Top Kyoto Day Trips

Discover the historic environs of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, as you explore Buddhist temples, shrines and the famous Nara deer park on this excursion from Kyoto. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and home to the country’s largest Buddha statue, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that’s home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Kyoto hotels, a guide and all entrance fees.

Discover the history and religions of ancient Japan during this full-day exploration of Kyoto and Nara. See Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle, along with its Imperial Palace. Then drive from Kyoto to Nara to explore its own World Heritage Site, Todai-ji Temple (including Great Buddha Hall), plus Kasuga Shrine. You also visit Nara’s deer park and sample a Japanese and Western-style meal for lunch. Your Nara and Kyoto visit also includes a guide, vehicle transport, and all entrance fees.

Travel round-trip from Kyoto by high-speed bullet train to take in Hiroshima's historic sites, including exhibits about the 1945 atomic bomb that devastated the city. Start your visit on a lighter note, traveling by boat to Miyajima, a famously beautiful island that is home to the revered Itsukushima Shrine. Have lunch there, then return to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your expert guide shares important details about Hiroshima's heartbreaking history and remarkable recovery throughout this unforgettable tour.

Visit the enchanting district of Arashiyama, renowned for its thick bamboo groves, resident monkeys, and well-preserved sacred shrines. On this personalized excursion, you’ll join a local guide to explore the stunning region, which lies at the foothills of the Arashiyama Mountains. Tours include admission tickets to four local temples as well as Okochi Sanso Villa, a traditional Japanese home and garden inscribed as national cultural properties.

Enjoy tranquil lake view and farm-to-table country-style food, during this 6-hour trip. Pedal past sights like Shirahige Shrine and the nearby ‘Torii’ gate. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, take a scenic taxi ride to a mountain village in the nearby Hata district, enjoying a country-style lunch prepared by an ‘Obaachan’ (elderly woman), lively conversation and a chance to stroll the village's charming streets. A guide, bike and helmet, and lunch are covered.

Discover the Zen gardens, colorful temples, and ancient shrines of Kyoto on this small-group walking tour that’s limited to just 12 participants. Experience the elegant architecture and religious monuments of this historic Japanese city, once the imperial capital, as you join a guide on visits to the Gion Geisha district, Tofukuji Temple, and more.

Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of Kyoto on a full-day sightseeing tour. See the tranquil Kiyomizu Temple amid its verdant surroundings; absorb the Imperial majesty of Kyoto Imperial Palace; and stroll amid the botanical beauty of Kinkaku-ji Temple. Behold the beguiling beauty of the Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine and enrich your knowledge of Kyoto’s rich historical heritage with commentary from an informative guide. Moderate levels of fitness are advisable for this tour, on which a lot of walking occurs.

Discover Kyoto’s magical Gion district, which is known for being the city’s Geisha area. Don't worry about language barriers, as a guide is there to help you translate and explain the difference between maiko, geiko, and other Japanese words. The unmarked narrow streets of Gion can make it easy to get lost at night, but this is not a problem with a guide to navigate and lead the way. Upgrade to a longer, private tour for a closer look at Geisha culture.

Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations and with over 50 million annual visitors, it can get busy. This tour makes an early start so you can avoid the crowds and cram much more into your day. Stroll around the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the tour groups arrive, visit Kinkaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion) right as it opens, and walk through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari (Shrine) before the midday heat.

Marvel at the some of the top UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples and palaces of ancient Kyoto on this half-day tour. This quick introduction to the sights of Kyoto covers Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), and the Japanese Emperor’s former Imperial Palace—a perfect way to see the city if you’re short on time. Your guided morning Kyoto excursion includes entrance fees and transport between sites by vehicle.

Get an insiders' eye perspective on Kyoto on this walking tour that combines a food tour with anthropological insight. Wander through the city's streets and understand the nighttime entertainment scene, from geiko (geisha) to hostesses. Afterward, sample regional specialties accompanied by included drinks at standing bars/restaurants.

Spend some time getting acquainted with the food and culture of two historically important and beautiful districts of Kyoto on this guided walking tour. Stroll over the ninth-century Togetsukyo bridge and make stops to sample local snacks. After a visit to the 14th-century Tenryu-ji temple, head to a beautiful bamboo garden and indulge in some traditional Japanese sweets. This tour of Arashiyama and Sagano is a great way to get to know Kyoto.

Checkmark from your travel bucket list the main spots of the city on an extended tour of Kyoto and get to know the city like the back of your hand. All you have to do is trust your local guide, they got you and will show the best of their city. Your local guide has a jam-packed itinerary full of history, culture, stories, and sights. See must-sees of the city, plus get current recommendations about local hot spots, family owned eateries, and up and coming districts of Kyoto you must pay a visit. Yes, this tour is the city guide that will help you enjoy Kyoto in the best way possible. Withlocals Full Coverage City Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

During this full-day bike tour, you will learn about the most important aspects of the traditional culture of Kyoto, from Buddhist Zen temples, Shinto shrines to the geisha districts of Gion and Miyagawacho. You can experience both nature and culture in abundance. We move with our bikes on car-free trails and narrow lanes with little traffic. You can expect an impressive and extremely varied tour with many impressions that can only be experienced by bike. Let an expert for Japanese culture introduce you to the cultural background. Total distance is about 17 km on flat terrain with trekking or e-bikes in different sizes.

