Kyoto Private Customizable Day Trip With English Chauffeur

Great day and opportunity to see the best attractions in one day. The guide was knowledgeable and very helpful.

We had a wonderful day exploring Kyoto! Our English-speaking chauffeur was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. The itinerary was flexible, and we enjoyed visiting beautiful places at our own pace. A comfortable, stress-free experience and highly recommended!

We were extremely happy with the service we booked, especially with Dhanu, our driver, who spent the whole day with us. He was absolutely lovely, always making sure we were comfortable and paying attention to our preferences. He was also very flexible and happy to change the route whenever needed. We had an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend him to everyone!

We had an excellent experience with ABC Travels in Kyoto, thanks especially to our driver, Dhanu. We had expected a chauffeur who spoke English and could help us navigate the area, but Dhanu provided so much more. He went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and well cared for throughout the day. He accompanied us at several stops, shared interesting information about the places we visited, and provided guidance that went well beyond what we expected. He is a warm, personable young man who genuinely seemed to care about making our day enjoyable. Our one disappointment was with the vehicle itself. Although it was a clean and luxury car, the rear passenger windows were so heavily tinted that it was difficult to enjoy the scenery unless we opened them. Visibility was especially limited from the seats farther back, which could be uncomfortable for a larger group. We understand the tinting helps keep the vehicle cool, but for a sightseeing tour, being able to see the surroundings is important. This was certainly not Dhanu’s fault, but something the company might want to reconsider. Overall, we had a wonderful experience, and Dhanu deserves special recognition for his exceptional service. He truly exceeded our expectations!

The tour of Kyoto is terrific. We had a wonderful time under the guidance and excellent smooth driving of Akii our guide. He provided lots of information, full of fascinating historical facts and interesting anecdotes while driving between at all the amazing destinations. Very highly recommended.

What an amazing day in Kyoto! Danu picked us up from our hotel, in a lovely comfortable car, adjusted the itinerary to suit us. We saw so many places in the one day. One more beautiful than the other. He gave us our time to explore and advised us along the way. Danu is an expert with the camera and best spots to take photos! Definitely one of our highlights in Japan!

A wonderful day touring Kyoto with our absolutely terrific driver and brilliant guide Akii. He made the day really perfect with his smooth and calm driving and was full of information about Kyoto and Japan during the trips between our destinations. He came with us into each temple, shrine, and gardens and provided a terrific background story for each place, full of historical facts and interesting anecdotes. He also went out of his way to help us find a great place for lunch. We highly recommend Akii and this wonderful tour around Kyoto.

Ara was a great guide, very knowledgeable and patient. He was very open to adjusting our itinerary to suit us, also a great driver.

We booked a standard tour of Kyoto's most popular sites with Shahbaz Khan, and got much more. He opened doors to countless behind-the-scenes opportunities we never would have found on our own. It's rare to find a guide this knowledgeable, let alone one who's also a PhD in Physics. Highly recommended.

Shan was our driver and tour guide. We were traveling with elderly parents including one in a wheelchair. Shan was very patient and accommodating. We got to see highlights of Kyoto at our own pace. Would recommend this tour.

Great tour and tour guide. It rained but it did not stop us from seeing the sites. Missed out on one site but did not mind! Dhanu took great pictures and helped us manage our time at each site. Would recommend

Great trip! Our guide Dhanu was great. Took amazing photos. Made good recommendations

Shan is an incredible tour guide! He has so much knowledge and is super friendly! He allowed us to tailor the tour to fit our needs and we felt we got to see all the key sites in Kyoto! I highly recommend this tour!

What a great decision to book a tour with Shan, of Origami travels through Viator. We had one long day in port in Kobe Japan and originally thought we would train to Kyoto and DIY the sites. So happy we didn't. Shan picked us up and returned us to the ship, while making the most of the time we had in Kyoto. He made sure we hit the most important sites while transporting us in comfort and getting us much closer to entrance points than any tour bus. We stayed as long as we wanted but no longer than necessary. He took wonderful group photos for us and shared his knowledge of each site with us. We could never have seen as much as we did without Shan. The tour was a great value with more coverage at half the cost of a cruise ship tour. Thanks so much for a lovely day in Kyoto Shan!

