Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 8 to 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Kyoto is jam-packed full of temples, shrines, and museums, so you’re bound to feel overwhelmed with all there is to see and do. This private full-day tour of Kyoto whisks you between top sights such as Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine to help you maximize your time. Plus, a private guide means you can set the pace.
- Check off more Kyoto highlights than you would on foot
- Explore at your own pace rather than rushing in a large group
- Take away tailored tips for the rest of your time in Kyoto
- Relish the flexibility to customize your itinerary according to your interests
What's Included
- Fuel surcharge
- Parking Fees
- Private transportation
- Travel time from Osaka/Kyoto to all the destinations and back to hotel
- English Tour Guide
- Entrance fee to Kinkakuji Temple (500yen)
- Entrance fee to Kiyomizudera Temple (500yen)
- Gratuities / Tips is very welcomed
- Lunch / Personal Expense
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
The travelers will be picked up on their hotels/accommodations. If you cannot find your accommodation in the pickup column, feel free to put a note on where to pick you up as long as it is in Kyoto or Osaka areas. Please wait for the driver in hotel's lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time starts.
Itinerary
1
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Sannenzaka Ninenzaka
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Kinkakuji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
Arashiyama
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
5
Arashiyama Kimono Forest
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Togetsukyo Bridge (Pass By)
6
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The remaining hours are allotted for travel time
- Some destinations in Kyoto have lots of staircase and not recommended for wheelchairs
- 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
4.9
based on 397 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Kazunori was very professional and kind. We had a great experience as coworkers with custom shopping detours.
We really enjoyed this private tour of Kyoto bridges, temples, shrines, and the Bamboo Forest. Christine was our guide and she was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. We really liked the flexibility of the tour and Christine’s ability to tailor it to eight hours and get us back to the ship in time for dinner. We had a private Toyota van with a driver that was punctual at every stop to pick us up.
We had an amazing private tour of Kyoto with our guide, Somei! He truly went above and beyond to make our day special. He picked us up on time at our hotel and shared detailed, fascinating information about the temples, historical sites, and Kyoto's food and culture throughout the tour.
Somei was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. He also took incredible photos of my wife and me, giving us wonderful memories to bring home from our trip.
A huge shoutout to Somei for such an unforgettable experience! We would 100% recommend him to anyone looking for a private guided tour in Kyoto.
A wonderful full day with private hotel pickup to visit three of the major shrines and temples in Kyoto. Along the way, Ben shared a lot of information about the prefectures history and importance in the development of Japan. It is amazing that these buildings survived many hundreds of years of wars and struggles. Discussions about Emperors, Samurai, and differences between religions explains the context of the sites. You know you’re on a good tour when other tourists like to listen in and get special comments and details not available without a dedicated tour guide.
Ben brought us to special places that we would not have visited or found on our own, like a small neighborhood for lunch, a look at a geisha training school complex, and a walkabout that had a gorgeous textile shop for locals.
Ben made special effort to make pictures of us at perfect spots at every location. I’d say “no no, I’m okay” and he’d gently ask again until I caved in and now I look at my camera roll and am so happy to have these special memories.
Highly recommend.
We really enjoyed the tour we took with our guide Taikai. He was very knowledgable, friendly and accommodating and polite. The sites were incredible and did not disappoint. Only drawback is overall I found it to quite expensive. We paid $645 for two people which seemed excessive. We would highly recommend Taikai in any case. He was great!
★★★★★
Yuky was our tour guide through Viator, and she provided the most spectacular, perfectly tailored tours for our 3-generation family trip in Kyoto with private transportation. Traveling with a multi-generational group can be challenging, but Yuky thoughtfully accommodated everyone's needs, pacing, and interests effortlessly—keeping both the older adults and everyone else engaged, comfortable, and happy throughout.
Her deep knowledge, warmth, and attention to detail made our family trip truly unforgettable. We couldn't have asked for a better guide! Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a personalized and seamless travel experience in Japan.
My husband and I had a fantastic time touring this beautiful place. Our tour guide was the best, he was knowledgeable and open to all of our inquiries. He was very easy going and allowed us time to look around, shop, and snack. We also got the chance to sit down and have lunch that he suggested and we are thankful for that. We learned a lot about Kyoto and the historical paces we got to see.
This was such a fun day tour from Osaka. It's a great way to see the highlights of Kyoto if you don't have a lot of time. Ben was fantastic!
