Kyoto Private 6 hour Tour: English Speaking Driver Only, No Guide
Description
The ideal pick for time-tight travelers that want to enjoy Kyoto. Avoid the potential confusion of Kyoto’s subway and bus systems; travel comfortably in a private vehicle instead! On this tour, some of the destinations you can choose to visit include the glittering Golden Temple, the architectural masterpiece that is Kiyomizu temple in the Gion Geisha district, and Arashiyama with its towering bamboo forest. You will have the freedom to explore each area on your own as the driver waits to accompany you safely to your next destination. We hope to see you in Kyoto soon! Tour details may change depending on your meeting point. This tour does not include a private guide. Please book one of our guided tours if you need a guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kiyomizu-dera, formally Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
Gion is Kyoto’s geisha district, with hostesses in colorful kimonos often sighted on the wooden Tatsumi Bridge, or amid upscale Japanese restaurants and boutiques on Hanamikoji Street. Gion Corner hosts traditional Kyomai dances, while Kennin-ji Temple is known for its Zen garden and Yasaka Shrine has seasonal festivals in a lantern-lit courtyard. Nightlife ranges from quiet sake bars to buzzing, pub-like izakayas.
Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji, is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually.
Tenryū-ji, formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji, is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339, primarily to venerate Gautama Buddha, and its first chief priest was Musō Soseki.
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto’s top sights and for good reason: standing amid these soaring stalks of bamboo is like being in another world.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your driver can pick you up only in Kyoto. This is a tour with an English-speaking driver. It does not include a government-licensed guide. You will be able to reach your driver via phone during the tour only. Please use email for any communication before the tour. Please be aware we can not pick you up in Osaka, Kobe, Nara etc.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
Reviews(94)
We had a wonderful day with our driver Harry-San. He adapted our day to take into account that I was unexpectantly in a wheelchair. He was friendly, very knowledgeable and a great person to spend the day with. Thank you Harry-San
It is wonderful to have your own driver. You get to cover more places in a shorter amount of time. We highly recommend!
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your driver ! We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future! Japan Guide Agency
Driver was very pleasant and helpful. We loved Kyoto, although it rained for most of the day, which of course was just bad luck. Only issue was that we did have trouble at times understanding the driver.
Nobu san made our day! Easy meet up location and comfortable van with AC and phone chargers. I gave him a list of places we wanted to see and he helped map out the best route. He spoke English well and added history and interesting facts to each of our locations even though he’s technically not supposed to be our tour guide…but that’s exactly what he was. We wanted to get away from the crowds for lunch and he took us to his favorite neighborhood ramen place and explained to us how their broth is so unique and a traditional Kyoto style broth (pork bone with a little chicken broth that lightens it! So good!). Toward the end of the day we hit Fushimi Inari which I told him felt like a tourist instagram traps and we could wait to get out of there. He suggested a place of the beaten path and we’re so glad we went. It was a Buddhist temple high in a hilltop with views of all of Kyoto, and it was practically empty (probably because you’d need a car to get there). It ended up being our favorite place and had the best pictures. Oh and at every stop he knew the best spots for pictures which my daughter appreciated. She’d even ask him where would make the best picture! And he graciously took pictures for us when asked. For a day trip from Tokyo, I highly recommend booking a car and driver and 5 stars for Nobu San!
Great experience! Our driver was great. We skipped all lines and in one day we visited all major attractions. Mr. Fuji was EXCELLENT!!! Thank you!
We were short on time, so having a private driver helped us fit a lot in 1 day. Took all the stress and confusion out of the day so we could enjoy it more. Definitely was a positive for us.
This was a great experience! Our driver, Harry, picked us up from the hotel and made sure we visited the top sights in Kyoto. At each location, he parked as close as possible, which kept walking to a minimum—much appreciated, especially with family. Harry spoke excellent English and gave us a clear and interesting overview of each landmark we visited. While six hours may sound long, it’s just enough time to visit four locations, considering the driving distances between sites and the walking involved at each one. Since these are very popular attractions, they can be quite crowded. Still, overall this was a fantastic experience and highly recommended, especially for families
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your driver, Harry. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future! Japan Guide Agency
We loved our guide, Fuji. He was kind, spoke great English, and offered excellent tips for our trip along the way. Would absolutely recommend booking this service if your time in Kyoto is limited and you want to visit many sites.
We appreciate your kind feedback. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your driver. We look forward to your next visit to Japan! Japan Guide Agency
My partner and I created a plan to visit Mt Kurama and Kifune. Haruhiko was the PERFECT driver and guide. We were able to experience these sights fully and Haruhiko also suggested including another Temple we had hoped to see. In all I highly recommend him as a guide and driver. We are so grateful for the experience!
We appreciate your kind feedback ! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your driver, Haruhiko. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
I went with my late 60s parents in early November and we had a wonderful time. Our driver was Harry and he was fantastic. He picked us up right on time and went over our itinerary with us. We chose the sights we wanted to see and he planned out the route. He was knowledgeable about each of the sights that we saw and knew the best spots to take pictures. The car was fantastic and very clean. I would highly recommend this tour!
We appreciate your kind feedback! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your driver, Harry. We look forward to your next visit to Japan! Japan Guide Agency
