Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch : From Osaka / Kyoto
Description
Begin your journey from Osaka or Kyoto, and step into Japan’s most iconic sights (Arashiyama, Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Taisha). Start at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, where sunlight filters through towering stalks, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Enjoy a superb meal at Kyoto Wasabi Restaurant. Choose from Kobe Beef Shabu-shabu, Pork Shabu-shabu, Kobe Beef Rice Bowl or Kobe Beef Sukiyaki. (Optional lunch) Continue to Nara, Japan’s ancient capital. Stroll through Nara Park and visit Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside the world’s largest wooden structure, marvel at the 15-meter Great Buddha, an awe-inspiring symbol of Japan’s heritage. Conclude at Fushimi Inari Shrine, famed for its thousands of vermilion torii gates forming a striking path up Mount Inari. This unforgettable sight is among Japan’s most photographed landmarks. At day’s end, relax on your bus ride back, with the flexibility to return to Osaka or Kyoto.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore one of Kyoto's most beloved sightseeing districts, celebrated for its scenic riverside, historic atmosphere, and seasonal beauty. From fresh spring greenery to vibrant autumn foliage, Arashiyama is a destination that showcases the charm of Kyoto in every season. 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.
Togetsukyō Bridge, meaning "Moon-Crossing Bridge", is a landmark wooden bridge in Kyoto's Arashiyama district, spanning the Katsura River. It's renowned for its scenic beauty, especially during cherry blossom season and autumn foliage, and has a history dating back over a thousand years.
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.
Nara, Japan’s historic capital. Discover the serene beauty of Nara Park and explore Todai-ji Temple, the largest wooden structure in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Be awed by Japan’s colossal Buddha statue, towering 15 meters high.
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 with the Fushimi Inari Shrine, a revered Shinto shrine designated as an Important Cultural Property. Famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates, this iconic shrine creates a stunning tunnel-like pathway up the sacred Mount Inari. As you stroll through the gates, you will encounter a series of shrines, each honoring the deity Inari Okami, who is celebrated for prosperity in business, household safety, and success in various pursuits. At the end of the tour, return by bus with the option to disembark at either Kyoto or Osaka, giving you the flexibility to choose your preferred conclusion for the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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 on the same bus.
- Infants under 3 years old are free of charge without seat. If a seat is required, please book under the children's price
- Please arrive 10 minutes before departure 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 result in missing the tour, & refunds won't be issued. If you'd like to change your meeting point or are unsure about the meeting point, please notify us at least 2 days before departure for assistance.
- The bus will be departing on time (no exceptions).
- 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 will not be granted.
- Upon arrival, please confirm your name with the guide or staff on the participant list.
- Please refrain from booking any time-sensitive activities such as restaurant reservations, cruise ship departures, or other scheduled commitments immediately following your tour.
- 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.
- Contact number may be unavailable outside business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:30AM–6:30PM JST).
Reviews(119)
Amazing value for the money! The tour was the perfect length. I’m glad we didn’t pick a longer tour. It was hot that day and we easily put in 15,000 steps throughout the day. We only had 1.5 days in Kyoto and I felt like we got to see the most important things on our tour. Our tour guide, Nick San, was phenomenal. Very engaging, entertaining, and knowledgeable. Lunch was delicious! As we travelled from site to site, I appreciated not having to worry about toll roads, directions, parking, and generally navigating these sights on our own.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so pleased to hear that our Kyoto & Nara Day Trip was a great fit for your limited time in Kyoto and that you found it to be excellent value. It's wonderful to know that Nick San's engaging and knowledgeable guidance, along with the delicious lunch, helped make your day even more enjoyable. We're also glad you could relax and enjoy the sights without the stress of driving and navigating on your own. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and hope to welcome you back for another tour the next time you're in Japan! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
All the sites visited are very beautiful but the time given in each of the areas visited was not enough, especially in the heat of the sun. In Nara, there wasn't enough time to visit the Buddha temple and advised by the guide not to do so as not enough time. Similarly, in Inari temple it was rushed and couldn't visit the temple or look through the tori gates and the surrounding area properly. Skip the "lunch Included" option as it was of a very poor quality.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad you enjoyed the beautiful sites on the tour. We're sorry you felt the time at each stop was too limited and that the included lunch did not meet your expectations. Your comments have been shared with our team as we continue to improve our tours. Thank you for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future. Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
VIP Japan Tours: I visited Japan in June 2026 with my group, and this company was responsible for our tour. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. Despite making several attempts to call and message the company the day before the tour, I never received a response. The only communication I received came two hours after the tour was originally scheduled to begin. After I informed them that this was completely unacceptable, they decided to reschedule the tour for the following day. The problems continued the next morning. While we were on the train, I informed our tour guide, Mi, that we were on our way and only four stops from the meeting point. He instructed us to get off the train and meet the group at Umeda instead. After we arrived at Umeda, he then told us to take a taxi to another location. The entire experience felt like we were constantly chasing the tour guide from one place to another, with little communication or organization. It was stressful, frustrating, and a complete waste of our time. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this company. I have messages, call records, and other documentation to support everything described in this review. This was one of the most disorganized and unprofessional tour experiences I have ever had.
