Kyoto & Nara Day Trip - Golden Pavilion & Todaiji from Kyoto
Overview
Available languages
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This tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter as it visits the most famous sightseeing spots including World Heritage sites in Kyoto and Nara, such as Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Participants will surely enjoy this tour which takes an efficient trip around two historical cities. This is Sunrise Tours' most popular course in western Japan. Enjoy the view out the window from the suburbs of Kyoto to Nara. [Only for guests select Osaka Start & End Option]After a day filled with historical wonders, our assistant will escort you back to Osaka.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
As the Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed to visitors on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a holiday) and on days when there is an Imperial Household Agency event, the tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead. If the closed day falls on the 25th, the tour will visit Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.
Nijo Castle is closed on Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December, and from December 26 to January 3. (Closed on the following day if Tuesday is a holiday.) If closed, Ryoan-ji Temple will be visited instead.
Participants will walk from the parking lot to Todai-ji Temple (about 25 min one-way). Please inform us at the time of booking if any person in your group is using crutches or a wheelchair, or has a chronic illness that makes it difficult to walk for long distances.
Until December 2024, the tour will visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine but will not enter areas requiring admission. From January 2025, the tour will also enter the Main Sanctuary special visit area. However, in case the special visit area cannot be entered due to events or operational circumstances, the Kasuga Taisha Museum or Manyo Botanical Garden will be visited instead.
Refunds will not be issued in case the tour visits aforementioned alternative destinations.
The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations.
Seats may not be designated.
[Only for guests selected With Lunch option] Lunch will be a Western-style set menu. For those who would like a vegetarian meal, please make sure to inform us at the time of reservation. If requests are not provided in advance, same-day changes cannot be accepted. Halal, gluten-free, and other meal requests are not available.
For those who don't require lunch, please make a booking for the 'No Lunch' option. There will be time allotted for the Kyoto Station vicinity. Please purchase your own lunch.
Children up to 5 years old may join free of charge, but will not be provided with bus seats or lunch. If bus seats or lunch is required, please make a booking under the child rate.
Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour.
[Only applicable from 2025 for guests who selected Osaka Departure] Travel will be in the non-reserved seat section of the Tokaido Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Lunch (only if you select "With Lunch" option when booking)
National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter
Other admission fees and transportation costs included in the tour
Fees other than those listed in Includes
What To Expect
Nijo Castle
A World Heritage site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for the Tokugawa Shogun and as a palladium for Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see. The tour will not enter the Honmaru Palace and Painting Gallery. Please refer to "Information travelers need from you" regarding alternative destinations on the day of closure.
Kinkakuji Temple
A World Heritage site. The wooden architecture is covered in thin layers of pure gold and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.
Options
Osaka Start & End - With Lunch
End points: Tour ends at Osaka Namba station.
Starting point:
Hotel Granvia Osaka, 3-chōme-1-1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0001, Japan
Osaka Start & End - No Lunch
End points: Tour ends at Osaka Namba station.
Starting point:
Hotel Granvia Osaka, 3-chōme-1-1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0001, Japan
Kyoto Start & End - No Lunch
End points: Tour ends at Kyoto Station.
Starting point:
JTB SUNRISE TOURS DESK KYOTO, Japan, 601-8003 Kyoto, Minami Ward, Higashikujō Nishisannōchō, ３１ B1F AVANTI
Kyoto Start & End - With Lunch
End points: Tour ends at Kyoto Station.
Starting point:
JTB SUNRISE TOURS DESK KYOTO, Japan, 601-8003 Kyoto, Minami Ward, Higashikujō Nishisannōchō, ３１ B1F AVANTI
Reviews
442 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great trip
ardsat,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Momo our guide was great. All the places we went were heritage sites . Safety was addressed and times when we were all suppose I come back . Wet really enjoyed our excursion. Highly recommend this trip.
Must do
terim936,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was peaceful to see the deer everywhere. We saw the shrine and the temple was amazing. There was plenty of food and access to plumbed toilets.
Kyoto 2025
patriciacN6062HZ,
Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simple to find, easy to understand, and very helpful. Wish the tour was a bit long. But still very good. Would recommend.
It was everything good experience
Curious635456,
Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a good service tour I did the tour of kyoto day the only thing is we need more time I would do it one more time what family
A wonderful exploration of Kyoto's most famous sites combined with a peaceful trip to Nara
naumt,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an awesome day with our tour guide KC, who told us lots of very interesting stories and facts about our destinations. Everything was very punctual, KC always made sure to offer to take pictures for every group and it was never
Best day with Satchiko
S495QPjulias,
Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are on an 11-day trip to Japan and I think this was the best day of our entire tour. Seeing Mijo castle was absolutely incredible. The Golden Temple was amazing. The bowing deer of Nara was a dream come true. We were blown away by Todaiji Temple and Kasugataisha Shrine. We also saw the Imperial Palace which was spectacular. I feel like this tour managed to show us the most important historical sites of Japan in one day without being feeling too rushed. Satchiko was an absolutely fantastic guide. She was very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and kind and managed to keep the tour running like clockwork. She taught us some local Kyoto phrases and gave us a great historical overview. Not enough good things to say about this tour, it was an absolute dream. Just the best day.
Absolutely incredible tour
figt2021,
Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an incredible time on our Kyoto/Nara 1-day tour with Sachiko. She was a wonderful guide and it was easily one of the best days we had in Japan. Seeing Nijo Castle was remarkable and Sachiko was very knowledgeable, kind, and patient with us. Nara was a bucket list item for us and it really exceeded our expectations. If you are only in Kyoto for a short time, be sure to prioritize this tour. It gave us an amazing overview and we were blown away with the sites. This tour was 10/10. Highly recommend.
Great tour with great stops
Steven H,
Jul 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The one day tour is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time. All 5 stops were spectacular and the guide (KC) did a fantastic job of explaining everything. Of course, at each site you could spend many hours, but this was a great way to see a lot and learn a lot in Kyoto and Nara.
Our guide was excellent. Was very responsive to the needs of this variable group.
Pamela M,
May 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Enjoyable experience. Meet our needs & expectations. We were able to manage the lenght of the trip..
Great trip in Kyoto and Nara
S5149FJstephenw,
Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great trip. Very well organized, for example, the walk from the Nara bus station to the park is crowded and takes a few minutes - they had a guide in front and a guide behind to make sure we all made it! Our guide, Yuki-san, was very knowledgeable too.
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