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.
This tour was amazing. So many of the highlights are included and our guide, Harid, was awesome! He was very knowledgeable and informative and we learned so much from him. Would definitely recommend.
Moana was an amazing tour guide. Felt like we have lots of time to roam around and not constantly follow a guide. But she was very informative through the WhatsApp and on the bus. Lots of things to see during this tour. It was $55 per person. Not bad for a full day event. I would recommend for friends and family to book. We had lots of fun and ate lots of food at the random kiosk and venue.
Tiring, but very interesting tour. Hit a lot of Kyoto’s hot spots in one day. Nick was. A fantastic guide. He was funny and very knowledgeable about all the sites!
First our guide, Amanda didnt give us clear itinerary, or reasons for changing itinerary. For a moment I was confused if I chose the wrong trip. She didn't wait for everyone (about 45 people) getting off the bus. She set off to the road while we were still getting off and she didn't even check if everyone followed. And there were rude people who talked so loud in their language on the speaker phone in the bus, it was really annoying and discomfort.
This was a great tour. There were quite a few experiences included in this one tour, and we had time to enjoy them all. Our guide Harrid was really cool he, had my daughter and I laughing most of the day he made the tour even more fun.
This was a long tour and we saw many different places which was fabulous. The guide was very knowledgeable and made everyone laugh so we enjoyed the trip a lot.
We had nick liu as our guide and let me tell you... he MADE the experience even better! What an extremely funny and smart tour guide! Gave us so much facts about the tours and about the culture itself . We would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone thinking about booking it.
They need a lot of work when it comes to logistics: i.e. meeting and pick up details, including pre-activity information. I only went as far as waiting at the pick up location 30 mins early. Went into the waiting area where other trips would pick up people going to other places. The lounge people will only announce a “bus number” - wth! I was told to go outside, in the rain and ask the said bus if I’m supposed to ride it. Naturally, I didn’t coz it was not in the instructions. A second bus got announced and I was the only one left. I also asked the people working there and that the bus was delayed. I called the tour operator after 40 mins since they only started office hours 30 mins after pick up time. The conversation turned up having to prove I was not late showing up because I was asked to send a picture of myself being in the station on time?! WTF
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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
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!
My guide person Koji was very knowledgeable timely and hilarious he assured everyone’s safety and accounted for and kept everyone on the itternary
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! 🇯🇵✨
The tour provided a good overview of the places we visited. The use of a bus/coach was comfortable, and the optional individual hot pot lunch. We had the Kobe Beef Shabu-shabu and it was very good. The meeting point was a bit chaotic due to overcrowding on a small street and lack of clear signs or personnel giving instructions. This location is used by multiple tour operators, so arrive at least 15 minutes earlier. The tour guide was knowledgeable and provided a description of the places we visited while on the bus. This is not a tour where the tour guide travel with the group around the difference places. This tour provided enough time at each tourist attraction to have an independent good overview.
Great value trip, great iteniary, less guided, more free roaming personal experience in each location
It was a great experience, the guide Koji was really informative, funny and nice and made the experience better. The places we went were beautiful and we had enough time to enjoy the scenery, visit shrines/temples, eat snacks and take pictures. The included lunch was delicious! Overall a wonderful day, would totally recommend!
I realized soon on that I had booked the wrong trip for what I wanted. Nara only took up a little over an hour of the trip. The lunch is worth signing up for. The two Kyoto stops later in the day are must sees although I had already been there. I wish I had paid closer attention when booking and found one that went direct to Nara from Osaka.
Our guide spoke very fast and English as a second language so hard to understand at times - showed photos but only to the first few rows in the bus so couldn’t see what he talked about. Kept talking about being on time and how Japanese people are always super earlier and make sure you’re on time otherwise the whole day will be ruined - we’re not preschoolers having to remind us over and over again. Probably my worst trip booked through Viator - wouldn’t recommend
Get ready to walk, lots of places to explore. Nice experience if you got the lunch package. Don't miss the Bamboo forest, the Monkey forest and the Kimono Garden in Arashiyama.
Our guide Yuki was very knowledgeable and paid attention to all of us. He was very helpful and patient.
We had a wonderful trip, the tour guy was amazing, he explained everything to us , he was very friendly and helpful, we love him
Overall trip was satisfactory but more information about travelling spots would have helped more. So ok.
We have bad experience. We went temple and got late and coach left and we have to find alternative transportation . But good tour
Excellent overview of the Kyoto highlights. We went as a family ... myself, my parents, my grandmother, and uncle. Nick-san was our guide and he was fantastic. Funny, charming, and incredibly knowledgable about the area. The included lunch was delicious, and even better that it was in an authentic setting. Would highly, highly recommend this tour.
Knowledgeable guide Koji, friendly and punctual. Group was well organized, on time, and had a good bus driver as well. Hit 4 of the famous tourist spots with ease with enough time.
An OK day. No fault of the operator but there is a lot of walking involved on this trip which due to an injury I couldn't handle. Also a lot of time on the coach. Saw nothing of Kyoto itself. A knowledgeable and pleasant guide. Glad we had the optional lunch, a brilliant shabushabu!
