Kyoto&Nara Private Highlights Tour with English driver
Description
On a private car tour, visit Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan's most historic destinations. Ideal for avoiding trains or large bus tours. See temples, shrines, traditional streets, and Nara's deer park. Start in Kyoto, then visit highlights like Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama, Gion, Nishiki Market, Nara Park, and Todai-ji. Kyoto offers classic scenery and old streets; Nara has open parkland, free-roaming deer, and a major Buddhist temple. The 5-hour option has fewer stops; the 10-hour option covers both cities at a relaxed pace. We recommend 2–3 stops for 5 hours, 4–5 for 10 hours. Visiting all listed sites in one day is unlikely. Customize: contact us 24 hours before start. Send stops, pickup, group size, luggage, special requests. Without 24-hour notice, the default route applies. For 14+ guests, advance vehicle arrangements are required. Cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of Kyoto’s most iconic natural sights. A short walking path winds through towering bamboo stalks, creating a calm and atmospheric experience. The gentle sound of the wind through the bamboo makes it a peaceful escape from the city.
Kinkakuji Temple, a three-storey pavilion covered in gold leaf that is one of the most famous and recognizable of all the historic buildings in Kyoto and has been selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the golden reflection of the temple in the still mirror water surface. And try to pray in front of those statues for fortune and luck.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, where a long corridor of thousands of Torii Shrine gates, a bright red tunnel along the mountain path, is an amazing experience. You could walk through every gate, feel the ancient sense, and take photos. The Torii shrine gates form a maze, wish you can find your way out.
Gion is Kyoto’s most famous traditional district, known for its historic wooden townhouses and geisha culture. Walking through its narrow streets, especially in the evening, offers a glimpse into old Kyoto, with teahouses, traditional restaurants, and a timeless atmosphere.
Nishiki Market is a lively food market in the heart of Kyoto, often called “Kyoto’s Kitchen.” The narrow covered street is lined with food stalls selling local specialties, snacks, and traditional ingredients, making it a great place to experience Kyoto’s food culture.
Kiyomizu-dera is one of Kyoto’s most famous Buddhist temples, founded in 778. It is best known for its large wooden stage, built without nails, offering panoramic views over the city. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is especially popular during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
Nara's iconic attraction, Nara Park, which is a paradise of nature and the home of Nara deer. Walking in the park, you can see herds of deer leisurely walking in the grass, they are docile and cute, close to people. Buy a packet of deer cakes, interact with these lovely creatures, and feel in harmony with nature.
Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in the world, which houses a magnificent bronze Buddha statue. Incredibly, it took almost all of Japan's bronze reserves at the time to create this 15-meter-high bronze Buddha. Todai-ji is a large temple, take your time enjoy the peaceful time by walking and pray. You may listen to the chanting sutras between the temples.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is available from hotels, accommodations, stations, or agreed pickup points within the selected Kyoto service area. Please provide the exact pickup address, hotel name, building name, entrance details, pickup time, passenger count, luggage count, and a reachable phone number or WhatsApp after booking. For hotel pickup, please wait in the hotel lobby or at the main entrance at the scheduled pickup time. For station pickup, please provide the station name, arrival time, and preferred exit in advance. For apartments or private accommodations, please provide the full address and entrance instructions. The driver will wait for up to 30 minutes free of charge from the scheduled pickup time. Waiting time beyond the free 30 minutes or tour overtime beyond the selected duration may require an extra fee based on vehicle type: vehicles up to 13 seats cost JPY 5,000 per hour, 18-seat vehicles cost JPY 10,000 per hour, and 44-seat buses cost JPY 15,000 per hour. Please keep your phone or WhatsApp reachable on the tour day. If pickup information is incorrect, incomplete, or we cannot contact you, the tour may not be provided as scheduled. Pickup and drop-off points may be adjusted if stopping or parking is restricted by hotel, station, traffic, or local regulations.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total duration includes the travel time.
- The duration for every attraction is the recommend time.
- If you want shorten or extend single attraction duration, you can communicate with driver or guide.
Reviews(15)
Our driver timely came and shown all the places
Thank you for your kind review! We’re happy to hear your driver arrived on time and helped you see all the planned highlights in Kyoto and Nara. A smooth schedule makes sightseeing much more enjoyable, and we’re glad your day went well. We hope to welcome you again for another easy and memorable trip in Japan!
