Kyoto Highlights Private Tour with Local driver (guide option)
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 6 to 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the wonders of Kyoto in a day, without having to do any research, thanks to this hassle-free private tour. To help you feel like a VIP, the route is customized to suit your interests and preferences—something you wouldn’t get on a bus tour. Potential stops on the tour include some of Kyoto's most well-known attractions such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama bamboo groves.
- Slow down and discover Kyoto at a leisurely pace with a car tour
- No fixed schedule: Decide how long you spend at each stop
- A private tour means a more personalized service
- No need to pay for parking or gas—it’s all included
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Parking Fees
- English Speaking Driver
- Petrol/Gas
- Walking guide (included with Premium Plan only)
- Lunch
- Entrance fee - Kinkaku-ji Temple¥500.00 per person
- Entrance fee - Kiyomizu-dera Temple¥400.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pickup is available from hotels in Osaka and Kyoto as well as Osaka Port and Kobe Port cruise terminals.
Itinerary
1
Arashiyama
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Kinkakuji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Time for transportation and lunch is already included in the total duration.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate.
- Guide services depend on the selected plan. ・Standard Plan: Includes an English-speaking driver who provides general information while traveling between destinations. The driver remains with the vehicle and does not provide walking tours. ・Premium Plan: Includes a walking guide who accompanies guests at each sightseeing location.
- The operator will contact you via WhatsApp the day before the tour.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 209 reviews
Yira_D, Mar 2026
Victor was an amazing tour guide !! Very helpful and knowledgeable about the history and was able to organize our group of 9 very well even they all wanted to see /do different things. He frequently checked in with us.
Ye_Y, Mar 2026
Thank you for the best day in Kyoto. Such a nice and warm service also with professional information. We really enjoyed the tour. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for choosing our private car service for your Kyoto trip! We are delighted that you found our service both professional and welcoming. Your high recommendation is the greatest reward for our team. We hope to see you again soon for more explorations around Japan!
Kevin_C, Feb 2026
The driver was extremely accommodating, and took us to a Geisha dress rental and waited while my wife changed into her gown.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that our driver could assist with your wife's Geisha experience. It was a pleasure to be part of your special memories. We hope to see you again on your next trip!
Olivia_C, Jan 2026
The tour featured the most popular sites and the driver catered to our needs. He was reliable and a good communicator. Professional and friendly. He suggested ways to avoid crowded areas. Safe driver. We highly recommend his service.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We're so glad you had a great time with us! It's fantastic to hear that our driver's local tips and professional service helped make your trip smoother. We take great pride in our team's reliability and safe driving, so your feedback truly means a lot.
Beating the crowds is definitely the best part of a private tour! Thanks again for recommending us. Safe travels on your future adventures, and we look forward to seeing you again!
Inna_S, Jan 2026
Great time! Zack was a great driver and was very knowledgeable. Extremely friendly and took us everywhere we wanted to go and had a lot of great recommendations as well!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for the 5-star feedback! We're happy Zack took such good care of you. We'll make sure he hears about your positive review. Safe travels and see you next time!
Ariel_D, Jan 2026
We toured Kyoto with Mr. Fuji and it was our favorite tour of our entire trip to Japan. He was incredibly knowledgeable, funny and kind. He worked with our group ages 17 to 83 and was patient and understanding. We toured all over Kyoto but also learned about the history of Japan, religion, and life in Japan today.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We’re truly happy to know that your time in Kyoto was such a meaningful and enjoyable part of your journey. Mr. Fuji will be delighted to hear your kind words — he takes great pride in making every guest feel comfortable, regardless of age, and in sharing Japan’s culture in an engaging way. It was a pleasure to host your group, and we hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Japan.
Fabricio_B, Dec 2025
Victor was amazing. If you can afford it a private tour is definitely the way to go. He customized the sights to see and was very knowledgeable. He was very kind and funny to my family
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We’re delighted to hear that Victor provided an amazing private tour for you and your family. Customizing the itinerary and ensuring a comfortable, enjoyable experience is always our goal. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Victor. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of serving you again in the future.
