Kyoto Day Trip using Private Car with English Driver (up to 5)
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Kyoto, Japan
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Bypass crowded tour buses and enjoy the freedom and flexibility of exploring Kyoto with a private English-speaking driver. The trip showcases a variety of temples and shrines in a day—including Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, and the bamboo forest in Arashiyama. As it’s a private trip, the itinerary can be customized based on your requests.
- A great way to tick off lots of Kyoto temples and shrines in a day
- Travel with ease between dispersed sites in a private vehicle
- Enjoy the personalized service of a private day trip
- The tour visits famous attractions, such as Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
What's Included
- Private transportation
- All toll parking gasoline in Kyoto
- Driver fees
- Entrance fees if required
- Personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 01/05/2026 - 05/08/2027
Monday - Sunday : 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Itinerary
1
Arashiyama
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Kinkakuji Temple
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 77 reviews
Mirabella_C, Mar 2026
We only had a few days in Kyoto and, traveling during the busy spring season, hoped to find a way to see as many of the must-see sights as we could with as much as ease as we could get. Toshi-san was the answer; an experienced driver and guide, he was able to efficiently and safely get us to many areas of the city in a way we definitely wouldn’t have if we had had to rely on public transportation. He’s personable, knowledgeable of the city, and possesses an easy sense of humor that helped a nearly 9 hour day go by smoothly. Sometimes he came with us to the sights, sometimes he let us roam free, and we found that mix of autonomy and guidance refreshing. If you’re tight on time and would like to have a productive, pleasant day seeing what Kyoto has to offer, book a drive with Toshi-san!
natalie_w, Feb 2026
Toshi was fantastic! He made sure that we saw as much as we could in our one day and did it with such kindness and thoughtfulness. It was perfectly scheduled for our 4year old, 11 year old and 14 year old. What a beautiful day!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are truly happy to hear that Toshi made your day so special. It means a lot to us that he was able to help your family see as much as possible while keeping everything comfortable and well-paced for your 4, 11, and 14 year olds. Creating a smooth and enjoyable experience for families is always our goal.
We will be sure to share your kind words with Toshi — he will be very encouraged to hear this.
Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome your family back to Japan in the future!
Russell_O, Jun 2025
Toshi was great! Took us to the places we wanted to go provided recommendations along the way. Learned a lot as we went.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Toshi.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
Carrie_S, Jun 2025
Renting a trip with a driver was well worth the cost, especially since one of our group was less mobile. Mike was amazing, he was very knowledgeable and personable, and we appreciated his flexibility especially in light of the extreme heat.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Mike.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
Jay_B, Jun 2025
We recently had a few days to spend in Kyoto and, wishing to make the most of it, we booked a tour for the day. Our driver, Toshi, exceeded our expectations. He was exceptionally well-prepared, offering us maps, thoughtful explanations of local customs, and even recommendations for seasonal treats. Not only was he a knowledgeable guide, but he was also someone whose company we truly enjoyed. We saw far more than we could have on our own and gained a deeper appreciation for Kyoto through the history and cultural insights he shared. Toshi was flexible and accommodating, striking the perfect balance between giving us time to explore independently and guiding us through key sights. He was a wonderful host for our introduction to Kyoto, and I would recommend the tour to anyone looking to experience this beautiful city more fully.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Toshi.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
Ziva_A, Apr 2025
This was a wonderful experience. Our tour guide was wonderful and showed us an additional place in Kyoto that we enjoyed and would have missed without his recommendation. I look forward to booking more tours this way in the future.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with our driver.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
freeda_b, Apr 2025
Toshi was an amazing tour guide! He gave amazing insights and history to all the locations. We had a 9 yr old and a member of the family who could not walk long distances. Toshi 100% accommodated. He took us to amazing shrine as well as other gorgeous spots. Don’t hesitate and book, you will not regret it.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Toshi.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
Jackie_D, Mar 2025
Our family was so happy with what Toshi (our driver) planned for us. There is so much to see in Kyoto and to have someone who is from the area, who is so knowledgeable about every local custom and place and speaks English to guide and plan your day made our experience next level. I cannot recommend this tour anymore. Take it and make sure it's with Toshi!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Toshi.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
John_S, Mar 2025
toshi was wonderfula and prepared… we were able to see cherry blossoms shrines and more.. he took picturws of our group….sweet man
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto day trip and had a great experience with Toshi.
Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another trip in the future—whether in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan!
Edwin_y, Mar 2025
Don’t hesitate to book this private tour. Our driver Toshi was the best. He was very knowledgeable about all the areas we visited. He even reserved us a great soba restaurant to eat at for lunch. We would not have been able to see all of these areas on our own in such a timely fashion. Highly recommend that you book this trip. Thanks Toshi!!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your enthusiastic recommendation! We're so glad to hear that you had a fantastic experience exploring Kyoto with our private tour
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for another memorable journey in Japan!
Dorianne_C, Jan 2025
Toshi was a lovely guide, and made it easy for our group to get around Kyoto and see the highlights in just one day. His English is good and he provided some background information for the sites we went to see. He also took us off the tourist trail for a delicious conveyor belt sushi lunch and local mochi. He was lovely and accomodating and we would highly recommend Toshi!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring Kyoto with Toshi.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another memorable journey in Japan!
James_S, Dec 2024
Would recommend for a family or group if it’s their first time visiting Kyoto and you haven’t had the time to read up and do your own research as the driver handles the transportation, provides tips on how to navigate certain sites, and is flexible to your group’s schedule.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that our private car service made your first visit to Kyoto smooth and enjoyable.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another memorable journey in Japan!