Our tour guide Ara was amazing. He was very knowledgeable about the sites in Kyoto and his knowledge of Buddhism gave us a much better understanding of the culture. He was flexible and helped us resolve numerous personal issues that arose during the day. I would highly recommend Ara as a tour guide in the future. He is patient, helpful, friendly and very informative. Thank you Ara

We had an excellent full-day experience in Kyoto with Dhanu as our chauffeur and guide. His extensive knowledge of Kyoto’s history, combined with his experience guiding international visitors, made a tremendous difference to our day. Dhanu knew exactly how to organize our time so that in just one day we were able to see an incredible number of temples, pagodas, and other fascinating places without ever feeling rushed. More importantly, he didn’t simply drive us from one attraction to another—he explained the history, traditions, and significance of what we were seeing, which gave us a much deeper understanding and appreciation of Kyoto. He was professional, knowledgeable, patient, and very pleasant to spend the day with. We finished the tour amazed by how much we had seen and learned in such a short time. We highly recommend Dhanu to anyone visiting Kyoto, especially those who want to experience much more than just the typical tourist sights. An excellent guide and chauffeur and a truly memorable day. Vaidas and Sonata. Canada

We had an excellent full-day experience in Kyoto with Dhanu as our chauffeur and guide. His extensive knowledge of Kyoto’s history, combined with his experience guiding international visitors, made a tremendous difference to our day. Dhanu knew exactly how to organize our time so that in just one day we were able to see an incredible number of temples, pagodas, and other fascinating places without ever feeling rushed. More importantly, he didn’t simply drive us from one attraction to another—he explained the history, traditions, and significance of what we were seeing, which gave us a much deeper understanding and appreciation of Kyoto. He was professional, knowledgeable, patient, and very pleasant to spend the day with. We finished the tour amazed by how much we had seen and learned in such a short time. We highly recommend Dhanu to anyone visiting Kyoto, especially those who want to experience much more than just the typical tourist sights. An excellent guide and chauffeur and a truly memorable day. Vaidas and Sonata. Canada

Tour with Sam was great ! He was so helpful showing us everything and all the best spots . Great experience would definitely recommend him and the tour was perfect

A big thank you to our driver and Dhanu who was very knowledgeable, helpful and accommodating. Dhanu was on time at pickup and went out of his way to ensure our day was both smooth and memorable. I can highly recommend Dhanu and Viatour for this great experience.

It was a wonderful day! We loved Sanka our guide! He made sure we went to all the sites we had planned and then since he knew my husband loves gardening he took us to the beautiful Sanzen-in temple! Thank you for the memories!

Dhanu was a wonderful guide and though it was extremely hot, we made the most of our day. Our guide toured us through the major sites in Kyoto and was very knowledgeable. He also took wonderful artistic pictures of our group and knew the best photo op spots. He was also well versed with Japan’s history and the sites we visited.

We had the absolute best experience with our tour guide, Dhanu! He was extremely knowledgeable, informative, and took the time to answer every question we had throughout the day. He made us feel comfortable from the very beginning and shared so much interesting information about the places we visited, which made the entire experience even more meaningful. Dhanu was friendly, patient, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure we had a wonderful time. He never made the tour feel rushed and made the whole experience fun and enjoyable for our family. Having such a great guide truly made a difference and turned an already amazing tour into one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. We are so grateful for the experience and would absolutely recommend Dhanu to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, personable, and outstanding tour guide. Thank you, Dhanu, for helping make such wonderful memories for our family!

We had the absolute best experience with our tour guide, Dhanu! He was extremely knowledgeable, informative, and took the time to answer every question we had throughout the day. He made us feel comfortable from the very beginning and shared so much interesting information about the places we visited, which made the entire experience even more meaningful. Dhanu was friendly, patient, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure we had a wonderful time. He never made the tour feel rushed and made the whole experience fun and enjoyable for our family. Having such a great guide truly made a difference and turned an already amazing tour into one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. We are so grateful for the experience and would absolutely recommend Dhanu to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, personable, and outstanding tour guide. Thank you, Dhanu, for helping make such wonderful memories for our family!

Great experience. Very knowledgeable, polite, patient and helpful

Sanka was our driver/guide. He was excellent at showing us around various attractions in Kyoto. We were able to squeeze many sites despite the hot summer temperatures. The price of the tour was also reasonable. Highly recommend this tour!

