From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch

Badge of Excellence

Osaka Prefecture, Japan

High interest

Booked 3 times today.

9 to 10 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.4

· Amber_T ·

Mar 2026

Was such a great day. Four of us went, the places were great, was fast paced and the lunch spot was delicious. Harry was brilliant, informative, funny and friendly.

· Despina_H ·

Mar 2026

We were happy to take this tour because we were able to go from Osaka with our luggage and visit Nara and other sites and were able to get dropped off in Kyoto. The tour was great!

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Overview

What's Included

English or Chinese Speaking Guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
All Fees and Taxes

Entrance fee to Todaiji temple (Optional)
Hotel Pick up / Drop off
Lunch (Optional)

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 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tenryu-ji Temple (Pass By)

Bamboo Forest Street (Pass By)

Jojakkoji Temple (Pass By)

Okochi Sanso Garden (Pass By)

Yusai Kimono Gallery (Pass By)

Arashiyama Kimono Forest (Pass By)

Togetsukyo Bridge (Pass By)

Monkey Park Iwatayama (Pass By)

Nonomiya Shrine (Pass By)

Arashiyama Kimono Forest (Pass By)

Kyoto

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Fukuda Art Museum (Pass By)

Nara Park

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Manyo Botanical Garden (Pass By)

Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine (Pass By)

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ohashi Family Garden (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infants must sit on laps
Near public transportation
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
The tour schedule may change without prior notice due to weather, road traffic conditions, and other unforeseen reasons. (There might be delays in returning to the designated location.) If the tour is cancelled by the supplier due to extreme weather or natural disaster, you will receive a full refund.
This tour will depart regardless of weather or traffic conditions, unless you are notified otherwise by the local operator. Trip Advisor / Viator and your local tour operator will not be responsible for itinerary changes due to unforeseen circumstances.
Depending on the number of participants, English and Chinese commentary might be given on the same bus.
Infants under 3 years old are free of charge without seat. If a seat is required, please book under the children's price
Please arrive 10 minutes before departure at your selected meeting point, as your assigned bus & guide will be based on that specific location. The guide has a list of participants for each bus & may not be able to accommodate guests who arrive at a different meeting point. Late arrival or arrival at the wrong location will result in missing the tour, & refunds won't be issued. If you'd like to change your meeting point or are unsure about the meeting point, please notify us at least 2 days before departure for assistance.

The bus will be departing on time (no exceptions).
Please adhere to the scheduled time. We are unable to accommodate delays or wait for any reason. The tour will depart promptly as scheduled to respect all customers' time.
In case of late arrival or arrival at wrong location, regardless of contact prior to the departure time, refunds will not be granted.
Please check the photo in the product page & scan the QR code for the meeting point reference.
Upon arrival, please confirm your name with the guide or staff on the participant list.
Please refrain from booking any time-sensitive activities such as restaurant reservations, cruise ship departures, or other scheduled commitments immediately following your tour.
Regarding luggage, we allow one piece of luggage per person during the excursion. Please also ensure that the luggage is manageable and fits comfortably within our vehicle. (The maximum size for luggage stored in the trunk should not exceed a total of 155cm- combined height, width, and depth.) Please also be aware that any items stored in the trunk will not be accessible in between stops on the tour, so keep all valuables with you.
In general, we do not send out confirmation emails prior to departure. If you would like more information or need to clarify something, please contact us and we will send you the relevant details.
Our contact number may be unavailable outside business hours (Mon–Fri, 9:30AM–6:00 PM JST).
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.4

based on 94 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Amazing Experiance in Kyoto Japan

jahangir_K, Mar 2026

I had an amazing experience in Kyoto thanks to Gary, my tour guide. He is incredibly friendly and welcoming, making everyone feel comfortable from the very start. What really stood out was how respectful he is toward everyone, which created such a positive and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the tour. Gary is also very knowledgeable about Kyoto—he shared fascinating insights and stories that made each place come alive. It’s clear he is well-prepared and truly passionate about what he does. Whenever we had questions or needed help, he was always ready to assist with a smile. I highly recommend Gary to anyone visiting Kyoto. He will make your trip more meaningful, smooth, and memorable!

Great Tour!

Despina_H, Mar 2026

We were happy to take this tour because we were able to go from Osaka with our luggage and visit Nara and other sites and were able to get dropped off in Kyoto. The tour was great!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear valued customer, Thank you for your kind review! We’re really glad to hear that you found the tour convenient and enjoyable, especially being able to travel from Osaka with your luggage while exploring Nara and other beautiful sites along the way. It’s great to know the drop-off in Kyoto made your journey even smoother. We truly appreciate you choosing to travel with us and hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan! Best Regards, VIP JAPAN TOURS

A must do!

