Kyoto And Nara 1-day Bus Tour From Osaka Or Kyoto

It is an intense long tour with about 5 to 6 miles of walking with steps and inclines Great sights to visit especially if you have only a limted time in Kyoto However we were dissapointed with the guide ..she did not interact with the guests....she was aloof and distant. The audio on the bus was not comprehensible. We were left to find things for ourselves

There is too much here for one day. We were told about everything to see before we arrived at each destination only to be told we didn't have time to see much so had to hurry through. I'd suggest doing just Nara and the bamboo forest and maybe the gold temple but leave the rest. Our guide spoke English with such a heavy accent nobody could understand her, except for the constant reminders to be back at the bus on time. Rushing to a temple to see the sunset only to be told we didn't have time to see the sunset was very disappointing. It was so crowded we couldn't rush through any of the stops so we didn't get the experience we'd hoped for. If I was to go again, I'd do less and do it well enough to be able to really enjoy the experience.

The tourist guide is wonderful. Very knowledgeable and really proud of his job. I have learned a lot from him about Japan and history. Thank you so much for the stellar job. The driver was wonderful too. The ride was very smooth and I felt safe.

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.

A great tour. So many lovely things to see and experience. It was hot but manageable. Lunch was amazing!

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.

Gary was great! He made sure we all had a lovely time.

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!

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Kept us all engaged with his cultural insights.

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.

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.

Exhausting! Too much for one day and probably too long in some of the stops. Great guide tho who was very helpful.

A great way to see some key sights of Kyoto & Nara in a day. Our guide Eric was great, very friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend.

Our guide Gary was excellent. Very knowledgeable and accommodating of all the guests. The sites are worth visiting

This is a good way to hit all the main attractions in Kyoto. We spent 1-1.5 hours at each spot. This was perfect for my family. We are fairly young so we had no problem keeping up. We just wanted to see the spots, take some pics and not necessarily want to learn the attractions in depth…so it was perfect for us. Our guide Mike was friendly and accommodating. The pace may be a little fast for older folks (i.e. late 60s and over), but perfect for us. The Kobe beef lunch was very good.

Fantastic tour. Nick was our guide and he was wonderful, so knowledgable, funny, and attentive. We got to see the highlights of Osak with the convenience of being driven around everywhere. Nara Park was a personal highlight. A great way to spend a day! Loved!

It was a very informative tour with an excellent tour guide , Eric, who not only explained everything carefully, but also had a good sense of humour. We just felt the tour was a bit long for the winter season.

I joined this group tour as a solo traveler. The itinerary is good when you have only few days to stay in Japan. Our tour guide Harry is very friendly and approachable. I enjoyed this tour a lot because we had enough time to explore each and tourist spots that we visited. Highly recommended for all travelers.

This tour was well planned and included all the highlights needed to get a taste of the main tourist attractions that can often be hard to get to on public transport. Mike was our guide and along with the awesome driver we were always on time and had plenty of exploration time at each spot. We loved the Shabu-shabu lunch too! Do yourself a favour and book this tour!

This was a fun way to squeeze Kyoto in a day. The guide, Mike, was very knowledgeable and kept a loose leash which I appreciated. Many of the tourists in our bus had been to Japan before. I wanted to show my boyfriend Kyoto and turn my brain off. Once we got to a destination, he would give us a quick rundown and tell us when/where to be back. This helped feel like we were there on our own. If I come back with friends (who haven’t been) I would do this tour again.

Great cultural sites, plenty of time to see and experience different shrines and traditions!!! Our tour guide, Nick-San, was awesome who took time to get to know people and engage in friendly conversations! Love the Kobe beef shabu shabu! So delicious and worth the price! If walking is an issue for you, be cautious to sign up as there are a lot of walking on this tour! Also, the deers are so docile WHEN you don’t have the food that they want, which are crackers sold by the vendors. Deers will bite if you have the crackers they want! So don’t buy too much crackers if you don’t want to get bitten! Suggest to buy a little bit at a time.

The driver was extremely discriminating and rude to my husband. Ignored him when he asked for how to store his luggage until the tour guide had to come and do it for him. When we arrived back at the drop off the driver refused to get down and bring out our luggage from the truck. The tour guide had to yell at him and other passengers also did the same before he reluctantly came to bring it out from the truck. The tour guide was very professional but driver was extremely unprofessional and disengaged. And unwilling to even speak to us maybe because we are Africans. It was a big let down for a tour that would have been a nice one

I couldn't do the tour, they never contacted nor replied me, i asked for a refund but both it was refuses, what a scam.