The tour was excellent for maximizing time in Kyoto with our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Somei.
We were on Celebrity Millennium and decided to explore on our own. Taikai helped us have A truly Remarkable and enjoyable day exploring all the beautiful sites, shrines and temples, a magnificent experience in Kyoto! Taikai was excellent in all aspects, and went the extra mile for us.
We went on this tour with Miss Yuki on the 28th of July 2026 and had an absolute blast! Me and my mom had so much fun learning about Japanese history and culture. Our guide Yuki was lovely and overall we loved our experience ♥
Love from Elif & Nesrin ♡
We wanted to see the sites in Kyoto and Ben did a remarkable job. He spoke great English, was engaging with his knowledge, and showed us the Kyoto we wanted to see—beyond the tourist destinations. He was also well prepared with ice cold water on a hot day and umbrellas for the late afternoon shower. Thank you!
Lovely whistle stop tour of Kyoto taking in most of the important sites. The vehicle (Toyota Alphard) was clean and comfortable and the driver very professional.
Our English speaking guide Yuki-San was extremely friendly and accommodating and made us feel completely at ease from the get go.
Our daughter loved spending time with Yuki-San and they bonded really well throughout the day.
Thank you very much for a great experience!
Nozo was very helpful and polite throughout our tour. He even took us to a local restaurant when requested.
It was an amazing trip. Our guide Akira was excellent. He brought pictures so we could learn more about the history of Kyoto. His attitude was very enjoyable and was able to adapt the tour to our needs. We learned that having a Japanese guide is much better as they provide more cultural information. Kyoto is a beautiful city that I will recommend to visit. And if you could have Akira as your guide much better.
Nozo was an incredible guide! He shared so many fascinating insights into Japanese culture and took us to authentic local spots we never would have found on our own. We definitely had an amazing time!"
Yuki was wonderful; our driver, Chin, did a great job, too! The tour was outstanding, we saw so much in one day (be prepared to walk and climb lots of stairs - but worth every step). We don't usually do private tours when we travel, but I'm so glad we booked this one. We never would've been able to make it to all of these sites on our own in one day. I have a bad knee and not in the best shape, but Yuki was great about making sure I was doing okay. It was extremely hot/humid for our visit, but there were lots of breaks to rest and stay hydrated.
Had a wonderful private tour of Kyoto with guide Caroline and driver Lee. Both were friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we saw the best of the city without any hassle. Caroline’s insights into the history and culture added so much to the day, and Lee got us around smoothly and on time. Highly recommend this team for a private Kyoto tour!
Kazunori, our guide, was fantastic. So warm and friendly. He was very accommodating to our group. It was amazing how much we fit into one day. It was a great way to see the sites.
Benny was the best! Great communication leading up to our tour. We managed to see everything we wanted during torrential rain. Benny was patient, upbeat, and incredibly knowledgeable. He was fully prepared with photos to show us what would be next and explained everything to us. It was a great day!
Our tour guide Akira was the best. He was very nice and very knowledgeable about the history and the significance of each site. The schedule was planned well and we were able to see a lot in just one day. Highly recommended.
Shaniece was a terrific guide. Fun and informative. Everything as promised. Family of 8 had a great time
Our tour in Kyoto was excellent. Our guide Christine was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of Kyoto. She made every stop interesting and took the time to answer all of our questions. Her organization, attention to detail, and warm personality made the day both enjoyable and stress-free.
We learned so much, saw beautiful places, and gained a deeper appreciation for Kyoto thanks to her guidance. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto. Thank you for making our experience so memorable!
Our private Kyoto tour with Yujiro (Ben) was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Japan. His knowledge of Kyoto, Japanese history, culture, and traditions is incredible, and he brought every site to life with stories and insights we never would have discovered on our own.
Communication was great. Before the tour, Yujiro reached out to learn about our interests and the places we wanted to visit. He thoughtfully customized the itinerary, accommodated our requests, and suggested additional locations that turned out to be some of our favorite stops of the day.
Not only is he an exceptional guide, but he is also a fantastic person. He was so engaging and we had such great conversations. We genuinely enjoyed spending the day with him. His recommendation for lunch was amazing. It was the best sushi we have ever eaten.
