From Osaka or Kyoto: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Kyoto
Description
Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. Take a journey through time in Kyoto, where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity. Marvel at Kinkaku-ji, the golden temple known as the Golden Pavilion, which showcases the beauty of this timeless city. Visit Nijo Castle, celebrated for its palace buildings, which are among the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture from Japan's feudal era. The castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. Explore the magnificent torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and visit the Arashiyama area, which includes the serene Bamboo Forest, Nonomiya Shrine, the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, and the beautiful Kimono Forest. Depart from Osaka or Kyoto, experience a magical fusion of nature and history with our friendly and professional guide.
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Itinerary
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion）is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. A breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its dazzling golden exterior and serene gardens. The name Golden Pavilion is derived from the gold leaf that the pavilion is covered in. The gold employed was intended to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings toward death. The Golden Pavilion is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. Each floor has a different architectural style. The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai, and zen.
There are around 30,000 Inari shrines in Japan, Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine, to worship the Shinto god of rice, Inari. The shrine is renowned for Senbon Torii, thousands of vermilion red torii gates, which create a stunning and immersive tunnel-like pathway up the sacred Mount Inari. In the 1300 years since its establishment in 711AD, people have gathered here to pray for bountiful harvests, business prosperity, the safety of their home and family, and the fulfillment of all other wishes.
Nijo-jo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1868). It is one of the best-known castles in Japan, its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Nijo-jo Castle can be divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and some gardens around them. The entire castle grounds and the Honmaru are surrounded by stone walls and moats. The admission ticket for Nijo Castle, which includes access to the Ninomaru-goten Palace, costs 1,300 yen. Please ensure you have the appropriate cash for entry. Thank you. ( During the days when Nijo Castle was closed, visit Heian Jingu Shrine instead. This Shinto shrine is located in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, and is recognized as an important cultural property of Japan. )
The bamboo forests of Arashiyama are a must-see when visiting Kyoto, serving as a symbol of the city. This stunning and serene natural attraction is known for its towering bamboo stalks and tranquil ambiance. Walking along the peaceful paths surrounded by lush greenery will help put your mind at ease. You can truly feel time slow down as you take in the beauty of nature. The groves are especially captivating when a light breeze dances through, causing the tall bamboo stalks to sway gently back and forth.
Nonomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Arashiyama district on the west side of the city of Kyoto. Unlike most shrines that feature iconic vermilion torii gates, Nonomiya Shrine has a distinctive black torii gate known as a kuroki torii. Despite its small size, the shrine has a lengthy history, founded in antiquity as a purification shrine for imperial princesses who were appointed as priestesses for Ise Shrine. Nonomiya Shrine has a reputation for helping and interceding on behalf of women, and many parishioners are women who want to find love or wish for children and a safe childbirth. Many of the omamori on sale at the shrine reflect the theme of women’s happiness, and you can find a variety of amulets available at the shrine office.
The Togetsukyo Bridge is the most iconic landmark in Arashiyama. Originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185), it was reconstructed most recently in the 1930s. This famous bridge spans the Katsura River and provides picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and riverscape.
The Kimono Forest is a distinctive textile art installation made up of 600 clear acrylic cylinders, each standing 2 meters tall. These pillars are adorned with vibrant kimono fabrics featuring a range of designs, from elegant floral patterns to geometric shapes and traditional Japanese symbols. The installation showcases 32 traditional Kyo-yuzen designs. The Kimono Forest is a must-see attraction that provides a unique and enchanting perspective on traditional Japanese textiles and craftsmanship.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please indicate when booking if you're traveling with stroller or large luggage.
- Please inform us at least one day in advance if you have placed an order separately from your relatives or friends. This will help avoid the situation where you and your companions are assigned to different vehicles.