Amber_T, Mar 2026

Was such a great day. Four of us went, the places were great, was fast paced and the lunch spot was delicious. Harry was brilliant, informative, funny and friendly.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear valued customer, Thank you for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that all four of you had such a great day exploring Kyoto and Nara with us. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the itinerary, the delicious lunch, and the overall pace of the tour. Our guide Harry will be especially happy to hear your kind words—he’ll be delighted that you found him informative, friendly, and fun throughout the day! Thank you again for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another amazing experience in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours

Tour was well thought out...

Carey_H, Mar 2026

Tour was well thought out and organized. Had about an hour to 1 1/2 hour at each location to explore and do your own thing.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're really glad to hear that you found the tour well organized and enjoyed having free time at each stop to explore at your own pace. We truly appreciate your feedback, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours

So much history in Kyoto

Marica_c, Feb 2026

We enjoyed feeding the deers, make sure you do not run as the deer will chase you for the food. The temples are garden are beautiful, even in the rain

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for sharing your experience on us! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time exploring Kyoto and Nara. Feeding the deer is always a memorable experience. It’s wonderful to hear that the temples and gardens were beautiful, even in the rain. Sometimes the rain makes them feel even more peaceful and atmospheric. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on another adventure in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours

Kyoto Touring

FranciscoJr_M, Feb 2026

The Trip was set forth by a morning walk in a Park. The Guide was very approachable and straight forward, and we visited some of the scenic spots in Japan.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for sharing your experience on us! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the peaceful morning walk in the park and had the chance to visit some of Japan’s beautiful scenic spots. It’s also wonderful to know that you found your guide approachable and straightforward — we truly value guides who create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for our guests. Your feedback helps us improve and ensure future guests have an even more memorable experience. We hope to welcome you on another adventure in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours

Great way to see the...

Stephen_P, Jan 2026

Great way to see the major sights. Bus trip was very comfortable and the guide was very knowledgeable.

Kyoto and Nara Full Day Tour

Candice_C, Dec 2025

Very bad service received from VIP Japan Tours. Our tour guide was very unprofessional and unwilling to assist us. He had not contacted us to find out how far we were from the pick up point and had left us behind. There was also no way of reaching out to him for assistance as he had not left a contact number to reach him. When we finally got a hold off him he did not answer our call. Could also not get a hold of anyone at VIP Japan Tours for assistance as well. When we requested a refund for the tour they had refused our request. Please avoid booking with this terrible company. They leave you stranded in a foreign country and are not even apologetic.

Amazing tour in Kyoto

Shanna_B, Nov 2025

This tour checked all the boxes for what we wanted to see in Kyoto. The best part was that all these places are so crowded with tourists that the tour group bus is able to park close and get you to the exact places you want to see. Eric our guide was amazing and fun. He explained everything well and we loved the Kobe beef lunch. We loved the deer experience at Nara park and the Bright orange Tori Gate walk was amazing as well. The Bamboo forest was beautiful and it was in the coolest old town neighborhood.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that the tour delivered everything you were hoping to experience in Kyoto — from the serene bamboo forest to the vibrant torii gates and the unforgettable deer encounter in Nara. It sounds like you made the most of every moment! We’re especially happy to know that our guide Eric helped make your day fun and informative. He’ll be delighted to hear your kind words. And we’re glad you enjoyed the Kobe beef lunch — it’s one of our favorite parts of the tour as well. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tour

Kyoto Nara lunch bus tour

Vivian_K, Nov 2025

A good way to see several diverse locations and not having to handle transportation. A lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Shabu- Shabu Kobe beef lunch was a delicious and fun experience. Pay attention to the exact times to return to the bus. Tour guide was nice and got us to our start locations.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting the diverse locations in Kyoto and Nara without the hassle of arranging transportation. Your tip about wearing comfortable shoes is very helpful, and we’re delighted that the Kobe beef shabu-shabu lunch was both delicious and fun for you. Thank you as well for your kind words about our tour guide and the smooth organization of the tour. We hope to welcome you again on another memorable trip in Japan! Best regards, VIP Japan Tour

Nick-san was an excellent...

Ronald_S, Nov 2025

Nick-san was an excellent guide. It was a long day, but we saw lots of sites and the lunch was excellent. You have to go feed the deer. The family thanks Nick for all his help.

