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KyotoBus & minivan tours

Our most recommended Kyoto Bus & minivan tours

Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

1. Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

Discover the highlights of Kyoto with a same-day or 2-day ticket on this convenient hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Admire the panoramic views from onboard the open-top double-decker bus, and hop on or off at any of the stops along the route. Enjoy informative audio commentary on board the bus, available in 7 languages. Choose this efficient way of exploring the must-see places and attractions in Kyoto. The bus takes you past many of the city's top attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, and Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. You can enjoy unlimited rides for the duration of your ticket's validity. Bus stops along the route:  • Kyoto Station • Nishihonganji ( Kyoto Tokyu Hotel) • Shijo Karasuma / Nishiki-ichiba Market • Nijo-jo Castle • Kitano-tenmangu Shrine / Kamishichiken • Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) • Daitokuji Temple • Kyoto Imperial Palace (Doshisha University) • Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion) • Heian-jingu Shrine / Okazaki Park • Gion (Kotowa-Kyoto Yasaka) • Gojozaka (Kiyomizu-dera Temple / Gion) • Sanjusangendo / Kyoto National Museum (Hyatt Regency Kyoto)

Kyoto Evening Gion Food Tour

2. Kyoto Evening Gion Food Tour

Starting in Kamogawa, you will stroll along the local streets and head toward Kamogawa River, with some possible seasonal food stops along the way, to gaze upon the many Japanese locals enjoying the cool of the evening, while sitting on the terraces along the water known as Kamogawa yuka noryo in Japanese.   After crossing the Kamogawa River, you'll enter into the Pontocho area, a district of Kyoto, home to many Geisha houses and traditional tea houses. In the evenings you'll be able to see Geisha walking the streets. Not long after our time in Pontocho, we will be in historical Gion, the most prominent entertainment district and Kyoto’s center of traditional arts. Gion is clad with old wooden buildings, teahouses and very exclusive Japanese restaurants, mostly by invitation only. Your guide will tell you stories about this very exquisite part of Kyoto along the way. At the end of the short journey, you will sit down to a 10-course Kaiseki dinner, prepared especially and specifically for Arigato Japan. This should be a moment in your life you will never forget, so the details will be  reserved for those who join the tour. To give you an idea, one of the 10 courses will be an ornate platter mounted with living fish, and you can enjoy the freshest sashimi straight from the bone. The other 9 courses are a mystery guaranteed to surprise and delight your culinary senses.

From Osaka/Kyoto: Private Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Pickup

3. From Osaka/Kyoto: Private Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Pickup

See the iconic landmarks in Nara and Kyoto in one day on a private trip with hotel pickup and drop-off from Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe. Encounter deers at Nara Park, see a grand Buddha statue at Todaiji, visit the torri gates of Fushimi-Inari Shrine, stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and more. Meet your driver at your hotel and head to Nara Park, home to thousands of freely roaming deers. Buy some crackers to feed the deer, or grab a snack from one of the many tea houses. Walk through Nara Park and reach the Todaiji Temple or the “Great Eastern Temple”. Discover a priceless trove of history and culture at Todaiji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See one of Japan's most famous and historically significant Buddhist temple complexes. Visit the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall) and see the majestic 15-meter-tall large bronze statue of Buddha. Next, walk through a sea of vermillion-red torri gates of the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. Next up is Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple in northern Kyoto. See 3 floors, each with its own different style of architecture. Admire the top 2 floors completely covered in gold leaf. Finally, visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest together with the Arashiyama Kimono Forest. Choose to ride the Sagano Romantic Train, known during spring for scenic views of cherry blossoms and in fall for the brilliant colors of maple leaves. Cross the Togetsukyo wood bridge across the Katsura River.