2mksf5hpt6, Dec 2025
Guide and separate driver were great. Yamazaki did the tour and he was very funny and knowledgeable. We toured Fushimi Inari, the golden temple, the 1000 warriors, the Ryoanji temple and Nijo castle. We had already toured the other scheduled sites on our own so he planned different things for us. He took us to a great sushi lunch and had back up plans for us as well. The driver was Gozen who spoke amazing English and the van was very luxurious for the four of us and two guides. Would definitely recommend for a smooth day. A++
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for your kind review.
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Yamazaki and Gozen, and that the customized itinerary, lunch, and transportation met your expectations.
Your recommendation truly means a lot to us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future for another smooth and memorable day.
Warm regards,
Caroline_D, Dec 2025
Superior driver. New the streets well. English was great. Was able to provide details on how to get the best experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your wonderful feedback.
We’re glad to hear that our driver’s excellent local knowledge and English communication helped enhance your experience and provided valuable insights.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to assist you again in the future.
Best regards,
Barghav_C, Dec 2025
We had an incredible experience with the your guide. Victor took me and my elderly parents around so well and showed us all the important places in Kyoto as well as their significance. The ride was comfortable, safe and well organized.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your warm feedback! We’re truly happy to hear that you and your parents had a wonderful, safe, and relaxing trip in Kyoto. Victor will be delighted to hear your kind words as well. We look forward to traveling with you again next time!
Anonymous, Nov 2025
We did a private tour with Fuji as our guide and Stephen as our driver. Everything throughout the day was excellent. Stephen picked us up at the exact time and location we requested which was a little off the beaten path in Osaka. We selected several
sites we wanted to see and Fuji accommodated our requests and our time restrictions. He kept our group interested all day with his detailed explanations at each site we visited. The delicious ramen lunch was tasty and inexpensive. We enjoy riding the trains, but having a driver for the day made things easy and more efficient. It allowed us to spend more time exploring the sites we visited rather than worrying about we were going to get to and from each one. Having Fuji as our guide ensured that we learned far more at each site than we would have on our own. I highly recommend the Kinkakuji Temple. It was beautiful.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re truly happy to hear you had a wonderful time with Fuji and Stephen. Your warm words mean a lot to our team and encourage us to keep delivering the best experiences possible.
We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Japan!
Best regards,
Ryan_P, Nov 2025
My family and I had a great time in Kyoto with Victor (Yamazaki). He is very friendly and took care of us during our private tour. He is very knowledgeable and wanted to ensure we were always looked after. We enjoyed his company and very blessed to have him as our guide!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re very happy to hear that you and your family had a wonderful time in Kyoto, and it was our pleasure to have Victor as your guide.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Japan again in the future!
Brian_K, Nov 2025
Just a great day. Well planned by our guide to get the most out of our day trip from Tokyo.
Good lunch and the sights are amazing.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
So happy to read your message!
Thank you very much for choosing our private car day tour and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We’re delighted to hear that you had a wonderful day and were satisfied with the itinerary. Our whole team is really happy, and your kind words will definitely encourage our guide to keep doing their best for every guest.
We truly look forward to arranging another trip for you next time and accompanying you to discover even more amazing places together.
Stuart_C, Nov 2025
This Tour, of Kyoto was one of the best guided tours of our travels. We are seasoned travelers who have had guides in multiple locations outside the United States. Our guide, Fuji was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and had an excellent command of the English language.
Fuji is local to the Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto area and brings that knowledge to bear in his detailed historical explanations of various sites. While delivering historical details, he also made the trip fun and exciting. Bonus, he took us for lunch to a local husband and wife restaurant for Ramen and soup, which was one of the best meals we had at an extremely reasonable price. I would recommend this tour which brought us to monkey Park, and several very popular shrines. This was truly a five star experience.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience!
We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Kyoto and had such a great experience with Fuji. He really does know the Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto areas inside out, and always hopes guests can not only see the sights but also feel their stories — it sounds like he made that happen again!
We also love that little ramen shop run by the local couple — knowing it became one of your favorite meals makes us so happy, and Fuji will be thrilled to hear that too.