Richard_G, Nov 2024
Toshi was our guide/driver for our fantastic day in Kyoto. He was very accommodating to our two children and helped us plan a great itinerary without ever feeling rushed. He shared a lot of wonderful information and gave clear instructions for drop-offs & pick-ups. Would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to the opportunity to host you again for another memorable trip!
Sheri_S, Nov 2024
Beyond fantastic day touring Kyoto with our incredible tour guide Mike! Mike took us to all the sights and was incredibly knowledgeable teaching us all about Kyoto. We had so many random questions about Kyoto that Mike was able to answer for us. We ended up getting hungry halfway through the day and Mike customized the tour to allow us to stop at a conveyer belt sushi :) 10/10 recommend
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your glowing review! We’re so glad to hear that you had a fantastic day touring Kyoto with Mike.
Thank you for the 10/10 recommendation, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in the future.
Steven_B, Oct 2024
Toshi did an excellent job showing us around Kyoto. He was very pleasant and gave us excellent suggestions on places to go and eat. His English was very good. We highly recommend this Kyoto day trip
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an excellent day exploring Kyoto and enjoyed Toshi’s guidance and recommendations.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more memorable adventures in the future!
Harvey_M, Oct 2024
Best part was TOSHI the driver who planned a thoughtful and enjoyable day. I can't imagine seeing all we did without a driver.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your kind words! We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on your next adventure!"
Debra_C, Oct 2024
The tour was fantastic. Our tour guide, Toshi took us to many famous attractions and was very patient in explaining the history and fun facts of them. He even took us to a very quaint tempura restaurant for lunch and it was the best tempura we had. The private car ride was also very comfortable and kept us dry when raining for sure. I will highly recommend this tour and Toshi as the guide.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
"Thank you so much for your fantastic review! Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’d love to welcome you back for another amazing experience in the future."
Gemeah_H, Sep 2024
Our guide Toshi was fantastic and full of great tips. We were very thankful for an air conditioned car with the 37 degree heat !
Response from Host, Oct 2024
"Thank you for your kind words! We hope you continue to have an amazing time, and we’d love to welcome you back on your next adventure."
Dorien_S, Sep 2024
We were lucky enough to have gotten Toshi. His English was very good and started by making us a WhatsApp so we communicated easily. Suggested an itinerary and was able to modify our trip if you'd like to see something else. Dropped us off and prompt to pick us up. Gave us interesting information on Kyoto. Would recommend using him again. Very seamless and covered a lot in a day.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience and that our team’s excellent communication and flexibility helped make your trip enjoyable. It’s wonderful to know that the information on Kyoto and the efficient planning contributed to a seamless day.
We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit!
Bharathi_B, Aug 2024
A qa ewzr cc We managed to see all the major temples and shrines with time for shopping topped with a fantastic lunch thanks to our driver Toshi-san. Highly recommend!
Monica_K, Jul 2024
If you want a simple and flexible tour in Kyoto then this is for you. The driver was very accommodating to our interests and waited as we explored and ate lunch.
IrisGuzman_K, Jun 2024
I’m not sure what we would’ve done without Toshi! He made the day such a wonderful experience for our family. We had a limited time in Kyoto and this was an absolutely a fantastic way to see the top sites with someone who is well informed and adept at handling mixed-age groups (we were parents with teenagers). The tour, thanks to Toshi, was well worth the price; I would highly recommend.
Cat_R, Jun 2024
Prior to our trip to Japan we had quickly realized that things in Kyoto were very spread out. This was the perfect way to see all the main attractions. Our tour guide was so nice and gave us a wealth of information. We highly recommend doing this tour!
Tiffany_G, Jun 2024
Had an amazing day with Toshi! He took us to all the key sites and gave great background on Kyoto then and now. Even gave us some restaurant recommendations for the next leg of our vacation in Hiroshima. Highly recommend!
Ruben_F, May 2024
If your traveling to Kyoto during a busy season and want to see all the main sight's, this is the way to go.
Kelsey_D, Apr 2024
We had such a great day touring Kyoto with Toshi! We got to see many of the big sites while also getting a taste of some local, less busy spots. Toshi did a great job teaching us about everywhere we were visiting as well as answering all of our questions. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto, especially if it's your first time in the city!
Lawrence_K, Apr 2024
We saved so much time traveling between venues with Toshi. He provided us some insights on Japanese customs and traditions. He taylored our activities towards our interest. Our tour felt like it was specifically designed to meet our sight seeing needs.
Special thanks to Toshi for taking us to Kitenya Tempura Restaurant for lunch. It was dining experience that we could never schedule on our short stay in Kyoto.
SeckHwee_T, Apr 2024
My family and I had a fantastic day. Our guide, Terry is not only very knowledgeable and speaks good English, but also very friendly and helpful. He provided assistance to my wife to negotiate the difficult sections of our walks around the places we visited on that day.
lucyhur, Mar 2024
What an incredible tour! The temples, shrines, and overall beauty of Kyoto were magnificent. This was one of our favorite tours of all time (spanning 20+ countries). We will bring our family back to do the same tour in the fall. Toshi planned our day so thoroughly and was very knowledgeable, flexible, and thoughtful.
Arcy_M, Mar 2024
Terry was an absolutely wonderful guide. We are so happy with our experience. Terry went above and beyond to help my mom who has mobility issues. He was very flexible with the itinerary we wanted for the day and also offered great additions. Our excursion with Terry in Kyoto was the highlight of our trip to Japan. Terry will not rush you on the his tour and is extremely kind and patient. We enjoyed learning about Kyoto and he offered a lot of informative and interesting information. Terry has a great sense of humor and was an absolute delight!
From $534.95
per group (up to 5)-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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Kyoto Day Trip using Private Car with English Driver (up to 5)
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