Amazing experience good

David_N, Nov 2025

Amazing experience good the lunch is good delicious the tour bus comfortable all the attraction are amazing

Too long on bus

Penny_W, Nov 2025

Day was too long as each location was too far apart. Spent more time on bus than exploring. Each stop was an about an hour so not much time to explore each area. We chose to take a Uber back from last stop as it would have been an 11 hr day if we didn't. This day needs to be better put together for locations and much more efficient.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re sorry to hear that the long travel times affected your enjoyment of the tour. The distance between Kyoto and Nara can indeed make for a full day, and we understand how that can feel tiring. We truly appreciate your comments about the schedule and efficiency — they help us continue refining our itinerary to make the experience more balanced and enjoyable. We’re glad you were still able to experience some of the beautiful highlights of both cities, and we hope to welcome you again on a future tour that better fits your preferences. Best Regards, VIP JAPAN TOUR

Truly Delighted

Denisa_D, Oct 2025

The Kyoto and Nara tour was an absolute delight, thanks in large part to exceptional tour guide, Nick worked diligently to cater to our needs, maintain a lively atmosphere and create a lasting memories, his dedication and expertise truly made the tour special, and for that, we are extremely grateful. Bravo Nick!👏👏👏👏👏

Unreliable tour guide

Carmelita_R, Oct 2025

Tour guide cancelled without any explanation. Very unreliable and unprofessional. It is so frustrating and disappointing because we then have to plan a new tour last minute and they were all sold out.

Amanda was an excellent...

John_F, Oct 2025

Amanda was an excellent guide. Very informative and answered everyone’s questions. Lunch was delicious and also traditional.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto & Nara Day Trip and that our guide Amanda made the experience so informative and enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with our guide Amanda — she’ll be delighted. It’s great to know you also loved the traditional lunch! We hope to welcome you on another adventure in Japan soon! Best Regards, VIP JAPAN TOUR

This was a fun...

Rebecca_B, Oct 2025

This was a fun experience. VIP Tours did a good job keeping us on track with all of the activities. We were given ideas of where to go & what to see after we were escorted to where we were going.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re happy to hear that you had a fun experience and that our team helped make the day smooth and enjoyable. It’s great to know you appreciated the guidance and suggestions throughout the tour. We truly value your feedback and hope to welcome you again on another exciting journey in Japan. Best Regards, VIP JAPAN TOUR

Not recommened

Julie_B, Oct 2025

Tour guide smoked and his smelled like cigarettes. Tour was rushed and we missed many of our stops. Was nothing like itinerary

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear value customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet expectations and that the tour did not reflect the quality or itinerary we strive to deliver. We are especially sorry to hear about your experience with the guide—this is certainly not the level of professionalism we expect from our team. Your comments have been shared with our management to ensure appropriate follow-up and improvements. We truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope we might have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience in the future. Best regards, VIP Japan Tour

Nara was not necessary...

Elsa_D, Oct 2025

Nara was not necessary and out of the way. It should have been replaced with Gion which we were all disappointed bec that’s what Kyoto is about. Our tour guide was good , knowledgeable, and friendly. He went out of his way for everyone’s needs and requests

Great day trip…. Highly recommend!

Sophia_L, Sep 2025

Great tour guide. Very knowledgeable. Loved the lunch option. Great choices for areas to visit with good time at each location.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Kyoto & Nara Day Trip—from the well-paced visits and delicious lunch to the insights shared by our knowledgeable guide. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’re so glad the experience left such a positive impression. We’d love to welcome you back on another adventure in Japan soon! Best Regards, VIP JAPAN TOUR

Great guide!

mike_o, Sep 2025

Nicksan is a great guide with a good sense of humor. The weather was and the sites a little crowded but he kept spirits high with his great attitude!

Bamboo forest and Nara are Amazing!!!

Ken_T, Sep 2025

Nick our tour guide was awesome. We started off at the Bamboo forest which is breathtaking and so peaceful. We then had a traditional Japanese lunch. Then off to Nara and I was amazed by all of the deers. Finally, We finished our tour at the gates of Fushimi and loved it. Overall, a great experience!

Great tour

Jennifer_B, Sep 2025

Great lunch experience included Great guide Great explanations Great time allocation Great overall Lots of activities during the day

Our tour guide is...

Nestilina_S, Sep 2025

Our tour guide is knowledgeable and very accommodating. He knows his trip. Superb tourist guide and highly recommended.

