Private Tour
Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Kyoto is a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and well-preserved traditional Japanese culture. Our tours are designed to help visitors explore and appreciate the beauty of Kyoto while enjoying a fun and memorable experience.
As Kyoto’s famous landmarks are spread out—often requiring extensive walking, navigating hills, and locating hidden spots—a private tour by car offers a more comfortable and efficient way to explore the city.
Led by our knowledgeable guide, Riku, and organized by a dynamic young team, this tour is dedicated to creating unforgettable memories for every guest.
For tours departing from Kyoto, we will visit Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, Gion, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
For tours departing from Osaka, the itinerary includes Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
*Kindly be advised that the customer is responsible for covering the tour guide's entrance fees to the attractions, as well as any meal expenses, including lunch.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Parking Fare Gasoline Fare Expressway fare
English-Speaking Guides
Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Lunch fee when taking a break in each area
Admission to attractions
Kiyomizudera around 10 dollars
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji Temple is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Kinkakuji is famous for its stunning architecture, with the top two floors covered in gold leaf and beautifully reflected in the surrounding pond. Originally built in the 14th century as a retreat for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the temple was later converted into a temple. The gardens surrounding the temple were also carefully designed in detail to showcase the beauty of the traditional Japanese landscape. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a pleasant, natural tourist destination located in the western suburbs of Kyoto. The area has been a popular tourist destination since the Heian period (794-1185), when aristocrats enjoyed its natural surroundings. Arashiyama is especially popular in the fall for its autumn foliage and in the spring for its cherry blossoms. The Togetsu Bridge is the central trend mark of Arashiyama, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast river. Near the bridge, there is a boat pier, the famous bamboo grove street, many restaurants, and shopping for even the youngest visitors.
Options
Kyoto full day private tour
Pickup included
kyoto & Nara full day tour
Pickup included
Van Upgrade(6–9 Guests Only
Pickup included
Reviews
138 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour with Tatsu
Hooman H,
Oct 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great experience. My wife and I really enjoyed our tour with our guide, Tatsu. He picked a great selection for our one-day tour. We also requested a modification to the itinerary to take us to an authentic store for buying tea ceremony sets. Overall, a great day.
Kyoto in a day
kelley b,
Oct 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had an excellent day with Riku. We had one day in Kyoto and we saw all the highlights. He was an excellent guide and a lot of fun. He took us to a great ramen restaurant for lunch. We highly recommend this tour.
Wonderful Kyoto & Nara Private Tour with Riku
Erin M,
Oct 25, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had an amazing full-day private car tour of Kyoto (with the Nara option) guided by Riku. He was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and welcoming from start to finish. His English was excellent, which made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. Riku managed to fit so much into one day without it ever feeling rushed, we saw a lot of highlights and still had time to really enjoy each spot. His driving was excellent, and the car was comfortable and clean, making it easy to relax between stops. Riku shared so many interesting insights about the history, culture, and local life in both Kyoto and Nara, which made the day even more meaningful. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better way to explore these beautiful places. Highly recommend this tour, and especially Riku, if you want a personalised, efficient, and memorable experience in Kyoto and Nara!
Great Tour
Thalia G,
Oct 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00Riku was a fantastic guide, gave us insights into all the locations we visited and was always helpful. Our itinerary was always flexible to suit us. The ease of picking and dropping off from the hotel was convenient. Easy to talk to. Would highly recommend this tour. Thank you again Riku
A lovely way to cap off our time in Kyoto.
Sam H,
Oct 20, 2025
- Viator
5.00Today was our last day in Kyoto and we didnt have a lot of energy left so it was lively to be driven from place to place and having a guide who could show us the prettiest spots and explain the significance of what we were seeing. At Kasuga Taisha shrine in Nara, about a half an hour from Kyoto proper, the outer grounds of the shrine are occupied by hundreds of extremely tame deer who are not above rooting around in your pockets if they think you have food in there. After the shrine we had a lovely lunch at the kind of sushi restaurant you would never know about if a local didn't tell you. Then we visited the bamboo grove at Arashiyama, on Kyoto's northwest side. A light mist was falling which was both cool and pleasant, and lent the whole place a kind of ethereal quality. There was a special display of crafted bamboo decorations for the fall season. On the way to our final stop at the Fushimi Inari Shrine the weather cleared and produced the first rainbow I've seen in a couple years. It's too bad we hadn't already made it to the shrine because that would have been a much prettier backdrop but still. Don't look a gift rainbow in the pot. Our guide Shunsuke Nishio took excellent care of us and was particularly attentive to Lauren's mobility issues since the tour involved a lot if walking and stairs. Tomorrow we'll be getting back on the shinkansen to head back to Tokyo and our flight home. We're sad to say goodbye to the city that has treated us so well. The sights were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the people extremely friendly. Overall this was a lovely way to cap off our time in Kyoto.
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