Kyoto & Nara & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto
Description
Embark on a journey through time in Kyoto, Nara and Uji, where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity. In Nara Park, encounter the free-roaming deer that charmingly bow to you in hopes of a treat and visit the impressive Todai-ji Temple. Explore the magnificent torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and discover the city of Uji, renowned for its green tea production. Stroll along the cobblestone path of Byodo-in Omotesando, a paradise for matcha green tea lovers. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Byodo-in Temple, which features its Phoenix Hall built in 1053-highlighted on the obverse side of the 10 yen coin. Depart from Osaka or Kyoto, experience a magical fusion of nature and history with our friendly and professional guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Nara Park is one of the must-see areas in Nara City and is one of the oldest parks in Japan. The vast area covers 660 hectares and is renowned for its free-roaming deer and world-famous temples. These tame creatures are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods and walk freely in Nara. Over time, these cute deers have learned to bow to visitors-a sign for a treat. For over 1,300 years, humans and deer have peacefully coexisted in Nara. Today, they are protected as Natural Monuments, and revered as holy animals in Nara.
Todaiji is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", together with seven other sites including temples, shrines, and places in the city of Nara. The temple's main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), was recognized as the world's largest wooden building. The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15-meter-tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas.
The Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park surrounded by the Uji River, which divides the water's flow downstream. The park is connected to the riverbanks by three bridges. There are many scenic features including a 13th-century stone pagoda that stands 15 m tall. In spring, the park offers beautiful views of cherry blossom forests, and birds can be seen flying in the sky. Red-colored bridges connect the pathways on both sides of the river, and it's interesting to see ducks diving into the fast-flowing river to catch fish.
Byodo-in Temple is one of Japan's best-preserved national treasures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most iconic structure within the temple is the Phoenix Hall, which features wing-like corridors on either side of the central hall, resembling a phoenix spreading its wings, selected for the design as the obverse of the 10 yen coin.
Uji is renowned for its green tea production, and this charming street is lined with shops selling a variety of tea and tea-related products. It is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Uji, as it showcases Japan’s rich tea heritage and provides a glimpse into its fascinating history. As you stroll down the cobblestone path, the air is filled with the enticing aroma of freshly roasted tea leaves. Here you can try tea-flavored “dango” dumplings, noodles, ice creams, and donuts. Take your time to wander through the souvenir shops and eateries. At the end of the street, you will find a Starbucks that serves its popular Matcha Frappé.
The Uji River is the only river that originates from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It has served as an important waterway connecting Shiga and Osaka since ancient times. The river flows through Uji, dividing the city into two parts and serving as a central focal point, with most shops and restaurants located along its banks. Uji Bridge, the main passage over the river, is considered one of the three oldest bridges in the country.
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.
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(83)
Nice trip, the guide very kind
Our family had a wonderful experience! Scarlett was very knowledgeable, responsive, and attentive during tour! Our girls enjoyed the temples and deer! The matcha experience was delicious 😊.
Sarah was very Professional and helped a lot. She informed us for everything and whole trip was very delightful. Suggest to 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! Your guide truly appreciates your positive feedback. We hope that your entire time in Japan will be memorable!
Very comfortable guides were very nice
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 best tour in Kyoto, our tour guide was Funny, knowledgeable, very interactive and guided us all throughout the teip
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 itinerary was well designed and covered many of the region’s iconic attractions, including Nara Park, Tōdai-ji Temple, Uji, and the breathtaking Fushimi Inari Shrine. The pace was excellent, with enough time to explore while still covering a lot in a single day. Our guide, Scarlett, truly made the experience outstanding. She was funny, energetic, and incredibly organized. She constantly kept everyone informed through WhatsApp with clear reminders about meeting times and locations, making the day completely stress-free. She was also pleasantly “obsessive” about keeping the group on schedule, which ensured we made the most of every stop without feeling rushed. Scarlett shared interesting historical and cultural insights throughout the tour, bringing each destination to life rather than simply pointing out landmarks. Her enthusiasm and professionalism kept the group engaged from start to finish. The transportation was comfortable, everything ran smoothly, and the organization was excellent.I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience Kyoto, Nara, and Uji in a single day. If you’re lucky enough to have Scarlett as your guide, you’re in for a fantastic experience.
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 itinerary was well designed and covered many of the region’s iconic attractions, including Nara Park, Tōdai-ji Temple, Uji, and the breathtaking Fushimi Inari Shrine. The pace was excellent, with enough time to explore while still covering a lot in a single day. Our guide, Scarlett, truly made the experience outstanding. She was funny, energetic, and incredibly organized. She constantly kept everyone informed through WhatsApp with clear reminders about meeting times and locations, making the day completely stress-free. She was also pleasantly “obsessive” about keeping the group on schedule, which ensured we made the most of every stop without feeling rushed. Scarlett shared interesting historical and cultural insights throughout the tour, bringing each destination to life rather than simply pointing out landmarks. Her enthusiasm and professionalism kept the group engaged from start to finish. The transportation was comfortable, everything ran smoothly, and the organization was excellent.I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience Kyoto, Nara, and Uji in a single day. If you’re lucky enough to have Scarlett as your guide, you’re in for a fantastic experience.
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 trip to Nara and Uji. I highly recommend using this type of tours as you travel comfortably in the scorching summer in Japan. The activities are well organized. You focus on enjoying the trip instead of worrying about logistics. Our tour guide Allen did a great job. He provided us with great stories related to the places that we visited. He was also very professional did a good job with the coordination. We did four different tours during our trip to Japan. My family and I are convinced that we did the right thing. Enjoy your vacations and forget about dealing with logistics. You might also make new friends along the way. Good luck!
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 curated set of experiences found in this excursion is exceptional. Not only did Anson (tour lead/manager) and Gin (tour driver/transportation expert) manage a challenging full-day, three-city itinerary with superior dexterity and know-how, but they also structured the experiences in an aesthetically pleasing mosaic of logical vistas that easily put it at the top of 'the best value for your money' options (among all the options you could find on Viator). Highlights one can mention include round-trip transportation, top must-see spots revealed, prices of optional paid activities highlighted, the restrooms' geographic location referenced, allotted time per attraction shared, and continuous tour information broadcasted via WhatsApp, leaving the rest to the participant.
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!
C-C- was the best! The travel was on schedule and it was optional to stick with the guide at the beginning of the activity or go explore on your own.
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!