Osaka is a convenient base from which to explore the rest of Japan. Explore two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kyoto with ease on a hassle-free day trip from Osaka, the ideal choice for first-time visitors with limited time. You’ll experience a romantic train ride to Sagano, home to Arashiyama Park, and tick off the vivid Fushimi Inari Shrine without the hassle of traveling between landmarks alone.

Kyoto is the most famous tourist destination in Japan with plenty of wonderful sights to see. Here we offer a luxurious tour early in the morning that enables you to visit three of the most iconic tourist attractions in Kyoto. Enjoy the treasures of the former capital in a relaxing atmosphere thanks to fewer tourists compared to ordinary day-time tours. Be an early bird and avoid the crowd.

In this tour, you will enjoy Japanese nature including animals and landscape at the foot of Mt. Arashiyama which is located on the west side of Kyoto and famous for its scenic beauty. Once this district was open only to the nobles. Located not so far from central Kyoto, this natural environment has been very well maintained up to the present day. That’s why you can interact with wild monkeys very closely. In the afternoon, you will visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple), one of the most famous Zen temples in Japan that you won’t forget for the rest of your life.

Together with the No.1 sightseeing spot of Japan, Fushimi Inari Taisha in the fresh morning air, you can enjoy visiting representative spots of Nara as well. This tour offers you a glimpse at the highlights of both the two ancient capitals!

Together with the No.1 sightseeing spot of Japan, Fushimi Inari Taisha in the early morning, you can enjoy visiting representative spots of Nara as well. It is an efficient tour that is perfect if you wake up early from the time difference, if you want to visit Fushimi Inari with fewer tourists, or if you want to enjoy other activities in the afternoon.

Experience the nature and culture of Kyoto on this on this all-day guided excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, explore this UNESCO-designated city with a knowledgeable local driver as a your chauffeur. Customize the tour to suit your interests and visit must-see sites like the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest, the gorgeous Kinkakuji shrine, and the Gion district. • Explore Japan’s former capital city, Kyoto, on this all-day guided adventure • Discover Kyoto’s landmark temples, shrines and charming neighborhoods •Enjoy a customizable itinerary that can be crafted to suit your interests •Make the most of limited time with convenient hotel pickup and drop-off

This private and customizable tour for Kyoto is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

Experience the highlights of eastern Kyoto by train and on short walks, and let an expert with M.A. introduce studies in the history and culture of Kyoto in Japan. This type of transport gives you the opportunity to experience the most famous sights of Kyoto while feeling the pulse of local life. After a short train ride we reach the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its hundreds of scarlet shrine gates. Then we come to Manpuku-ji Temple, the main temple of the Obaku Zen School, which has retained a distinctive Chinese appearance; Uji is associated with green tea in Japan, and Fushimi is a traditional center for sake brewing . We visit the Sake Museum with sake wine tasting. The area of traditional sake breweries and has often served as a backdrop in films. The final walk through the geisha district of Gion and the old town of Kyoto rounds off this tour.

In this tour you will be able to discover the true root of Kobe Beef, the Tajima Beef. Did you know that the most highest ranking Tajima Beef can acquire the branding of Kobe Beef, meaning that Tajima Beef is the true origin of Kobe Beef. This is why in some places there are people and business that would use the name of Tajima Beef rather than Kobe beef. The roots of all Japanese beef "Wagyu", all starts from the Tajiri-gou. The Tajiri-gou is a cow raised by the founder of Tajima beef, Tajiri Matsuo he raised Tajiri with superior gene cow that makes up 99.9% of the current Japanese Black cows in Japan. All the famous Wagyu beef mostly all have the genes from Tajiri-gou. With this tour you will be able to explore around the beautiful area of Kamicho in Hyogo Prefecture with a bicycle and learn about the deep history roots of Wagyu beef. Of course you will be able to enjoy eating this high graded beef as well, this experience will be good for both your mind and your stomach as well!

Upon ascending Mt. Kuruma, you will find a wealth of magical temples, relaxing onsens and hiking paths through lush green cedar forests. Mt. Kurama is a very historical area, known for being the birthplace of reiki (a healing technique) and home to the tengu, Japanese folklore creatures said to be the protectors of the natural world. You will leisurely walk from Kurama to the quaint mountain village of Kibune, stopping to see various sights along the way. It is the perfect trip for those wishing to get out of the city and enjoy some easy hiking in the nature.