Great experience, we did a lot of top tourist destinations in one day.

Traveling with 3 generations from 80 to 13 years old and needed the convenience to move at grandma’s pace + the ability to accommodate her due to the high temperatures. Decided it was worth it to splurge last minute for Kyoto sight seeing. Our driver was Dhanu and he exceeded our expectations. He was familiar w the confusing streets and parking, actively coordinated with us especially as our plans changed (mid-way, ended up dropping grandma back at the hotel), provided tour guide level information which fast tracked us to where we needed to go rather than fumbling and looking for entry points, even took pictures for us! Most importantly, he was non-pushy, patient, gave space as appropriate while attentive (not on his phone or distracted), literally like a concierge service. .

Traveling with a 6-year-old means the pace can be unpredictable, but Dhanu was incredibly patient and accommodating throughout the day. He even took the time to interact with my son every now and then, which kept him happy and engaged during our tour. Unlike many other drivers or tour guides, Dhanu accompanied us at every stop instead of simply dropping us off. He pointed out the best photo spots, helped us take beautiful family pictures, and shared interesting information along the way. His kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail made our Kyoto trip even more memorable. I would definitely request Dhanu again the next time we visit Kyoto.

We had an incredible two days with Dhanu! Initially, we had only planned for one day, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time so much that we asked him to guide us on a second day. He made it incredibly easy and relaxing to explore the bustling and popular sites of Kyoto. He also introduced us to some hidden gems that we would never have discovered on our own. Dhanu was incredibly accommodating of our diverse group preferences. We had six people of varying ages (30-81 years old), fitness levels, and interests, and he ensured that we visited sites that suited everyone’s abilities and interests. Dhanu provided a much-needed respite from navigating the crowded urban transportation system as a group. Not only was his car clean and comfortable, but it was also a welcome relief from the scorching heat. We covered far more ground in Kyoto (and beyond) than we would have on our own! I would highly recommend Dhanu for his exceptional guiding and transportation services. He is an asset to any group looking to explore Kyoto!

Dhanu was an excellent driver! He was patient with is and even made practical suggestions to help us enjoy our trip. We had a great time!

Sam picked us up at the ship terminal and provided a complete day of touring Kyoto! We visited many sites and Sam stayed with us at each one and shared interesting facts! Sam is a “ natural photographer “ and took many creative photos of us. He also took us to a wonderful local restaurant for lunch. It is our hope to return to Kyoto again in the future and be guided by Sam!

Had such an awesome experience traveling around Kyoto, learned a lot and saw the best of the best spots, giving our gratitude to Dhanu for giving us such an easygoing experience for the whole family and even filling in an extra spot for us in the end!

Our driver, Dhanu, while quite pleasant, was quite unprepared for our visit. As compared to a Viator trip with two additional guests in Tokyo earlier in the week (and all of the other Viator tours we have taken over the years), the was a vast disappointment. Granted it was very hot in Kyoto, but our guide was not able to reasonably answer questions related to some of the areas that we were visiting. In particular, we specifically wanted to see the snow monkeys, but his description of the climb up the large hill did not begin to describe how arduous it was. And this was at the beginning of the day. In addition, there was holiday activity in the center of town which precluded vehicle traffic. It meant that one of the activities proposed in the Viator description was not possible. The problem was not going to the market precluded any shopping during the day. It is not that we did not see a lot of interesting monuments and locations. However, our guide seemed oblivious to our discomfort. The vehicle’s air conditioning was insufficient in the heat. And we were frequently in a burning sun without protection (we had traveled for the day from Tokyo arriving at 8:00 am). The guide did not provide umbrellas for protection (we were suncreened but reapplication is difficult if one is overheated). There appeared to be little recognition of our needs. Towards lunchtime, and then as Dhanu left us at the train station, he could only provide us with vague suggestions for places to eat a meal. We are not saying that we did not enjoy what we did, our guide provided little benefit.

This is a great tour that hits all the highlights of Kyoto and it is very flexible, so you can modify it as you wish. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour.

