From Osaka-Kyoto: Kyoto and Nara 1Day Bus Tour
3.4
103 Ratings
Kyoto
Embark on a captivating 1-day bus tour of Kyoto and Nara. Discover historic Kyoto, admire the beauty of Arashiyama, and explore the splendid Nara Park. Don't miss the chance to try the new Pork Tofu Shabu-shabu lunch menu starting from September 2023!
Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Kinkakuji Temple - 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!
  • Arashiyama - 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 lunch option, savor a delicious meal at “Kyoto Wasabi,” a historic Kyoto townhouse with a rich legacy of over 120 years. Delight in an exquisite Kyoto traditional meal set featuring Kyoto pork and tofu shabu-shabu, a classic Japanese hot pot dish with thinly sliced pork cooked in a flavorful broth. (50 mins)

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.

  • Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Fushimi Inari Shrine, a revered Shinto shrine designated as an Important Cultural Property. This iconic shrine is renowned for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates, which create a stunning and immersive tunnel-like pathway up the sacred Mount Inari. As you walk through the gates, you’ll pass through a series of shrines, each representing a different aspect of the deity Inari Okami, who is worshipped for prosperity in business, household safety, and success in various endeavors.
  • Nara Park - Nara, Japan’s historic capital. Experience the magic of Nara Park, where you can mingle with friendly deer, and visit 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.
What's Included
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • English or Chinese Speaking Guide
  • Entrance fee to Kinkakuji temple
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fee to Todaiji temple 600yen (optional)
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Start from the VIP Lounge in Osaka or Kyoto.

Visit to Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its dazzling golden exterior and serene gardens. Your ticket is included!

Explore Arashiyama and its renowned Bamboo Grove, a magical forest of towering green stalks creating a unique and tranquil experience.

For lunch, enjoy a traditional meal at “Kyoto Wasabi,” a historic Kyoto townhouse, featuring Kyoto pork and tofu shabu-shabu.

If you choose the no-meal option, you’ll have 120 minutes to explore local dining options and the picturesque surroundings of Arashiyama at your own pace.

Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates forming a stunning tunnel up Mount Inari.

Experience Nara Park’s friendly deer and visit UNESCO World Heritage site Todai-ji Temple, home to Japan’s colossal Buddha statue.

End the tour with a bus return, choosing from two disbanding locations in Kyoto or Osaka.