It was a very nice Tour. Roy did a really good Job and was really friendly. Thank you
Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and that Roy provided friendly and professional service. We look forward to serving you again!
Very accommodating. We had to adjust the itinerary as it was raining and wanted to spend more time at the market but skip other places. Highly recommended if you don't like guided tours, like to travel in comfort, and want to adjust.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that the flexibility and comfort of the service made your trip more enjoyable, even with the change in weather. Providing a comfortable and adaptable experience for our guests is always our priority. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate your support. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Super Guide Thank you Ally Kyoto, the day, remains unforgettable. He took us everywhere. Always helpful Responding to our wishes. Always happy Thank you
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! Creating unforgettable travel experiences is always our goal, and we are delighted that Ally helped make your visit to Kyoto so special. Your kind words are truly appreciated, and we will gladly share them with him. Thank you once again for your trust and support. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again and creating even more beautiful memories on your next trip
Ali was A top guide all entertaining and informative . Top places selected always parked in front row and responded to our wishes . That's all it could have been that day. Thank you Ali 👍👍👌👌💥💥
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that Ali made your trip enjoyable, informative, and memorable. It is great to know that the places he selected, his thoughtful arrangements, and his attention to your wishes helped create such a perfect day for you. Your kind words and appreciation mean a lot to us, and we will be sure to share your compliments with Ali. Feedback like yours is the greatest encouragement for our team. Thank you again for choosing our service. We truly hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another journey in the future!
Once again Kansai Holiday and our driver Ally provided excellent service and a picture perfect day. Ally planned a perfect day trip from Kobe to Osaka. He was courteous and professional from start to finish. I really appreciate that he walked with us from Kema Sakuranomiya Park to Osaka Castle, ensuring we passed all the perfect spots for Sakura views.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Kansai Holiday once again! We are delighted to hear that Ally created such a perfect and memorable day for your trip from Kobe to Osaka. Your kind words about his professionalism, courtesy, and thoughtful planning mean a lot to us. Thank you again for your trust and support. We look forward to serving you on your next trip to Japan!
Ally was great top to bottom. He was inquisitive about who we were and tailored our experience to what he felt we would like. He hit the nail on the head and it was a perfect experience. The amount of time we would spend at each location was timed with a perfect balance of appreciating the experience without spending too much time at each place. Can’t recommend Ally enough
Thank you very much for your excellent review. It was our great pleasure to support your journey in Japan and provide you with a pleasant experience. We remain committed to delivering professional and high-quality services. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Excellent, very interesting everything! It's very worth this tour, everyone should do it. The very good guide.
Thank you very much for your kind review and recognition of our service. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to assist with your journey in Japan and to provide you with a pleasant experience. Your satisfaction is our greatest motivation to continuously improve our service. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Best travel company to book your trips in Japan withis Kansai Holidays. YU(the guide) deserves 10star rating out of 5. Extremely pleasant and funny kept the atmosphere lively for 10 hrs. Started with cherry blossom which was not in our plan. Inspite of us spending almost hour and a half he made sure that he covered all the spots that were in plan in the scheduled time. Made our day worthwhile. .Review on behaf of Ketul Shah
Thank you very much for your valuable feedback and kind recognition. We are pleased to know that you were satisfied with the trip and the driver’s service. Your kind words have been shared with our team, which is truly encouraging for us. We will continue to strive to provide even better service to every guest. We look forward to serving you again.
We had an incredible day exploring Kyoto and Nara with this private car service! Our driver spoke excellent English, was super friendly, and made the whole trip easy and comfortable. The car was clean, spacious, and perfect for our family. We visited the Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nara Park, and Todai-ji — every spot was beautiful and peaceful. The driver even shared interesting stories about each place and helped us take great photos! It was one of the best days of our Japan trip. Highly recommend this service to anyone visiting Kyoto or Nara totally worth it!
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed our private car service and had a great time during your trip. It means a lot to us to know that you felt comfortable and well taken care of. Our team always tries our best to make every journey smooth and enjoyable, and your kind words truly brighten our day! We hope to see you again soon for another wonderful trip in Japan! 🌟 Warm regards, Kansai holiday.
