Private Tour
Private Kyoto Customizable Day Tour with English Speaking Driver
Overview
Mobile ticket
Explore Kyoto in Comfort and Style!
Discover the timeless beauty of Kyoto on our exclusive, private day trip by car. Tailored just for you, we create a personalized itinerary based on your interests, allowing you to enjoy Kyoto’s iconic sights at your own pace. Visit renowned landmarks such as Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, and the tranquil bamboo forest of Arashiyama all in one day!
The itinerary can be customized based on your requests.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This experience includes an English-speaking driver
Special rides, cruises, and admission tickets aren’t included and can be purchased directly at each location.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Pick-up and Drop-off to Hotel
Pick-up options available from Osaka and Nara charging an additional fee.
English-Speaking Driver
Air-conditioned vehicle
Private transportation
Food not included
Admission tickets are not included. Travelers can purchase these directly at location.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
What To Expect
Arashiyama
Arashiyama, located in western Kyoto, Japan, is a picturesque district renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is best known for the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where visitors can walk through a mesmerizing pathway lined with towering bamboo stalks. The area is also home to the historic Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning gardens, and the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Arashiyama’s charm is especially captivating during the cherry blossom season in spring and the vibrant autumn foliage, making it a popular destination year-round.
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After his death, the villa was converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. The structure reflects a blend of traditional Japanese and Chinese architectural styles. Although the original building was destroyed by arson in 1950, it was rebuilt in 1955, with the top two floors covered in gold leaf, symbolizing purity and enlightenment.
Options
Pick-up and drop-off at Kyoto
Pick-up and drop-off at Kyoto
Pickup included
Reviews
53 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Day in Kyoto
DanaLee M,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our driver Chamara was great - very flexible. Took us everywhere we wanted and then some. Gave options when we had some stairs issues. Even took us grocery shopping. Great experience. Thoroughly enjoyed our day!
GREAT day tour!
katherinecQ5168ZJ,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a GREAT day with Yasith!! We saw so many awesome spots that made for perfect pictures. Yasith was very knowledgeable and extremely accommodating. Highly recommend!!
Wonderful day in Kyoto
Sandie B,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderful day in Kyoto with our guide Aka.. From the point of pick up Aka helped us create a perfect itinerary for the an amazing sightseeing tour around Kyoto. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient with us. Aka was very good at providing information about each of the stops so we knew exacrly what to expect before entering a temple.or shrine. He was great at taking photos and became one of the family whilst on tour. We had a great time and would highly recommend this tour!
Great way to see top sights in Kyoto in a day.
Daveen M,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is the best way to spend a day sightseeing in Kyoto! Our driver was Ravi. Request him! He customized the day based on our interests and recommended a great udon restaurant that locals go to. He gave us recommended times to help us pace ourselves and modified the plan when we asked about the Arashima monkey farm. He also provided thorough information about each site. Best of all, he took great photos at the best spots at each site. No selfies all day. Thank you Ravi for a great day in Kyoto!
Excellent private tour.
Diane M,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Having a car allowed us to see so much. Our private guide adapted our itinerary to our requests, and also gave us great recommendations. A memorable day.
Aka, you are the best. Thank you so much.
Luisa A,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an amazing experience on our tour with Aka. Aka was incredibly punctual, friendly, and patient with us, managing a big group of lively Latinos isn’t easy! He took beautiful photos, explained everything clearly, and even helped us organise the itinerary so we could visit most of the temples in one day without worrying about transportation. We absolutely loved it and highly recommend this tour!
Great experience and very accommodating guide!
Ting S,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Ravi was a great guide throughout the day. Provided insightful information about each site and even showed us videos of places that were inaccessible on the day of our visit (due to national holiday). He even went out of his way to drop us off at a shop that we really wanted to check out. Highly recommend!
Definitely recommend this option.
Kirsten P,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00So pleased we booked this tour as it was a really warm day so the aircon in the van was great. Malik picked us up and dropped us back to the hotel, so convenient. Malik helped us tailor a fabulous day out in Kyoto. We weren’t sure about the monkey park but it was great, worth the walk. Malik was very knowledgeable and personable.
Really wonderful tour...
Trevor B,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Really wonderful tour with Malik as our guide. He really took the time to be sure we were going at a pace comfortable for our group. We never felt rushed and we hit all of the highlights you would expect in a visit to Kyoto. Highly recommend a tour with Malik!
Great Tour Guide in Kyoto
Larry T,
Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Ravi did a great job with the tour. He went out of his way to get us some very creative photos and was patient as we explored the many interesting areas of Kyoto.
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Operated by SLJAPAN Tours