Tailored Full Day Private Experience of Kyoto for 1 Day Visitors

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Kyoto, Japan

8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

KYOTO and NARA TOUR with FREE ENTRANCE FEE(DRIVER ONLY)

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

5.0

(1)

KYOTO and NARA TOUR with FREE ENTRANCE FEE(DRIVER ONLY)

from $265

Price varies by group size

A Privately Guided Photoshoot in Beautiful Kyoto by a Pro

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

4.8

(20)

A Privately Guided Photoshoot in Beautiful Kyoto by a Pro

from $89

Gion Nocturno: Secretos y Leyendas de las Geishas

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

4.9

(149)

Gion Nocturno: Secretos y Leyendas de las Geishas

from $21

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

See Kyoto’s major sights in just one day on this private tour. Don’t worry about travel logistics or wasting time waiting for a taxi or rideshare-your private car will take you from place to place. Tailor the itinerary to your interests so you only stop at the attractions you want to see.

Explore Kyoto’s landmarks and hidden gems efficiently
Travel comfortably in a private car between destinations
See the sights at your own pace on a private tour
Take photos of Kinkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama, and more

What's Included

Guiding Fees, Transportation Arragement
Transportation cost is NOT included. Please carefully review the exclusions listed below.

Transportation(cash): up to 5 travelers:¥100,000. Extra ¥20,000 for port pick up & drop off

¥100,000.00 per booking
Lunch
Admission Fee - Kinkakuji Temple

¥500.00 per person
Admission Fee - Nijo Castle

¥1,350.00 per person
Gratuities are always appreciated but never expected (In case your experience was exceptional)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End points

This activity ends in a different location. See details below:

Itinerary

Arashiyama

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Kinkakuji Temple

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Nijo Castle

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Nishiki Market Shopping District

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Gion

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Infants must sit on laps

Most travelers can participate
the duration of the tour is 9 hours including the travel time
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Featured review

Bhoomi_B

highly recommend! We loved this tour and we are so happy we did it! We saw six major must see things in Kyoto all in one day in the summer two adults two kids ages 12 and 14 with a private friendly driver, extremely clean nice comfortable air conditioned van, and our own English speaking tour guide Ahmed who is excellent! to navigate as first time visitors would've been impossible without this tour (it's a lot of going from one to the other and not easy and can take up a lot of time if you're planning it on your own!) and to be able to see this much in our short time here was absolutely amazing and we are so thankful! The explanations and historical context were fantastic, guide was professional friendly and we felt very comfortable throughout the day! Thank you!! Worth it!

Reviews

4.7

based on 34 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

NOT WORTH IT. Find a cheaper driving tour.

Kimberly_C, Dec 2025

This is a walking tour. What appears to offer pickup at the hotel for an extra transportation cost is actually the additional $200 per person of you want a car at all. it’s very deceiving in my opinion, tried to reach Viator to get it fixed and they didn’t care or follow up with me when it still could have been rectified. The tour is supposed to customized based on what you want to do but our tour guide didn’t quite listen to most of what we wanted. Our tour guide was nice but either ran through everything so fast it was hard to keep up or he fell asleep on most travel parts especially on the trains. We had to walk, take trains and buses to get everywhere. remember I thought we were on walking especially since I have a hard time walking long distances. Instead we had to walk 8 hours, the guide led the way but it was all over the place. One of our stops was even closed. Isay, it is not worth the money. Save it and get a tour with another company, we saw a ton with other tour companies while we we were out.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

We would like to clarify that this tour is NOT a walking tour, and that is clearly mentioned in the tour description. We also stated that it needs moderate efforts, so we are surprised that you thought it is a walking tour. Moreover, as stated in the tour description, private transportation cost is not included, so public transportation such as trains and buses is used, and transportation costs are not included in the base tour price. Private car transportation is available only as an optional upgrade at an additional cost, which is clearly listed during booking. Regarding customization, our guides do their best to adapt the itinerary based on guest interests while also considering timing, availability, and local conditions. Unfortunately, occasional site closures are beyond our control. We regret that the pace of the tour and the amount of walking were challenging for you. Guests with mobility concerns are encouraged to contact us prior to booking so we can recommend the most suitable tour or arrange appropriate transportation in advance.

Excellent private tour to the key Kyoto spots

Michael_G, Oct 2025

Kyoto is a gem. Ahmed was well informed and we got to see all the key sights on this private tour. He also found some great spots to take photos for us, which we otherwise would not have found easy. We learnt a lot. Thanks and good luck Ahmed.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted you enjoyed your time in Kyoto and truly appreciate you joining our tour.

We were able to see all...

alan_m, Sep 2025

We were able to see all the main attractions in Kyoto. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. She was able tailor our tour for our family needs. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much and are looking forward to serving you again

Great Tour of Kyoto’s Highlights

Scott_D, Aug 2025

This was a great tour in a great city that has so many unique sites and photo opportunities. Our tour guide met us at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove early in the morning and luckily before the wave of tourists arrived shortly after. We then visited 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered around Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, the Kiyomizu-dera temple, and the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine. Our tour guide Keiko was terrific and was very understanding when we asked to cut short one or two site visits due to the extreme heat. We got to see so much in a limited 8-hour stop.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed your tour with Keiko and appreciated her flexibility in the heat. Delivering a memorable experience is our top priority, and we hope to see you again.

Kyoto from Kobe

Marel_P, Aug 2025

Our family of 8 (5 adults and 3 kids) had a great time! Our driver was waiting for us right off the ship. Our guide Jaime was great! He was engaged, great energy, and made sure we had a memorable experience!!! I will definitely recommend this tour company!!!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Jaime and our driver provided such a memorable experience for your family. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you all back again in the future!

