Private Kyoto Tour by Car with Optional Nara or Osaka Add-Ons
Description
This private car tour allows you to create your ideal day in Kyoto by choosing from three flexible options: a Kyoto 1-Day Highlights Tour, a Kyoto & Nara cultural journey, or a Kyoto & Osaka adventure. Every itinerary is fully customizable to match your interests and pace. If there are places you'd like to add—or locations you've already visited—we will adjust the route to design the perfect day for you. Travel comfortably by private car with a friendly local guide who brings history, culture, and local stories to life. Whether you want to explore the bamboo forest of Arashiyama, admire the Golden Pavilion, meet Nara’s sacred deer, or enjoy Osaka’s lively streets, you can experience Japan’s most iconic sights at your own rhythm, without rushing or following a set schedule. This tour is ideal for first-time visitors, families, and couples who want a smooth, personalized, and unforgettable sightseeing experience. Discover Kyoto—and beyond—in the most flexible and enjoyable way.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will explore Japan’s most famous bamboo forest. If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto one day ” option when making your reservation.
We will visit Golden Temple "Golden Pavilion". If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto one day tour option” option when making your reservation.
This shrine is included in all options. Start the day at Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, where thousands of red torii gates create one of the most photogenic spots in Japan. Walk through the tunnels of gates while your local guide shares fun stories and hidden facts. After soaking up the peaceful vibe, we’ll head out to Nara by private car.
If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto Nara Private Tour ” option when making your reservation. Meet Nara’s most famous residents—friendly deer that roam freely in the park. Feed them, take cute selfies, and enjoy some relaxed time under the trees. This part of the tour is free time, so feel free to explore, take photos, or simply enjoy the peaceful vibe. You can join the guide for lunch or choose a local restaurant on your own. It’s a great moment to slow down and enjoy Nara at your own pace.
If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto Nara Private Tour ” option when making your reservation. Visit Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks. Step inside the world’s largest wooden building and come face to face with Japan’s Great Buddha, a giant bronze statue standing over 15 meters tall. Your guide will explain the temple’s rich history, how it was built in the 8th century, and its spiritual meaning in Japanese Buddhism. We’ll also show you some fun hidden details—like the famous “healing pillar”—and help you find the best angles for impressive photos.
If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto Nara Private Tour ” option when making your reservation. Take a peaceful walk through a forest path lined with mossy stone lanterns to reach Kasuga Taisha Shrine, one of Nara’s most sacred places. With its quiet atmosphere and thousands of lanterns, this shrine offers a glimpse into Japan’s ancient spiritual traditions. Your guide will share the story behind the shrine, its connection to nature, and how it remains an active place of worship. It’s also a great chance to take atmospheric photos surrounded by greenery and light.
We will visit Kiyomizu temple. If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto one day tour option” option when making your reservation.
We will visit Tenryuji Temple. If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto one day tour option” option when making your reservation.
We will visit Nishiki Market. If you would like this itinerary, please select the “Kyoto one day tour option” option when making your reservation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer free pickup from any hotel within Kyoto City, even if your accommodation does not appear in the list of selectable options. After your booking is confirmed, we will contact you to arrange the exact pickup location—so please rest assured. If you have a preferred drop-off point after the tour, feel free to let us know. We are happy to accommodate your request whenever it fits naturally with the day’s itinerary.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(65)
Katsu was great! He was so nice and knowledgeable. Great at knowing where to go get best views, photos, etc. Our whole family liked him a lot.
Excellent guided tour on our first day in Kyoto. We got to see 4 of the main sites around Kyoto by our friendly guide with detailed knowledge of the city and sites. Driving tour is a great way to see sites a bit outside main city. Got great follow up with ideas for what to do in the following days.
We had THE best day with Katsu. We got to see alllllllll the sites on my list AND take a stop at the top shaved ice place in Kyoto. Make sure Katsu takes you- it’s phenomenal. He’s going to laugh if I send tons of people asking for shaved ice vs temples but again , we got To see the entire city. He took amazing photos of us and was a great guide. The car was super nice and clean and he was also kind and quite funny!!
Katsu was the absolute best! This was such a comfortable and easy tour. Katsu allows you to customize your experience how you’d like and was very kind and fun. My son absolutely loved him, would recommend to anyone looking to see Kyoto.
Super wonderful tour. Very friendly and perfect English!! Katsu was amazing!! Can’t wait to come back. We saw all the sites! Arigato Katsu!
Katsu is fantastic. Great day seeing the deers in Nara and Kyoto highlights. Katsu picked us up at the Kyoto station and took us to all the spots we wanted to see. He took really nice photos for us. He can be a professional photographer if he wanted to. Having Katsu as our private tour guide is like having a local family member take you around. We had a wonderful time sightseeing and eating lunch together at a local restaurant versus a tourist trap eatery. Highly recommend Katsu. He was born and raised in the area and speaks perfect English. Very courteous and professional. We are going to book with him again next year when we return to the area .
Only If there was a way to give Katsu-san a ten star rating! Katsu-san was able to tailor our tour to what we wanted to see. Very informative of all the areas we saw, and provided alternative areas to avoid a few very crowded areas. Highly recommend his tour and hospitality.
Katsu was a great guide. He was an excellent driver and the air-conditioned car was very comfortable. Between Katsu and us, we were able to cover all the locations we particularly wanted to see. It was especially good having a driver for the areas further out from the city. He explained the places we visited and also took photos for us throughout the tour. One very helpful tip he gave us was about feeding the deer — he warned us that they can become quite forceful, so it’s best to not feed them. We were very glad he mentioned this after watching other visitors trying to get away from them. At the end of the tour, Katsu also provided us with a useful list of things to do and see, along with great recommendations for places to eat. Highly recommended.
What a treat to move through the city with a kind, informed, and flexible guide and driver. We wanted to avoid crowds, as much as we could, hitting just a few major attractions and seeing some interesting, less obvious places. Katsu offered lots of ideas and was totally into accommodating our wish list of sights—and the suggestions he made enhanced the day. He’s fun, interested and engaged, and was great with communications (in English) before the tour day and during our time together. We highly recommend spending a day, at least, seeing Kyoto with Katsu!
We had an excellent experience with our private guide Katsu. He was incredibly accommodating, knowledgeable, and provided a very personal approach throughout the tour. He adjusted the itinerary to suit our needs and made sure we were comfortable at all times. The vehicle was very comfortable, and his friendly, easy-going personality made the experience even more enjoyable. We would highly recommend Katsu to anyone looking for a private tour. Alexei and Elena.