- Not recommended for travelers who use wheelchairs
Reviews(35)
This bus tour stood out to me compared to the others. Our tour guide, Lee, was excellent at managing a large group while keeping everyone engaged. He created a WhatsApp group for all participants and provided clear instructions, updates, and Google Maps links throughout the day, which made everything very easy to follow. As we traveled between destinations, Lee shared the history and background of each site before we arrived, giving us valuable context and helping us appreciate what we were seeing. We visited Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Temple), Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. His explanations brought each location to life, and his humor and storytelling kept the journey entertaining from start to finish. The tour was very well organized, allowing plenty of free time to explore each attraction while still benefiting from Lee's guidance and local knowledge. Exploring Kyoto was easy, informative, and enjoyable with him leading the way. I highly recommend Mr. Lee to anyone looking for a memorable and well-organized tour experience in Kyoto. Pro tip you can leave the last site early and catch a train back and reach your hotel by 445.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
FANTASTIC tour of the main attractions of Kyoto! The entire day was well executed at a relaxed pace. We boarded the bus thinking it was going to be a miss of an excursion because of the incessant rain but it turned out to be the HIGHLIGHT of our Japan trip! The rain was there throughout but there were less crowds and the scenery was beautiful! But our wonderful guide Chris was the miracle worker here!! We cannot recommend him enough!! From the onset Chris had made a good plan to communicate with all of us on the tour via a WhatsApp group. He reached out before the tour started and made us all at ease as to where and how to locate him outside of the busy Tokyo Central Station. He was so chill and kind …. We didn’t bring any cash with us and he lent us some until we could withdraw money at the convenience store on route. That was the first indicator of a kind and good person who would guide us through the day with fun jokes and anecdotes . It felt like we were touring with a family member because he took his responsibility personally instead of as a job. He treated everyone with respect and patience while accommodating individual requests at lunch and for bathroom breaks. He always consulted with our group before making an executive decision on time spent at the different sites . We actually all got emotional saying goodbye at the end of the day because Chris and all of us had bonded! Thanks for making a truly great trip in Kyoto for all of us Chris!
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
Anson was an awesome tour guide. He knows a lot of history and facts and really took the time to share his knowledge to us. Lots of trivia. He is really friendly and energetic. Great tour guide and gave us plenty of time to explore everything.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
FANTASTIC tour of the main attractions of Kyoto! The entire day was well executed at a relaxed pace. We boarded the bus thinking it was going to be a miss of an excursion because of the incessant rain but it turned out to be the HIGHLIGHT of our Japan trip! The rain was there throughout but there were less crowds and the scenery was beautiful! But our wonderful guide Chris was the miracle worker here!! We cannot recommend him enough!! From the onset Chris had made a good plan to communicate with all of us on the tour via a WhatsApp group. He reached out before the tour started and made us all at ease as to where and how to locate him outside of the busy Tokyo Central Station. He was so chill and kind …. We didn’t bring any cash with us and he lent us some until we could withdraw money at the convenience store on route. That was the first indicator of a kind and good person who would guide us through the day with fun jokes and anecdotes . It felt like we were touring with a family member because he took his responsibility personally instead of as a job. He treated everyone with respect and patience while accommodating individual requests at lunch and for bathroom breaks. He always consulted with our group before making an executive decision on time spent at the different sites . We actually all got emotional saying goodbye at the end of the day because Chris and all of us had bonded! Thanks for making a truly great trip in Kyoto for all of us Chris!
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
Tour guide Lee was very humourous and helpful. Great communicator as well! Would highly recommend! Covers all the important sites so you don't feel like you're missing out on anything major!
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
I rate our experience 5 out of 5. It’s was well organised throughout because instructions were in simple English and very well understood. We hardly raised any questions throughout the tour and was never at a lost regarding where to meet or which direction to proceed in the tour.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
Fabulous day despite the heavy rain. We were able to see 3 of the 4 areas. It sadly drained way too heavy to see the bamboo forest and kimono forest. Our guide Anson was extremely helpful, informative and fun
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
The tour conveniently starts with first pickup in Osaka (7:30am) and second pickup in Kyoto (9:00am). Kyoto is also easily accessible by train from Osaka for a reasonable cost. There are several good restaurants around the Kyoto station where one can have dinner after the tour. Drop off is in reverse order making for a very long day for those starting in Osaka. Our tour guide Chris was very knowledgeable and showed great care for the members of the group (about 25 people). During transit, he explained the various sites along with related stories. The mood within the group was very good throughout a long day even with soaring temperatures during a heatwave. The only negative is that the Tour Company Viator did not include admissions for two of the sites and the tour members needed to reimburse the guide for the admission fees in cash. This made things a bit awkward as some did not have cash on hand and had to scramble to find an ATM. To his credit, the tour guide helped with that as well. Chris is a very kind and caring person who prioritized a good trip for everyone.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! We appreciate your understanding and feedback, which we will use to improve and offer exceptional service to all our customers. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
Our guide Javkson was very good. The tour was good but it was a rainy day, so the bamboo garden, and the last stop we could not enjoy much. Good tour, good guide, if you have one day it will cover the best attractions of Kyoto.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
The trip was very informative. Pickup was convenient and guide was courteous and knowledgeable. The sights we visited were amazing. I definitely recommend this trip to those visiting Kyoto. Congratulations to the organizers.
Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you for joining our tour! We are delighted to hear that you had a nice experience. It means a lot to us! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