We had such a wonderful day with Yash! We took a customized tour to Kyoto and Yash was very knowledgeable. Not only would I recommend this tour, but I would recommend requesting Yash as your guide. Sweltering over 100° we got into a beautifully air-conditioned vehicle. Yash was also a highly skilled photographer and our photos came out great.

We had an amazing experience with Dhanu! He was incredibly kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. He created a fantastic itinerary that allowed us to see the very best of Kyoto and Nara in just two days without ever feeling rushed. Everything was well organized, and his comfortable van made traveling between destinations easy and stress-free. Dhanu was flexible, accommodating, and shared great local insights throughout the tour. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. If you’re looking for someone who can help you make the most of your time in Kyoto and Nara, we highly recommend Dhanu. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!

We had an incredible experience exploring Kyoto with Dhanu as our tour guide. Dhanu shared fascinating stories and historical insights at every stop while keeping the tour engaging and enjoyable. He was patient, approachable, and always happy to answer our questions. His local knowledge and thoughtful recommendations for food and hidden gems made our visit even more memorable. The tour was perfectly organized and paced, allowing us to fully appreciate Kyoto’s beautiful temples, gardens, and traditions without ever feeling rushed. Thank you, Dhanu for making our time in Kyoto such a wonderful experience.

It was a great experience! The itinerary had plenty of time to spend at each location and recommended lunch location was very enjoyable.

The excursion was absolutely amazing. Our tour guide, Shaun, was very warm, pleasant, and informative. He was very knowledgeable about the sites and we felt right at home with him. The tour is well worth it as it highlights the main points of Kyoto especially if you’re on a time crunch.

The traveling is very smooth since Sanca takes care of the driving and parking. Each seat is air conditioned. Sanca explains the history and importance of each temple. He walks with you so you have a photographer and guide all the time!

Had a great tour of Kyoto and Nara with Dhanu. He communicated before the tour, was very accommodating with a grumpy little one, knew all the best spots for pictures, and was very knowledgeable about the history of the shrines and temples.

Dhanu, our driver and guide, was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable of local customs and modified his standard itinerary to match our needs. We visited several beautiful temples and shrines, and whenever we passed one that he thought may interest us, he identified it and shared a brief history. We came away from the experience tired from the full day of exploring, but also energized by the beauty and improved cultural respect.

Great way to explore Kyoto in half a day. We saw everything we wanted to see hassle free. Our guide was patient, caring and helpful. He provided great information about each of the sights. We are grateful for the experience

We didn't have much time but managed to see the highlights in one day. Our guide was knowledgeable and efficient even managing to find a great stop for lunch.

We had an excellent experience with our driving tour guide in Japan. From the very beginning, they took the time to understand exactly what we wanted to see and tailored the itinerary to suit our interests perfectly. The tour was well organised, flexible, and stress-free, allowing us to visit places we may never have discovered on our own. Their local knowledge was invaluable, and they were always happy to answer questions and share interesting insights about the areas we visited. The vehicle was comfortable, driving was safe and professional, and the entire day ran smoothly. What really stood out was their willingness to adapt the tour along the way, ensuring we got the most out of our time and saw the sights that mattered most to us. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan who wants a personalised experience rather than a standard, one-size-fits-all itinerary. Thank you for helping make our trip so memorable.

We had an awesome time with Shan. He was so knowledgeable about the areas we told him the kind of shops and presents. We wanted to get our friends and family and the type of things we wanted to get and he brought us to those types of stores he always looked after our young children and showed us all the great spots. We appreciate him and we would recommend him to anybody else that we would like to come to Kyoto.

This was The Best use of our time and money to enjoy Kyoto highlights on a short (any!) visit. Our driver/guide, Shaan, was extremely kind, flexible and helpful. We were able to access many of our stops at less crowded areas/times. Shaan noted excellent vantage points & took family photos for us at many locations. We enjoyed great peace of mind with him handling the transport/traffic/parking. Shaan also shared insights & history that added to our happy memories in Kyoto. We couldn’t have done/seen/appreciated near as much without him.

The best trip ever. Private, comfortable and our guide, Dhanu, is the best. He explains us everything, help us to understand the whole trip, Washington kind, respectful and an excellent photographer.

Wonderful experience exploring Kyoto with our tour guide Shan. He was very respectful and adjusting. Despite bad weather we were able to see most of the major attractions. His car was very clean and comfortable.