Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour from Osaka or Kyoto
Description
Begin your day from VIP Lounge in Osaka or Kyoto. Your journey begins in Nara, Japan’s ancient capital. Discover the beauty of Nara Park, a historic landmark reflecting the city’s timeless charm. Continue to Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the 15-meter Great Buddha inside the world’s largest wooden structure. Next, immerse yourself in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Walk amidst towering stalks and feel the tranquil atmosphere as sunlight filters through the grove. Free time for lunch (note: location may shift to Fushimi Inari depending on traffic). Lunch Option features world-famous Kobe beef celebrated for its tenderness and rich flavor. You can choose from these three classic styles: Shabu-shabu, Sukiyaki, or Beef Rice Bowl. Continue to Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. Admire its gold-leaf exterior and serene garden. Finally, visit the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of vermilion torii gates up Mount Inari.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy a relaxing walk through one of Japan's oldest public parks, surrounded by beautiful seasonal scenery and historic landmarks in the heart of Nara.
Visit Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan's most important Buddhist temples. Home to the Great Buddha and the Great Buddha Hall—the world's largest historic wooden building—it is one of Nara's most iconic cultural landmarks. Time permitting, guests will have the opportunity to visit Todai-ji Temple. The itinerary may be adjusted depending on traffic and operational conditions.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting charm of Arashiyama. Visit to the renowned Bamboo Grove, a magical forest of towering green stalks that create a serene and otherworldly atmosphere. Wander through this captivating path, where the light filters through the dense bamboo, creating a unique and tranquil experience. For travelers who choose the no-meal option, you will have a total of 120 minutes in Arashiyama to explore local dining options and enjoy the picturesque surroundings at your own pace. For Travelers Who Have Selected the Lunch Option: Enjoy 50 minutes for lunch at Kyoto Shokujidokoro Wasabi, followed by 60 minutes for Arashiyama.
Take in scenic views from Arashiyama's iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, overlooking the Katsura River and surrounded by breathtaking seasonal landscapes.
The "Arashiyama Kimono Forest" in English is called Kimono Forest. It is a public art installation located at Randen Arashiyama Station in Kyoto. The installation features a pathway lined with numerous cylindrical pillars, each wrapped in vibrant kimono fabric encased in clear acrylic.
Walk through one of Japan's most famous bamboo groves, where thousands of towering bamboo stalks rise on both sides of the path, creating a unique natural corridor. As sunlight filters through the bamboo and the leaves sway in the breeze, visitors can experience one of Kyoto's most iconic landscapes.
Visit to Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its dazzling golden exterior and serene gardens. Your ticket is included!
Explore Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of over 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan. Renowned for its endless tunnels of vibrant vermilion torii gates winding through Mount Inari, it is one of Kyoto's most iconic attractions and a must-visit destination for travelers from around the world.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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 in the same bus.
- Infants under 3 years old are free of charge without seat. If a seat is required, please book with children's price
- Please arrive 10 minutes before 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 miss the tour, & refund won't be issued. If you'd like to change your meeting point or unsure about the meeting point, pls notify us at least 2 days before departure for assistance.
- The bus will be departing on time (no exception).
- 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 may not be granted.
- 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. 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.
- Upon arrival, please confirm your name with the guide or staff on the participant list.
- Contact number may be unavailable outside business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:30AM–6:30PM JST).
Reviews(155)
We had a great trip in Kyoto! It would be very hard to get all of what we did in one day on your own. This was very efficient. The right amount of time in every location. Lots of walking! Great with teens. Very comfortable.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you enjoyed your day exploring Kyoto and found the tour to be an efficient way to visit so many wonderful places. It's great to hear that the pacing worked well for your group and that your teens had a good time too. We appreciate your note about the walking, as it's helpful for future travelers. We hope to welcome you on another adventure in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
A great tour. So many lovely things to see and experience. It was hot but manageable. Lunch was amazing!
