not make sense but if you pack 4 people into this tour it is a great 6 hours of visiting Kyoto.
Check him out!