This tour captures the highlights of Kyoto in one day. You will likely walk over 15K steps but it is so worth it. From the bamboo forest to the beautiful temples and even the lunch that was offered. Everything was so good but our tour guide was the best. He made a long day go by so quickly. He was witty, kind and so informative!!! I forget his name but he was a handsome guy with glasses and the Kanye West doll on his bag. I would highly recommend this tour to families, solo travelers and just about anyone!
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a fun and memorable day exploring Kyoto and that you enjoyed the bamboo forest, temples, and lunch. It means a lot to know our guide made the long day enjoyable with his humor, kindness, and knowledge. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on a future trip. Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
it was very informative , linch was included . we got on in Osaka and our guide did an ok job i guess because she just got out of the hospital
Dear valued customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're glad to hear that you found the tour informative and enjoyed the included lunch. We also appreciate your comments regarding the guide, as guest feedback helps us continue improving our services. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring Kyoto and Nara, and we would be pleased to welcome you on another tour in the future. Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
The tour covered what it needed to cover so job done. But very much left to our own devices at each place we visited. No criticism of our tour guide but spoke quietly and some rude guests just keep talking when the rest of the coach was trying to listen as she was trying to give us information. Same rude guests left their area in mess with remains of food etc they just didn’t care. Told them to be quiet with no avail. Would I do the trip again no would I recommend the trip well lower your expectations and it should be ok. Seems very rushed been on much better tours with other companies. Booked for Kobe beef Shabu Shabu which was highly disappointing. Could have used beef to sole my shoes.
Dear valued customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're sorry to hear that the tour did not fully meet your expectations. While we're pleased that the itinerary covered the key highlights of Kyoto and Nara, we understand your concerns regarding the pace of the tour, the limited guided experience at some locations, and the difficulty hearing the guide due to other guests' behavior. Your comments have been shared with our operations and dining partners for review, as guest satisfaction is very important to us. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again on another tour in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
It was a very long day and whilst our guide was very competent, he had a nervous laugh. Everyone was on time so that was a plus but it was very humid and one big rush
Dear valued customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're glad to hear that you found your guide knowledgeable and that the group stayed on schedule throughout the day. We understand that the itinerary can feel quite full, especially during periods of high humidity and warm weather. Your comments regarding the pace of the tour are appreciated, and we'll share them with our team as we continue working to provide the best possible experience for our guests. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again on another tour in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
It is really one of a kind day tour with a super humorous yet informative tour guide Nic. He is very helpful and patient with everyone during the 4 scenic spots. Exhausting for us because it’s more like a trekking and hiking tour with 19,338 steps, my highest so far this lifetime!
Dear valued customer, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Kyoto & Nara day trip and that our guide Nic’s humor, knowledge, and patience made the experience even more memorable. It sounds like the tour definitely turned into quite an adventure — 19,338 steps is seriously impressive! We truly appreciate your energy and enthusiasm throughout the scenic spots, and we’re glad the beautiful sights and fun moments made the trekking worthwhile. We hope to welcome you again on another journey in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
My guide person Koji was very knowledgeable timely and hilarious he assured everyone’s safety and accounted for and kept everyone on the itternary
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that our guide Koji made your Kyoto & Nara day trip enjoyable, informative, and fun. His knowledge, humor, and dedication to keeping everyone safe and on schedule truly make him a wonderful guide. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan soon! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
Had the best day on our Kyoto & Nara Day Trip! 🦌⛩️ Nara was absolutely hilarious, the deer were so cheeky and kept biting when we didn’t feed them fast enough 😂 Such a funny and unique experience. Kyoto was beautiful as always, with so much history and stunning scenery everywhere you look. Today was also 32 degrees and incredibly hot, and unfortunately the air con on our bus stopped working. But a huge shoutout to our guide who handled it so well and quickly swapped our bus over for one with working air conditioning. Great service and much appreciated in the heat! Such a fun day filled with laughs, beautiful sights, and unforgettable memories. Highly recommend this tour if you’re visiting Japan! 🇯🇵✨
Dear valued customer, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fun day exploring Kyoto and Nara — the cheeky deer definitely know how to keep things entertaining. We also really appreciate your understanding regarding the air conditioning issue, especially in the summer heat. We’re glad our guide was able to resolve it quickly and keep the day comfortable for everyone. Thank you again for recommending the tour, and we hope to welcome you back to Japan in the future! Best regards, VIP Japan Tours