Dear valued customer, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the many beautiful sights and experiences throughout Kyoto and Nara. We're also glad that the weather didn't stop you from having a great time and that you enjoyed the lunch provided during the tour. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another memorable journey in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
Unfortunately with two of our stops on this tour it was more a guide yourself . Not what I paid for. Was taken to the deer park & then given instructions on how to find the Toda-ji Temple . Eventually found it. Second time was trying to find the Bamboo Forest. We were given rather confusing directions from a street corner & unfortunately we never found the proper forest only the edge of it ( I think). Eric seemed nice but very hard to understand his English. Compared to our tour in Hiroshima this tour failed to impress.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re very sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations, particularly regarding the level of guidance and clarity of directions at certain stops. We understand how frustrating this must have been and will take your comments into account to improve communication and overall tour quality. We also appreciate your note about the guide and will review this internally. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and thank you again for sharing your experience. Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
Gary was great! He made sure we all had a lovely time.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear that you had an amazing time on the tour and that our guide Gary made such a positive impression. He truly cares about creating a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone, so your kind words will mean a lot to him. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another memorable journey in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
This tour was the highlight of my trip! It’s the perfect way to see all the iconic spots in Kyoto and Nara efficiently. ・Amazing Guide: KOJI-san was so energetic and fun—he kept everyone smiling the whole day! ・Perfect Pace: I loved that we had enough free time at each stop to explore and shop at our own pace. It never felt rushed. ・Unique Experience: Even with the crowds, this tour offered a fresh and interesting perspective on Japan’s beauty. A must-do if you want a fun, stress-free, and fulfilling day. Thanks for the memories, KOJI!
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that the tour was a highlight of your trip and that you enjoyed exploring Kyoto and Nara at a comfortable pace. Our guide Koji will be especially happy to know he helped make your day fun and memorable! We truly appreciate your recommendation and your thoughtful feedback. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Kept us all engaged with his cultural insights.
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing our tour! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience and found our staff friendly and engaging. Sharing cultural insights is something we truly value, so it’s wonderful to know that it made your day even more memorable. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another adventure in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
This was the worst excursion I have ever taken. Our tour guide gave us very little information about the history and culture of Japan, that is why I book excursions. For me the worst part was that he would walk us to activity, many times with confusing turns in the path and would leave us , completely on our own to explore and make it back to the bus. On three occasions today, I found myself lost and stressed that I wouldn’t make it back in time. I have never booked an excursion where you’re expected to know what to do and where to go without guidance. This was a definite zero for me
Good but there’s room for improvement. Example the itinerary should have contingency plans for alteration when facing lousy weather; the waiting /meeting spots were all unsheltered, and last stop in Kyoto (after the shrine) guests who did not wish to continue the attraction-visit due to the rain and bad traffic, could not wait in the bus nor in any comfortable sheltered cafes. We were put in a no choice spot with no eatery or seats for an hour plus. Other than the rigid program/schedule which Eric our guide closely adhered to, Eric was knowledgeable with the history of Japan, he was jovial and made the bus ride less boring. Thumbs up to him.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re glad to hear you found the tour enjoyable overall and that our guide Eric made the journey engaging with his knowledge and cheerful attitude—we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We also sincerely appreciate your suggestions regarding weather contingencies and waiting arrangements. We’re sorry for the inconvenience you experienced and will take your comments into account as we work to improve the comfort and flexibility of our tours. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future under even better weather conditions! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
It was a long day but worth it. Hary our tour guide was fun , entertaining and very knowledgeable about the history of Kyoto and Nara.
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for sharing your experience on us! We’re glad to hear that, even though it was a long day, you found the tour worthwhile. Kyoto and Nara are full of incredible history and sights, and we’re happy you were able to experience so much in one trip. It’s especially nice to hear your kind words about our guide. He’ll be delighted to know you enjoyed his fun and knowledgeable guidance. We truly appreciate your review and hope to welcome you again on another memorable journey in Japan! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
Exhausting! Too much for one day and probably too long in some of the stops. Great guide tho who was very helpful.