Yujiro went above and beyond throughout the entire day. He even extended the tour to accommodate our dinner reservations so he could bri g us back to our hotel. It was a small additional fee, but completely worth it for a stress-free evening. On the drive back, he stopped at a local car meet-up location because our son is a huge car enthusiast and wanted to see if there were any cool cars around. That level of thoughtfulness and personal attention made the experience even more special.
As an added bonus, Yujiro is an amazing photographer and knows all the best spots for beautiful photos throughout Kyoto. We came away with incredible memories and pictures that we will treasure for years.
If you're visiting Kyoto and want a truly personalized, informative, and unforgettable experience, book a tour with Yujiro. We would absolutely tour with him again on a future trip to Japan and cannot recommend him highly enough.
The sites we saw were wonderful. The car our driver was driving had no air conditioning and the day was hot and miserable. We asked him if it was safe to leave things in the car He said it was but then we discovered that one of the doors did not lock at all. He returned us to our hotel two hours prior to the scheduled end of the day. When we asked about a stop we were looking forward to very much, he said that stop was not on our itinerary. When I showed him the material we received from the company, he said he was told it wasn’t included by his company. When he called his company, they told him to take us there. He made a fuss about how like it would take to go and return. We gave up and just went back to the hotel. He ruined what could have been a much better experience. This is not someone guests should ever have to deal with. I am uncertain that we will use Viator again because of him
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations.
We would, however, like to clarify a few points regarding your tour. Our guide successfully brought you to all destinations included in the itinerary provided for your booking. The additional stop you mentioned, Kimono Forest in Arashiyama, was discussed during the tour, and after being informed of the additional travel time required to return there, you indicated that you were comfortable proceeding without revisiting the location.
We understand there was confusion regarding the itinerary information, and our guide contacted our operations team immediately to verify the details and accommodate your request. Once confirmation was received, the option to visit the stop was available; however, the decision was ultimately made not to return there.
Regarding the vehicle concerns, we sincerely apologize for any discomfort caused during the day. We take all vehicle maintenance and guest safety matters seriously and will review your comments internally.
Our guides work hard to provide professional and enjoyable experiences, and we believe there may have been some misunderstanding during the course of the tour. Nevertheless, we appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue improving our services.
We only had one day to experience Kyoto and were staying in Osaka, so this tour worked out perfectly for our group of 10. The van picked us up at our hotel and drove us to all the spots in Kyoto.
Shaniece was our English-speaking tour guide and she was wonderful — very informative, and she even altered our itinerary to accommodate a visit to Nishiki Market. She was incredibly flexible as we moved between locations since our group had a mix of adults, teens, and older folks, adjusting for those who needed an elevator or couldn't do stairs. She also managed the timing perfectly so we could see everything and still have time to shop along the way.
On top of all that, Shaniece took group photos for us and recommended her favorite local eateries.
Highly recommend this tour if you only have one day for Kyoto and are staying in Osaka!
We had a wonderful day exploring Kyoto with Yoshi. We were able to see so much in a single day and visit several of the city's most iconic sights.
Yoshi was friendly, professional, and made the day easy and enjoyable. Having transportation arranged for us allowed us to make the most of our time, and we definitely would not have been able to cover as much ground on our own.
If you're looking for a convenient way to see many of Kyoto's highlights in one day, this tour is a great option.
Somei was a kind, friendly and very flexible guide who very quickly understood what we were really interested in and what not.
He customized the tour accordingly.
His English is very good and he is a
safe driver.
All in all, highly recommended for private Kyoto tours.
Had an absolute blast with Yuhey on our full day tour around Kyoto! We did a mix of temples, Pokemon shopping and sight seeing. The tour was truly customized to our needs and wishes. My food allergies for lunch and a sweet treat were taken seriously and communicated to restaurant workers. Truly having private transportation was the reason we got to see so many spots in one day. Kyoto is very big and you can’t see it all unless you have this.
Our guide was Teramoto Christine. We were picked up from our accommodation on time and driven very comfortably to the many destinations we visited throughout the day. Christine answered any questions we had, took photos of our family, took us to the best viewing (and sometimes less busy) areas of the places we visited and was very patient with our energetic boys and when we wanted to do a bit of shopping. Christine also gave us a good recommendation for lunch. Our driver was great and navigated any high traffic areas. The tour allowed us to see many parts of Kyoto in one day, that we definitely wouldn’t have been able to do by ourselves.
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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