Unique Experiences Made Possible

MichaelS_S, Sep 2025

Our tourguide (Harry) was also very engaging and made sure all guests were cared for using humor, in-depth historical knowledge, multi lingual skills, and organized approach to making the most of the tour and experiences at the stops along the route. This tour, also encompasses various experiences unique to the area and Japan but highly recommend this tour for the service and staff.

Worst and most unsettling trip

Jeff_H, Sep 2025

This was a very interesting trip, the host was hard to hear and she kept trying to communicate via Whatsapp. They genuinely tried to leave people behidn and told us that if you didnt make it back on time even a minute late, you would be taking public transport or a taxi...basically making your own way back. They were not very friendly, the big bus was not very qell Air-conditioned and we were also told that if we wanted to return to the bus early that we would either not beable to, or that they would not turn the AC on until the designated departure time. Mind you this was in 97 degree weather with a real feel of 104, the humidity was insane! A group with us almost lost half there group beacuse the tour guide and driver tried to drive off while they were in the bathrooms. I do not ever recommend going with VIP tours in Japan. They are unorganized, unprofessional, leaves you feeling like to kind of got scammed. We loved seeing ceertain things on the tour, but it was nothing like the name implies. Very basic, main stream, and no personal touches. The wagyu Shabu-Shabu meal was not very good, the meat was so fatty and tough, i even paid for extra which never got eaten cause it wasnt very good. they keep asking you to buy and pay for more things on the trip. Feels very much like paying for a big bus to ride around on. Do not recommend this tour or going with any of the VIP tours in Japan! ViP tours is a company.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. Our goal is always to provide a comfortable, enjoyable, and memorable experience for every guest, and we regret that this was not your impression of the tour. We sincerely apologize if the communication style caused any inconvenience. Our guide uses WhatsApp as an additional tool to ensure timely updates, especially in busy areas where verbal communication may be difficult. We’ll review how we can make communication clearer and more inclusive for all guests moving forward. Regarding the return instructions at each stop, we understand this may have felt strict, but our guide did inform all passengers in advance that it’s essential to return to the meeting area on time to ensure the tour can cover all the planned destinations. As this is a shared group tour, we also aim to be respectful of other guests who follow the schedule. We're very sorry to hear that the air-conditioning did not feel adequate, particularly in such extreme heat. While we try to conserve energy when the bus is mostly empty, we understand your concern and will share this feedback with our operations team to review and improve comfort during hot-weather tours. In terms of the meal, we regret that it didn’t meet your expectations. Food preferences can vary from person to person, and while many guests enjoyed the Wagyu Shabu-Shabu experience, we understand it’s not for everyone. We also want to assure you that guests who did not pre-select the meal option are never pressured to purchase food. The guide simply offers the opportunity to order if they are interested in dining at the restaurant. Lastly, we’re deeply sorry that the overall experience left you feeling disappointed. We truly value your feedback and will use it to improve both our service and communication going forward. We wish you many more wonderful travel experiences in Japan and beyond. Best regards, VIP Japan Tour

Nice tour option

Julie_C, Sep 2025

The tour was well organized. Tour host sent us messages through WhatsApp about the meeting times, places we were going, and places to visit. There were 3 stops for touring with 80min per stop where we were given info on places to see which gave us freedom to choose what suited us. Lunch was a nice shabu with AC and the bus had AC which was needed for a very hot August day. Since there were 3 stops, it didn’t feel as rushed if we picked one or 2 places to see at each stop. It was well organized and worth it for a short stay in Kyoto.

Great tour!

Meghan_M, Aug 2025

Went with my husband, our guide V was very knowledgeable and friendly. I felt this was a must for a first time in Japan

Kyoto all day tour

Wendy_Y, Aug 2025

Our guide was so friendly and professional.. very nice guide. Very friendly and informative.. I highly recommend this guide!

Best guide ever!!!

Allison_S, Aug 2025

Gary is the best tour guide ever! He is super funny and super knowledgeable and super chill, and just a great man all around. I wish I had more time to have taken more tours with him. We saw it all, especially the water lily garden that most people missed, but Gary knew where to go and what to show us and it was the most fabulous day even though it was 1000°. I’d recommend this tour to anybody but above all Gary is the man.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your kind comments for our guide, Gary. He is very popular with our guests and our staff. We will be sure to pass on your comments. We are especially pleased to hear that your tour experience made you want to visit Japan again. We hope that you'll consider us for your next trip as well! Kind regards, VIP JAPAN TOUR

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