This is a full day trip that was very educational and lots to see. Our tour guide was Gary. He was very informative and you can tell he really cares about creating a good experience for tourists. I highly recommend the wagu beef lunch. It was so good. This trip is a must in your list
Our Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara day trip with Gary was absolutely outstanding. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, and every place we visited was beautiful, memorable, and truly worth the trip. From Osaka to the cultural richness of Kyoto and the charm of Nara, each stop offered something unique and unforgettable. Gary is a fantastic tour guide—friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly well-organized. He shared insightful stories and helpful information throughout the day, making the experience not only enjoyable but also enriching. His warm personality made everyone feel comfortable and well taken care of. The bus was another highlight: clean, comfortable, and very smooth, which made traveling between destinations relaxing and stress-free. I highly recommend this tour to anyone planning to explore Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. And if you have the chance, definitely go with Gary—you’ll be in great hands!
I had an amazing experience in Kyoto thanks to Gary, my tour guide. He is incredibly friendly and welcoming, making everyone feel comfortable from the very start. What really stood out was how respectful he is toward everyone, which created such a positive and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the tour. Gary is also very knowledgeable about Kyoto—he shared fascinating insights and stories that made each place come alive. It’s clear he is well-prepared and truly passionate about what he does. Whenever we had questions or needed help, he was always ready to assist with a smile. I highly recommend Gary to anyone visiting Kyoto. He will make your trip more meaningful, smooth, and memorable!
We were happy to take this tour because we were able to go from Osaka with our luggage and visit Nara and other sites and were able to get dropped off in Kyoto. The tour was great!
Was such a great day. Four of us went, the places were great, was fast paced and the lunch spot was delicious. Harry was brilliant, informative, funny and friendly.
Harri our tour guide was great. He was knowledgeable, brought energy and very friendly. He deserves 5 stars and more! However, the time wasted for a team to join us due to a late booking a night before , meant that we wasted 45 mins to 1 hour at Nara and we didn’t even get entry tickets to the Todai-ji temple. This could have made up for delaying us. It is little gestures that show consideration and respect for our time wasted. Also, consider investing in a system that prevents next day bookings after a set time. For those reading this review, if you are taking off from Kyoto, don’t even attempt to plan anything that has a start time earlier than 7:30pm. I can’t even advise those taking off from Osaka. I had to miss the final tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine because we did not get there until almost 6pm and I had a show to attend for 7pm! In summary, great points for Harri and lots to improve on by the company.
Tour guide was excellent and well informed. Needed alittle more time to shop in Kyoto. I would extend time a half hour to get more free time for shopping. Other than that it was a great tour Would do it again.
We had been an a cruise to Japan from Singapore and only had 2 days in Osaka before flying home so we wanted to make the most of our time in the region. This tour ticked all the boxes of places we wanted to see, We thoroughly enjoyed all the places we visited. We had opted out of the tour lunch so we had more time to explore the old town and we had some great street food instead. Our guide Mike was good, very friendly and organised, but we would have liked more information from him. The first part of the trip from Osaka to Kyoto to pick up more passengers was in silence and it would have enhanced our experience if Mike could have told us what we were seeing and perhaps some general information about the region and its history and culture.
Tour was well thought out and organized. Had about an hour to 1 1/2 hour at each location to explore and do your own thing.
Our family loved this day trip. Tweens were interested and intrigued. Just a taste of everything. Next time we will need to spend more time to enjoy the culture and activities more.
My husband and I really enjoyed our tour with Gary. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, accommodating and kind. He immediately understood what my husband and I needed from the tour and helped meet them. I really wanted to visit the Todai Ji temple. He gave us several options and let us decide which option was best for us. He was super accommodating with taking our pictures too. He took the time to explain how to cook and eat our beef sukiyaki, which was really good. The tour is one of the highlights of our 17-day visit to Japan. It was a really great value!!! Thank you, Gary!!! Keep up the amazing job!!! Alden and Maria USA
Harry was a fantastic guide. Very informative and friendly. It was great to fit so many sights into one tour. The optional lunch is a must, so delicious!
We enjoyed feeding the deers, make sure you do not run as the deer will chase you for the food. The temples are garden are beautiful, even in the rain
The Trip was set forth by a morning walk in a Park. The Guide was very approachable and straight forward, and we visited some of the scenic spots in Japan.
Had a fun day with Nick as the tour guide! This bus tour is a great option to visit several places in one day without a vehicle.
Gary was a great guide. Gave us very insightful Japanese traditions that added to the entire experience. Great locations, and an amazing time. Thank you Gary
My husband and I had a great time on the tour. Our guide, Hary, was great! All four stops are unforgettable places that you shouldn't miss on a trip to Kyoto. I did realize after that if we had opted out of lunch we could have had fun getting street food in Arashiyama. So if you're doing the tour you may want to chose the no lunch option so you can have fun trying all the treats on the street instead.
I usually avoid guided tours, but this one completely changed my mind, largely thanks to Nick. His explanations added real depth to the day, especially at Todai-ji Temple in Nara, where his storytelling and historical context made the visit genuinely memorable. It was a very busy, tourist heavy day, but Nick knew exactly how to steer us towards quieter corners and lesser known spots, which made a huge difference. The itinerary was packed in the best possible way: Nara and its deer, Todai-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari, the Golden Pavilion, and the Arashiyama bamboo grove. The bus ride was comfortable and relaxed, and the shabu-shabu lunch was surprisingly good. We saw and did an incredible amount in one day without it ever feeling rushed. The absolute highlight for me was Todai-ji Temple, closely followed by Nick’s humor, which kept the whole group engaged and smiling throughout the day. An excellent tour and a genuinely great experience.
Great way to see the major sights. Bus trip was very comfortable and the guide was very knowledgeable.
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