It was a nicely paced tour with four stops. The guide was great! With brief information and directions, we were able to go off on our own.

Tour guide Garry is an absolute legend. He isn’t worth his weight in gold, he is worth 10x it!! The guy knows everything and is always willing to go well above good customer service. He truly made the tour a very memorable and lovely day. Cannot express my gratitude to tour guide Garry enough! All the best, James

Very nice tour, visiting multiple places in one day. The kobe beef lunch experience is a must from those departing from Osaka.

Great experience with Nick. He is very knowledgeable, funny, kind and caring. We had an awesome day visiting Nara and beautiful temples in Kyoto. Thumbs up!!

The tour was very good. Our guide, Nick was funny, considerate and helpful. We enjoyed Nara Park, temples in Kyoto and Arashiyama bamboo forest. It was extremely hot and a large group but Nick and our driver did an amazing job managing times. If you don’t have a lot of time in Kyoto this is an excellent way to see the main attractions.

This is a good tour that covers great spots. The Kobe beef lunch is outstanding! This tour is on a large bus; there is some explanation about the sites before you arrive at each destination. But when you get to the locations, you are left to wander on your own. If you like that, this is a good tour for you. If you prefer to learn more about the places you choose to visit, choose a privately-guided small tour. Also, if you are on a cruise, be aware that the return time may not be accurate. Based on the schedule listed, we thought we would be back in plenty of time to get back to our ship before “all aboard” time. As we prepared to go to the last site, we asked the guide when he anticipated we would get back to Osaka. It would be more than an hour later than the latest estimate on the website. We ended up having to leave the tour there and take a taxi back to Osaka from Kyoto…an expensive turn of events to get us back to the ship on time.

Met expectations. We hit Nara park, Fushimi inrai, Arashiyama and the golden temple in one day. It was a fast paced tour but doable.

Good but extremely busy sites/stops. Everyone was respectful of time although some stops required a little more time. Probably perfect for younger/athletic types

This is a must to do if you don’t want the hassle of planning a day trip. The tour was on a very strict schedule. So keep that in mind. It was very fast paced! No time to shop or sight see on your own. First stop, Nara Deer Park. Cute deer and then you can head towards the shrine to see the Buddha statue. You need to purchase ticket for that. ¥800. Not overly crowded here. Second stop, (if purchased, highly recommend, shabu shabu lunch). DELICIOUS!!! Next stop, Bamboo Forest. OMG!!! Crowded streets, pathway and everywhere else. Couldn’t walk without bumping into everyone there. Nothing really special here. Could have skipped this and maybe offered to see something better. Next stop, the golden temple. We only had 40 minutes there. So quickly take your picture of the Kinaku temple. One way traffic. This is where you can get the matcha soft serve ice cream before getting back on bus. We had 20 minutes to spare so we were able to enjoy our ice cream. Last stop, Fushimi Inari-taisha. Wow! Beautiful!!! Again, overcrowded and lots to see with limited time. The trip has lots of walking so be prepared. Overall, great experience. Just prepare yourself for the crowds. We were there on May 4, 2025, and Veggie Lin was our tour guide and she was great!

Beautiful tour! Got to see most of the major sites and the Kobe beef Shabu shabu lunch was amazing along with the experience. Veggie our tour guide was great and kind. I lost an umbrella and she shared hers with me until I bought another one. I’ve already recommended this tour to my sister and friends. Arigato Goizamasu🙏🏽🌸.

Went to all the right spots but timing wasn’t great and information shared was minimal. Tour should be longer to capture all sites.

Bus was nice, guide, useless, Chinese with badly spoken English, couldn’t understand what he said. Got stroppy if we sat in wrong seats. Never once waited for slower people to catch up, just went to beginning of destination, then dumped us. No information on anything we saw. Missed two areas because we were slow so we got lost. If you having difficulty walking then don’t go

We got to visit so many beautiful sites but felt a little rushed. This is a great option if you are time limited. The host did not speak great English so did not learn as much as I have on previous tours.