Kyoto: 10-hour Customizable Private Tour with Hotel Transfer

4. Kyoto: 10-hour Customizable Private Tour with Hotel Transfer

Discovering the culturally-enriching city Kyoto Your Way with Our 10-Hour Customizable Private Car Tour. With the freedom to design your own itinerary, you can explore the city's top attractions and hidden gems at your own pace. Visiting the most attractive buildings in Kyoto called Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, you can experience and immerse yourself in the cultural charm of Kyoto by exploring traditional architectural styles. There are many attractions in this area, such as Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Gion district and Hanami-koji, which is perfect for walking around in a kimono and experienceing Kyoto like a local. Later blessing and praying for good luck at Fushimi Inari Shrine Yasaka, then heading out to the grounds to see the vermilion torii gate here. With our private car and professional driver, you won't have to worry about transportation, navigation, or language barriers. Our private tour is perfect for solo travelers, couples, families, and groups. We can pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Kyoto. The English-speaking guide is optional. Our guide will provide local insights and stories about each destination, making your tour informative and engaging.

From Osaka: Kyoto Private Day Tour

5. From Osaka: Kyoto Private Day Tour

Explore everything in Kyoto. Enjoy the utmost convenience as you discover the must-sees of the city aboard a comfortable vehicle. You can fully customize your own itinerary! Let the friendly driver pick you up from your hotel in Osaka and help you find the most efficient route to get you to all the sights. Choose from two vehicles available, a 7-seater or 10-seater vehicle, depending on your travel party needs. At the end of the day, the driver will bring you back to your hotel or any other destination of your choice in Kyoto or Osaka—easy and hassle-free!

Kyoto Highlights 7-Hour Private Guided Tour

6. Kyoto Highlights 7-Hour Private Guided Tour

During this 7-hour tour, your private guide will show you around the city of Kyoto on a visit to 4 major must-see attractions. There are 2 different routes available: a northwest-bound route and a southeast-bound route. If you choose to take both tours, you can visit 8 different locations at a relaxing pace. The tour starts out at 09:00 from the Hotel Granvia Kyoto in the JR Kyoto Station building. When booking you are requested to select either the northwest-bound or the southeast-bound itinerary. On the northwest-bound tour you’ll visit the Bamboo Grove, the Rock Garden (Ryoanji Temple), the Golden Pavilion and Nijo Castle or the Nishiki Market. The southeast-bound tour visits the Sake Brewery, the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Sanjusangendo Temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple and the Ninenzaka or Sannenzaka Slope. The tour ends at 16:00 near the Gion area, the geisha district of Kyoto.

10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up

7. 10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up

Explore and Experience the Traditional City of Kyoto Japan. Where you can enjoy sightseeing, cultural and historical places in Kyoto. One of their famous place is Gion , the most famous geisha place in Japan. Together with the Kimono Forest, where you can rent a kimono and have a memorable Japanese style experience on your trip. Next is Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.We will also visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, This shrine is one of many located throughout Japan that was built to honor Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Fushimi Inari is therefore a Shinto shrine but unique with its never ending sea of iconic red/orange torri style gates arching over the pathway. And ofcourse We will never let you miss out the beautiful and famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama is famous for its Sagano Romantic Train ride, whether during spring for its cherry blossoms or autumn for the brilliant colors of its maple leaves. It is also renowned for its landmark bridge, Togetsukyo which is used in many tourist promotion photos.And ofcourse We will never let you miss out the kiyomizu dera

ALL-IN Private Tour KYOTO w/Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off

8. ALL-IN Private Tour KYOTO w/Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off

p>Explore and Experience the Traditional City of Kyoto Japan. Where you can enjoy sightseeing, cultural and historical places in Kyoto. Ejy playing with the monkeys at Iwatayama monkey park. Together with the Kimono Forest, where you can rent a kimono and have a memorable Japanese style experience on your trip. Next is Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.We will also visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, This shrine is one of many located throughout Japan that was built to honor Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Fushimi Inari is therefore a Shinto shrine but unique with its never ending sea of iconic red/orange torri style gates arching over the pathway. And ofcourse We will never let you miss out the beautiful and famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama is famous for its Sagano Romantic Train ride, whether during spring for its cherry blossoms or autumn for the brilliant colors of its maple leaves. And ofcourse We will never let you miss out the Unesco heritage of kyoto called kiyomizu dera

