Super Express Nara & Kyoto Private 1-Day Tour from Tokyo
Description
Tiered Pricing 71,000 JPY per person — Group of 4 79,000 JPY per person — Group of 3 96,000 JPY per person — Group of 2 148,000 JPY per person — Solo traveler (1 person) 28,000 JPY per child (ages 6–11) Only have one day to spare but want to explore Japan’s ancient capitals, Nara and Kyoto from Tokyo??? Many say it’s impossible—but with our licensed English-speaking guide, it’s absolutely doable! Start with an early bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, then a limited express to Nara. Enjoy a peaceful walk through Nara Park with over 1,000 friendly deer, and visit Todai-ji Temple, home to the massive Great Buddha statue. After an optional lunch, head back to Kyoto to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, Japan’s most iconic Shinto shrine, famous for its thousands of red torii gates. Though fast-paced, this tour offers a deep dive into Japan’s rich history and culture—experiences you won’t find in Tokyo. Return to your hotel by 6:30 PM, full of unforgettable memories!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour guide will pick you up from most hotels in central Tokyo. If your hotel isn’t on the designated list, just let us know — we might still be able to arrange a pick-up for you! Once you've been picked up, we’ll hop on a subway or local train to Tokyo Station. From there, get ready for an exciting ride on Japan’s world-famous high-speed train — the Shinkansen, also known as the Bullet Train! The distance between Tokyo and Kyoto is approximately 514 km (320 miles), but the super express train covers it in just 2 hours and 10 minutes! If the weather’s clear, keep an eye out — you might be treated to a breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji from your window. It’s a truly unforgettable way to travel!
After a comfortable 2-hour ride on the Bullet Train, we’ll arrive at Kyoto Station. From there, we’ll transfer to a local limited express train bound for Nara — our first destination! Nara was once the capital of Japan back in the 8th century and is rich in history and culture. Sit back, relax, and enjoy another short but scenic ride on one of Japan’s amazing trains!
From the station, we’ll enjoy a pleasant walk to Nara’s iconic attraction — Nara Park, where over 1,000 friendly deer roam freely and peacefully coexist with the locals.
Tōdai-ji Temple is one of Japan’s most famous and impressive Buddhist temples. It’s best known for housing one of the largest wooden structures in the world, which shelters the awe-inspiring Great Buddha — a massive bronze statue that truly takes your breath away. And don’t worry — you won’t miss a thing! This tour is led by a certified English-speaking guide with deep knowledge of Japanese culture, history, and much more. Your guide will share fascinating stories and insights about the temple, the Great Buddha, and of course, the friendly deer of Nara.
Nara was Japan’s ancient capital from AD 710 to AD 794, before the capital moved to Kyoto. The city has a truly unique and historic atmosphere that you can feel as you walk through its streets. There are also plenty of restaurants offering a wide variety of delicious options for lunch. (Lunch is optional.)
After enjoying lunch, we’ll hop back on a local limited express train to Kyoto Station. The train features large panoramic windows, offering beautiful views of the passing scenery during the short and relaxing ride to Kyoto.
Upon arriving in Kyoto, we’ll transfer to the JR Line and take a short 10-minute ride to Fushimi Station. From there, we’ll visit the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine — the most visited Shinto shrine in all of Japan. It’s especially renowned for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates that form a magical pathway through the forested hillside.
To return to Tokyo, we’ll board the Nozomi Super Express, Japan’s fastest Shinkansen. The journey back to Tokyo Station takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the final leg of our adventure on this world-class train!
After arriving at Tokyo Station, we’ll escort you back to your hotel. You can expect to return around 7:00 PM.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The guide will meet you in your hotel lobby or at the main entrance. If your hotel is not listed, please select the nearest hotel from the pick-up list. Alternatively, we may be able to arrange a pick-up service for an additional fee.
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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A subway or local JR train will be used after picking you up at your hotel, and the same applies for the drop-off service.
- For those who choose the Japan Rail Pass Holder option, a Bullet Train ticket must be purchased on your own if the Japan Rail Pass is expired or invalid.
- Please prepare rain gear, such as umbrella or a raincoat, in case of bad weather.
- If your hotel is situated outside our designated pick-up range and alternative transportation, such as a subway, is not feasible, guests are responsible for covering the fare. This includes the cost for both the guide's transportation to the first destination and from the last destination back to your hotel.
- Due to weather condition or other operational reasons, the itinerary may be subject to change or certain visits may be omitted or substituted. Even in such circumstances, the tour may not be canceled, and the tour fare will not be refunded.
- The tour involves a good amount of walking outdoors. We suggest wearing sneakers or comfortable shoes.
Reviews(4)
Yoshi was amazing he was on time and extremely efficient and helpful and kind. We covered a lot quickly with time left over. Long day but able to see all
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave your wonderful feedback. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Yoshi. He will definitely be thrilled to read your kind comments. We truly appreciate you choosing Japan Gray Line, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Japan on another tour in the near future. Thank you again, and we wish you all the best!
Me and my family took Kyoto and Nara private tour with Yoshi on January 7. It was an incredible experience. Yoshi was friendly , covered beautiful spots and included additional areas like bamboo forest depending on our likings . Help us get great pictures , explained local culture, Yoshi is very friendly and punctual.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed your private tour in Kyoto and Nara. It’s nice to know that the itinerary could be adjusted to your interests and that you appreciated the pace, explanations, and assistance along the way. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and thank you for choosing our tour during your time in Japan.
Yoshi was amazing for our family of four (2 kids - ages 5 and 7). The characteristic I look for in a tour guide is someone who is kind. Yoshi is that and more - kind, intelligent, and a great guy. He truly made this trip a once-in-a-lifetime moment and I would recommend him to anyone.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re happy to hear that your family enjoyed the tour and felt comfortable throughout the day. Yoshi is so much grateful to know that his approach and care helped make the experience special for both adults and children. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are glad to have been a small part of your family’s time in Japan.
We had a phenomenal guide for this tour, Yoshi. He was on time even though our start time was early. He had prearranged the timing of the entire day without us feeling rushed. We were focused on the wonderful experiences! Yoshi made it a point to make sure we had unique experiences at each location. We had a wonderful Ramen lunch in Nara! He also made recommendations for things to do for our remaining time in Japan. Yoshi took many pictures for us. We have so many memories for years to come! Thank you, Yoshi!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a phenomenal experience on your tour with Yoshi. He was delighted to know that you appreciated his punctuality, seamless pacing, and the way he tailored each stop to feel relaxed yet memorable. It’s great that you enjoyed the ramen lunch in Nara and the special moments at each site. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Yoshi—he will be truly honored. Thank you also for sharing your travel plans with us and trusting our suggestions for the rest of your time in Japan. We hope the rest of your stay was just as enjoyable, and that you can return to explore more of this beautiful country someday.