Wonderful private guided trip to Kyoto with van

Stanley_L, Jul 2025

Well organized trip from start to finish. The operator organized a private van and driver to pick us up from the cruise port of Kobe to Kyoto. Our tour guide was very experienced and completely fluent in English. They were very flexible and accommodating. It was very easy to contact the operator in advance. Very highly recommended for travellers wanting to see Kyoto and have a limited time.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for your kind review! We are glad everything went smoothly and that you had a great experience exploring Kyoto during your limited time. We truly appreciate the recommendation alot.

Must-do Kyoto family tour!

Bhoomi_B, Jun 2025

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you and your family had such a memorable experience exploring Kyoto with Ahmed. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us and pushes us to even do better

Well worth the extra $

Gretchen_C, May 2025

We were only in Osaka/Kyoto for one day because we were on a cruise! This was a perfect private tour of the highlighted Kyoto sites! I was a little confused about the extra fees, but Ahmed’s explanation made total sense! Still a great deal over what the cruise was offering and most importantly it was just my family, guide, and driver! Ahmed was amazing! Very knowledgeable, personable, and knew exactly where to take us and the best photo spots! We are forever grateful!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We are delighted that Ahmed provided a perfect, personalized tour for your family and that you found it to be excellent value. It was our pleasure to create a memorable day for you in Kyoto. We hope to welcome you back to Japan in the future.

Our guide is the best!

Jingsha_R, Apr 2025

Our guide Yuka was wonderful. She met us at our hotel, which makes it very easy for us. (Our hotel is in the station). She is very conscious for the special need of our group and customized the tour to still hit all the points of interest on our list. She is super nice, knowledgeable and very easy to communicate. We had a very good time in Kyoto. Thank you so much, Yuka!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your kind words. We are delighted Yuka provided a wonderful, customized tour for your group in Kyoto. We will share your appreciation with her and hope to welcome you back.

Wonderful day in Kyoto

Gil_G, Jan 2025

My party of four booked an 8-hour tour of Kyoto with a guide and a driver. Our guide, Noriko, met us at the train station with our driver to start the day. Noriko was very pleasant and informative about all the sites we toured. She took us to a local spot for lunch, allowed us to stroll around at our own pace and even made dinner reservations for us at the end of the tour. We were lucky to have her as our guide. The driver was excellent as well. Also, communication with the tour company by text was very easy.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that Noriko made your day in Kyoto so memorable with her informative and considerate approach. Looking forward to serving you again.

Kazz our tour guide was...

Jano_V, Dec 2024

Kazz our tour guide was amazing. He took us to the best spots and got the amazing pictures out of it. He took his own pictures and sent them to us the next day. I would definitely do it again and request Kazz as our guide.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Kazz made your experience so memorable. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the spots he selected and that the photos turned out beautifully. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to him

Great tour for first time visitors

Mathieu_P, Jul 2024

Our day tour of Kyoto with Yukari was absolutely fantastic and exceeded all expectations. From the moment we met, she was warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about Kyoto's history and culture. My son, who is 10 years old, got tired pretty quickly from visiting the temples. She updated the plan for the day with activities more attractive for him, and he had a memorable time. He particularly loved the Nintendo store and the sushi train restaurant. Overall, I highly recommend this tour if you are overwhelmed with all the activities and don’t know where to start.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and had a memorable experience. It was a joy to have you with us, and your kind words mean a lot to our team. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!

Perfect Kyoto by Keiko

Ayan_D, Jun 2024

The warm manner Keiko is explained every site. Also she was very kind with our children as we made it through the 6 site in ease and with adequate time for lunch and breaks.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience on the tour. Your feedback inspires us to keep delivering the best possible adventures for our guests.

Great tour

Richard_E, Jun 2024

A very convenient way to tour Kyoto with a private van and guide. Especially if you have elders or young children to get around one site to another and customize the pace. The driver would drop off / pick up at the entrance with the guide coordinating on the time.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience! We’re delighted to know you enjoyed the tour. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and it’s fantastic to hear that we hit the mark.

Our guide and driver were...

EugeneBal, Apr 2024

Our guide and driver were great - very knowledgeable and capable. We also adjusted our itinerary to our preferences. Highly recommend -

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for your lovely review! We’re thrilled you had such a great time with us. It was a joy to guide you !

Excellent day around Kyoto! One of the best experiences we’ve had

Mette_S, Mar 2024

Keiko is such a great guide and a very genuine and warm person. She showed us so many great sites and took great care of us the whole day. We visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) and did a walk in Kyoto city stopping in Gion. Keiko was also not being bound to ending the tour at a certain time, which gave us some extra room to see Kyoto city at the end of the day. We agreed with the agency not to use the private car upfront, and traveled by public transportation and taxi - which was a great mix for us traveling with a 2 year old.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

We appreciate your kind words! We’re so glad to hear you had a great time on the tour.

No Show

Alexis_T, Jul 2025

Ahmed contacted me the day before to request more than ¥120,000 extra to visit Kyoto from Kyoto. We refused and he didn't show up for the appointment. On the other hand we were debited and we therefore opposed the bank.

Auto-translated

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for your message. We’re sorry to hear there was confusion, but we would like to clarify that the transportation cost is mentioned three times in the tour description, as it is an additional fee designed to keep the base price lower for our clients. When we reached out regarding this, your response was to cancel the tour. Given this, we’re unsure why it’s being referred to as a "no-show," as we made every effort to proceed with the tour and it was you who opted to cancel.

Best tour option in July

Yahaira_B, Jul 2025

Since it was July, the heat was intense, so having private transportation available was the best option. The guide also shared tips and routes with us to avoid tourists and take photos. I recommend the tour if you go in a group.

Auto-translated