Although was a busy day with walking and time frames my guide (Harry) was nice, polite and very informative in regards to History. I liked that Harry gave us his whatsapp on the bus and any questions we had he responded ASAP. Best guide and the tour allowed for just the right amount of time at each location. I opted for lunch and the lunch was so nice and a great cultural experience. I do wish that I had more time at the Bamboo Forest, but happy I choose the lunch option.

This was a loaded day trip to the point it could have been two days. The Nara experience was incredible. You get the history of the Buddhist temple but for me the deer are the main attraction. I could have stayed there all day but my time was limited so I’m glad Paulo kept us on a strict schedule. Lunch was amazing. Hot pot is my favorite but getting to have Kobe beef was such a treat. Luckily I was with people who weren’t that into meat and I got their leftovers. 🤤🤤🤤 Someone on the tour was allergic to mushrooms, so maybe check you’re dietary restrictions in advance. Anyways the Torry gates (spell check?) were cool but I made the mistake of grabbing some food from a stall on the way and had to carry my trash like an idiot. Walk through the gates first then eat at the stands. Stay at the stand you eat at and then throw away your trash there… thems the rules. Bamboo forest was cool too. also a lot of opportunities to snack around there! Everywhere is super crowded because this trip takes you to the best spots, but they give you plenty of time to check it out. Paulo was awesome and put up with all my stupid questions. My only knock is that maybe the trip is too loaded and I was over-saturated. But that is kinda dumb to say because I’m glad we did all the things we did. The golden temple was probably what I would cut but it was still dope. I also shot 50% on the donation ‘buckets’ yeeeeeee

It was a good tour, and covered some of the key highlights of the Kyoto area. I particularly liked that the guide provided interesting commentary/information on the bus en route (rather than at the place), meaning that we were free to do as pleased at the places we visited, instead of having to move around slowly in a pack. The amount of time at each location was about right, I tend to move fairly quickly, but didn't feel I was missing out on anything, nor rushed at any place. It is probably worth having the tasty lunch offered as an extra, rather than the alternative of an extra hour of free time at the bamboo forest (which is incredibly busy and touristy). In some ways it was an efficient way to see everything, however it was a longer day than expected, leaving Osaka at 8am, and not returning until 7pm, so take this into account if you have further plans that day.

Great overall experience with the service and lunch offerings. The trip was completely comfortable and a great value.

We had a very full day - despite quite heavy rain at Miyajima. The history of Hiroshima was very interesting and painful .Our guide Masa was perfect and gave us a lot of insights in Japanese culture.

Visited most of popular attractions. The guide lady was nice and her English is good too. A little rush at the end of the day but it was because of traffic. Need instructions for VIP meet up place at the beginning of the day. We were early but did not know they posted lists of bus outside on the street

Absolutely a cheat, never thought will happen in Japan. We paid for the trip with Bamboo Forest and Kimono forest, the guide Cicy was rushing throughout. Most paid for without both the forest's, thus poor planning or group allocation. Kinda spoil my trip to Kyoto, Klook shld be responsible. The trip shld end at 6pm in Osaka, by 15.40 we are on board bus to Osaka, why can't she give another 1hr for us to stroll the forest's. Everything is a rush, not even allocated slot for proper lunch. Horrible, n pls improve. Would like to refund our paid fee? 

We wanted to see Arashiyama , Fushimi Inari Taisha and Nara Park all in one day . If visiting Osaka for a short time , this is a great day tour to visit all 3 places . It was a seamless trip with Gary as our tour guide . Very knowledgeable and organized with details . Would recommend him as a guide if booking this tour .

Sorry to say but our guide was not a very good guide. We could barely hear her and she constantly repeated herself about very random things. Such a how to make instant noodles, how much water costs at pharmacy, where she banks. And the most bizarre instance was when she was explaining something and an ambulance passed by and she stopped to tell us that was an ambulance. Where does she think we come from, of course we know what an ambulance is!!! Furthermore, very poor explanation of the places we visited and time at each place was very limited. Long walks from the bus with just enough time to take a couple pictures and had to head back.

Friendly and professional guides - English and Chinese speaking. Good value for money but be prepared for bus loads of tourists at each destination and a long day out.

Amazing scenic drive with very well spoken english guide. Gary was extremely knowledgeable about the history and provided in depth information about the sites we visited. Highly recommend his service to anyone visiting and taking this bus tour.

Golden Pavilion and Nara park, one breathtaking and another close to wild animals. No worries about traveling and scheduling.