Thank you again for choosing our private car service for your trip. We’d be so happy to welcome you back and create another memorable journey next time you visit Japan. Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime!
Christopher_H, Nov 2025
Yamazaki (Victor) was our guide and it was fabulous. By using a car and a guide we were able to see much of the main sites in one full day. Yamazaki also took us to a great small temple where there were no tourists and it was beautiful. I highly recommend using this service.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and recommendation!
We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip and appreciated Yamazaki (Victor)’s guiding.
It’s great that you were able to explore the main sights efficiently in one day and discover that quiet, beautiful temple.
We look forward to welcoming you again and showing you more of Japan in the future!
Elyssa_M, Oct 2025
We had a wonderful time with our guide Victor/Yamazaki. He was able to pick us up from the train station and assist us in re-working our planned itinerary due to the heavy rain. The driver and guide provided us with umbrellas to use during the day, which was much appreciated. All of us agreed that Victor's day of itinerary was absolutely perfect and we are so glad he led us on this tour. We got to see so much more than we initially thought and had so much fun.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely message! We’re so happy to hear you had a great time with Victor (Yamazaki) and that he made your day special despite the rain. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him and the driver — they’ll be thrilled!
Hope to see you again on your next trip to Japan!
Warm regards,
MARIO_O, Sep 2025
Good driver and good guide.
Spacious Minivan with very good comfort.
We composed our tour by ourselves and this was no problem.
Always again! Thank you for making this day so special.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both the driving service and our guide, as well as the comfort of the minivan. It’s great to know that composing your own tour was smooth and enjoyable.
We truly appreciate your kind words and would be delighted to welcome you again anytime. Thank you for letting us be a part of such a special day!
Maria_M, Sep 2025
GozenTrip and Viator were fantastic in organising our Private Driver One-Day Tour of Kyoto. Communication was excellent — they confirmed everything the day before via WhatsApp, including the driver’s name and a suggested itinerary.
Our driver, Matsu (Steven), was outstanding. Friendly, punctual and very accommodating, he worked with us to make the most of our day. Out of the nine locations I had planned, we managed to visit eight comfortably within the timeframe. We were five adults, and the van was the perfect size for us — spacious, comfortable, and ideal for a full day of sightseeing.
Matsu dropped us off at each stop, shared Google Maps links for our meeting points, and was always just a quick call away. Even though this wasn’t a guided tour, he answered all our questions and made the day stress-free and enjoyable.
We couldn’t be happier with the experience and have already booked another private driver tour in Osaka. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto private tour and that Matsu made your day smooth and memorable. It’s also great to know the van and itinerary worked perfectly for your group of five, and that his support with directions and flexibility helped make your sightseeing stress-free. Your kind words mean a lot to our team, and we’ll be sure to share your praise with Matsu.
Paul_D, Aug 2025
The excursion is amazing as it introduces the history and culture of the people while at the same time showing many beautiful sites of Kyoto. Our driver and Guide, Steve, was absolutely amazing.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you very much for your kind words!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the excursion and felt the history, culture, and beauty of Kyoto. It’s wonderful to hear that Steve made your journey so memorable. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with him, and we look forward to welcoming you again!