  • The tour schedule may be delayed due to traffic or weather. If the tour is cancelled by the supplier due to bad 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 be present at the right meeting point 10 minutes before the departure.
  • 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 arrivals or arrival at wrong location, regardless of contact prior to the departure time, refunds may not be granted.
  • Contact number may not be responsive outside of business hours, 9:30am~6pm JST (MON-SAT)
Location
VIP Lounge Kyoto
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.4
(103 Ratings)
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Iris_s
Jun 16, 2024
Love it!! - Mike was our guide in this trip. He was very nice and helpful . The most I like it’s was to have lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant. It was a good experience
Review provided by Viator
Elliottl740
Apr 22, 2024
Bus Tour Kyoto--Nara--Kyoto then Osaka! - The tour was very nice. I thought the tour guide was very nice and cool, the way he spoke English and Mandarin one after the other! The bus was also very comfy because I fell asleep twice 😴😴. We went to Nara Park and fed at least 38 deer 🦌! I thought the tour was very nice 🙂🙂🙂🙂.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tim_w
Mar 31, 2024
A Great Day Out - This was a great day tour and myself and my 8yr old daughter loved it. As for the long day comments in previous reviews, they are correct BUT you get to see everything and have more than enough time to see the stops. Our tour guide Mike was so fun and enjoyable and made the day 💯 If you are looking at this trip you won't be disappointed, so book it and take it all in just like we did.
Review provided by Viator
Rosa_h
Jun 17, 2024
Ok tour - It’s a whole day tour a lot of driving, it was ok, only thing we didn’t like was in the restaurant we were supposed to have traditional dinner, however, there wasn’t enough space for everyone in our group so our family and another family sat on the side room in regular tables (not traditional on the floor like rest of groups) so we didn’t get to have that experience, little disappointed. Other than that tour was ok.
Review provided by Viator
Anthonyrobert_w
Apr 24, 2024
KOYTO NARA TOUR FROM KYOTO. - We took this tour in 2016 and it was excellent. This time it was disappointing. 1. The bus was 20 minutes late at the meeting point in Koyto as it came from Osaka. 2. People were unsure of which bus to get as there were 4 or 5 tours from the same point. 3. The tour guide was excellent and organized the bus seating well. 4. There were long walks from the bus parking to the attractions. 10 to 20 minutes. 5. When booking, the bamboo forest, a highlight for us,was advertised, however due to a change in laws, we could not go there. Very disappointing to find this out on the tour and not before as we then missed this attraction altogether. 6. So the trip from Kyoto to Nara was only for the deer park a long way for a small attraction. The best viewing was the temple in the park but the ticket was not included. Due to the late start, for slower walkers, it was impossible to visit and enjoy this attraction and the deer park as we were rushed. The bus, guide and other attractions were fine, but overall very disappointing compared to last time. Please advertise the tour without the bamboo forest from now on. Thanks. Anthony Wilson.
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_s
Apr 26, 2024
Disappointing - We had high hopes for this tour. We arrived at the VIP Lounge on time and were given no information from the women at the desk other than to wait for Bus #2. Very disorganized. The bus was late so we already lost 30 minutes from the tour. Several days prior to the tour I received an email that due to government restrictions on how long bus drivers can work, the tour was cutting out one of the stops (the bamboo forest). This was extremely disappointing as it was a major highlight that we wanted to see. The tour was very rushed and we had little time to spend at each of the other 3 stops. While I understand that the drivers can't work more than a certain number of hours, the tour was cut by 25% only several days prior to the date of the tour, with no way to schedule with a different tour outfit (everyone else was already sold out). I emailed Viator and asked for a 25% refund since they cut 25% of my tour. They replied back that they don't provide refunds. We are extremely disappointed.
Review provided by Viator
Eric_s
Jul 24, 2024
Big disappointment - One of the places they advertised was going to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. So I booked and paid for it. Unfortunately it did not go there. I asked the tour guide she said if I want to go I need to go down in Kyoto and find myself a way to get there since they said they stopped going there due to something to do about their drivers work hours. We wre not informed ahead of this and its very disappointing. Better ask before paying if its still part of the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Dennis_r
Jun 8, 2024
False Advertising - The tour description is not correct. The tour does not include Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Also, you only have one hour in Nara which is not enough time to walk to and tour Tōdai-ji. Overall, I was very disappointed with this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Shelley_r
Apr 27, 2024
Changed your ahead of time and missed Arashiyama - Booked the one day tour that included Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, some temples and Nara deer park. However on the day they skipped the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Blamed change in driving hours. Should have notified ahead of time as I would have changed tour. Disappointing day.
Review provided by Viator
Kanika_b
Apr 1, 2024
Useless guide, wastes your time and money. Delays the trio and you miss the spots - Bus arrived late at Kyoto pick up point due to which tour started at 9:20 AM instead of 9 AM. Next the tour started 21 minutes late from first stop kinkakuji temple due to wait for delayed passengers, 11:01 instead of 10:40 AM, wasting passenger time. Tour guide didn't have their contact information. The following stop the guide Kaori slept in the bus even though everyone had boarded the bus and the bus didn't move since she was sleeping. So we started late from the next stop ie. arashiyama bamboo forest as well. She asked to return to bus at the fushimi inari shrine at 3:40PM to leave for Nara. At 3:40 PM, she announced that it will take an hour to reach Nara. After reaching Nara at 4:40 pm she announced that the Todaiji temple closes at 4:40 pm. First and foremost if she asked us to come back at 3:40 PM and it takes an hour to reach Nara and that the temple closes at 4:40PM, then why didn't she tell us earlier and why did we go to Nara. Secondly she misled us about the closing time for the Todaiji temple. We got to know from the temple that the ticket purchase closes at 5PM and entrance closes at 530, the same is mentioned online too. So it is incorrect information being provided to the tourists. As you may appreciate we have tight schedules and packed itineraries in Japan and given the time at hand we cannot afford to go to the same place again, we could have utilised the time to go somewhere else. We couldn't visit due to the guide's fault. The tourists felt she is quite elderly to take a tour and should not be allocated as a tour guide by the company. She walked ahead without turning back, only to realise that not a single tourist from our group was with her. She sleeps when she is supposed to move the bus. She asked the tourists if someone is missing, how would tourists know if one couple or family is missing as a whole. She should take head count. She explains things only to the tourists in the first row despite being given feedback by all tourists to use a microphone. Please do not take a tour with your guide Kaori and agency VIP tours.
Review provided by Viator
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August 2024
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