From Osaka: 10-hour Private Custom Tour to Kyoto

9. From Osaka: 10-hour Private Custom Tour to Kyoto

Our 10-Hour customizable private car tour is the best way to visit cultutal-enriching city Kyoto. Visiting the most attractive buildings in Kyoto called Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, you can experience the cultural charm of Kyoto by exploring traditional architectural styles and surrounding views. Later accepting blessing and praying for good luck at Yasaka Shrine. Wandering around Hanami-koji and Sannenzaka like local people, you can immerse yourself in the traditional style of Kyoto. With our private car and professional driver, you won't have to worry about transportation, navigation, or language barriers. Our private car tour is perfect for solo travelers, couples, families, and groups. We can pick you up and drop you off at your preferred location in Osaka, whether it's your hotel, airport, or train station. The English-speaking tour guide is optional. Our guide will provide local insights and stories about each destination, making your tour informative and engaging. Default Itinerary 8:00 AM - The chartered driver will pick you up at your designated location. 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Departure from Osaka to Kyoto (journey about 1 hour and 30 minutes). 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Visit Kinkaku-ji and admire the magnificent temple and beautiful gardens. 10:35 AM - 12:30 PM: Visit Kiyomizu-dera to experience traditional Japanese architecture and breathtaking views. 12:35 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch at a nearby restaurant or snack bar. Please note that lunch fare is not included in the package. 1:35PM - 3:00PM: Visit Yasaka Shrine and experience the traditional atmosphere and culture. 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Stroll through the traditional streets of Hanami-koji and Sannenzaka, admiring the quaint buildings and shops. 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Arrive in Osaka, the driver will take you back to the designated location and end the trip. Please note that the above schedule is for reference only, and the actual itinerary may change due to factors such as traffic, passenger flow and visit time. When confirming the itinerary with the charter driver, you can discuss and adjust it according to the specific situation.

Kyoto/Kobe/Osaka: Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari Private Tour

10. Kyoto/Kobe/Osaka: Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari Private Tour

Start the tour with pick up from central Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto and travel to historic Kyoto. Over the course of the day, you'll be presented with a balanced view of this historic city and its surroundings. The Arashiyama district is the first stop, and it is here where you'll be introduced to Japanese garden and temple design. Tenryu-ji Temple has one of the most outstanding, timeless examples of Japanese gardens surrounding it's simple-but-majestic temple buildings. Then it's time for a walk up through the famous bamboo grove - a photo opportunity not to be missed - before arriving at the entrance to luxurious Okochi Sanso. Here you will try some matcha (Japanese green tea), before exploring the winding paths that connect the buildings, views, and garden areas. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a stroll alongside the river, then have free time for lunch and even a bit of shopping, if you wish. Next, enjoy the atmospheric streets of the Goin district, complete with a gurgling stream and rows of traditional tea house and restaurant buildings.  Not far from the Gion is Fushimi Inari-taisha, arguably the most famous Shinto shrine complex in the entire region. After having a look around you'll end your tour with a visit to the famous Torii gate.

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What people are saying about Kyoto

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 539 reviews

Best way to explore sights. I took the sightseeing bus for its entire loop while marking the route map of which points of interest I’d like to go back to and spend more time. The timetable of the route map was very helpful in going to one point to another as the sightseeing bus ran on schedule.

Economical. Such an easy and worry free way to see Kyoto’s attractions. It was done at our own pace. Staff on the bus were very friendly and helpful.

its very helpfull we cant find our meeting place in kawaramachie and the operator called us as soon as we e mail them

Great way to see the city.. The bus was punctual and clean. The commentary informative.

the spots are far and the bus helped a lot. the timetable is excellent!