Heidi_W, Aug 2025
Our driver Lexi was outstanding - great driving skills, good historical and local knowledge. She recommended and took us to a great local sushi restaurant. She even waited while we checked into our hotel and freshen up and delivered us to our dinner reservation.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear that you were satisfied with Lexi’s service and that her thoughtfulness and professionalism made your trip even more enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Calvi_N, Aug 2025
Kaku was absolutely the best guide we could have asked for! He made our day in Kyoto truly unforgettable—thoughtful, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable. He surprised my brother with a birthday cake and candles for his 50th, added a visit to the monkey park just for the kids, and went above and beyond at every turn. His passion and kindness made us fall in love with Kyoto. A perfect day thanks to Kaku!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming review! We’re thrilled Kaku made your Kyoto day so special, from the birthday surprise to creating fun for the kids. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
Maciej_S, Jul 2025
perfectly organized trip, everything on time, very comfy car, we could adjust our trip, even it was raining our driver/guide Lexi brought us the sun ☀️ she recommended us a lunch place where we ate the best sushi ever, I strongly recommend this experience😀
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a well-organized and comfortable trip. It’s our pleasure to provide a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. Even on a rainy day, Lexi did her best to bring sunshine to your journey — we’re so proud to hear she made such a positive impact! We’re also delighted that you enjoyed the sushi place she recommended. Thank you again for your kind words and strong recommendation. We truly look forward to welcoming you on another unforgettable trip in the future! 🌸🚗✨
Arry_M, Jul 2025
Fuji was a great driver and was very flexible about the itinerary. He knew all of the back ways in town and took us to all of the things we wanted to see and then some. We really enjoyed the lunch at a small, traditional restaurant where Fuji helped us order. This was not the tour with a guide but a private driver, there is a difference as he just takes you to the places to see, you go on your own and meet him back qt the car. We felt that we were well taken care of.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day with Fuji and felt well taken care of. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Mauricio_M, Jul 2025
We had a great day with Kaku, he is a very good driver (no guide), speaks very good english and gave us options for the itinerary.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re glad to hear you had a great day with Kaku. He’ll be happy to know you appreciated his driving, communication, and flexibility with the itinerary. We hope to welcome you again on your next trip!
Rodolfo_U, Jul 2025
Amazing! Full day tour of Kyoto. This tour is unique in that you can curate, with the help of a local driver, an experience that can take you all across town. Our driver was amazing at guiding us through the city. And we were able to do things that we had not done yet in Kyoto.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your great review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the Kyoto tour and that our driver helped you discover new places. It means a lot to us that you had a special and fun day. We hope to see you again next time!
Kai_K, Jul 2025
Excellent rapport with driver. Spoke enough English to share funny stories. Helpful and very nice. Very punctual and flexible and had tips for us on each area we visited.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our driver and enjoyed the stories and local tips along the way. Punctuality, flexibility, and friendly service are things we truly value, and it’s wonderful to know they made your trip even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Tamieka_A, Jun 2025
Mex was fantastic. Super knowledgeable, made each stop so much more engaging and meaningful by providing historical context.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that Mex made your journey so memorable. His passion for sharing historical insights truly brings each destination to life, and we’re delighted that his knowledge added depth and meaning to your stops.
We’re incredibly proud to have guides like Mex on our team, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words—he’ll be over the moon!
Farangis_H, Jun 2025
Gréât time seeing Kyoto high lights? very good driver , very polite , lots of walk bc of parking limitation. Surely recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks so much for your positive review! Delighted you enjoyed the Kyoto highlights, your driver, and would recommend us. We appreciate your understanding about walking near parking-restricted sites.
Compliments passed to your driver! Hope to see you again.
Ruth_D, Jun 2025
Lexi was our driver for the day. She had a spacious van for us which was clean and very comfortable. Great for an all day adventure. She was very helpful with activity vendor when needed. She gave us great information about sites we passed and sites we visited. She had a great suggestion for lunch! We were very pleased with her and she made our full day adventure extra special.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with Lexi! We're delighted to hear you appreciated her spacious van, insightful commentary about the sights, and excellent lunch recommendation. Knowing that Lexi's attentive service and expertise made your day extra special truly reflects the level of service we strive to deliver.
We've shared your compliments with Lexi and our team—such recognition inspires us to continue creating memorable experiences for our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Linda_T, Jun 2025
We requested an English speaking driver which we had however the driver never spoke the entire day to provide comments on the sites we were visiting or clear instructions on how to get to the entrance of the various spots. We felt the driver could have added a lot more commentary before each stop in Kyoto, however he said nothing even if we pried him for information. Very disappointing given the price of the tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet expectations, especially regarding the driver's commentary and guidance during the tour. We understand how important this aspect is for your enjoyment and insight into Kyoto's sites.
Your concerns have been noted and will be immediately reviewed with our team to ensure improvements. We truly value your input and hope for another opportunity to provide you with a more enriching experience in the future.
Best regards,
From $510.38
per group (up to 5)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Kyoto Highlights Private Tour with Local driver (guide option)
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