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

Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto

7 Seikanji Ryozan Cho, Higashiyama Ward Kyoto Japan

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.

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Not Included

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.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Options

Pick-up and drop-off at Kyoto

Pick-up and drop-off at Kyoto
Pickup included

Reviews

4.85

67 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Enjoyed our day!
Katherine W,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Dhanou was our driver for the day and laid out an itinerary to see the best of Kyoto in a day. My husband, 2 sons and I really enjoyed the sites and got to learn about what we were seeing and soak in the beauty of Kyoto. I liked that we got to explore some of the sites on our own; Dhanou walked with us on other sites and got the greatest family photos for us. Recommend, especially if you want to get the major sites seen in a day!
No recommend, you can do...
Vilma S,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
No recommend, you can do it in your own for less. The driver, excellent, respectful. But his planning for the day was very poor, he doesn't have to much knowledge about the places or the history. We were late to one of the exhibitions, it was close already. He was supposed to know that we were running late. Even we skept the market visit.
Our family of six adults,...
Nicole T,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our family of six adults, with three men who are above six feet in height, fit nicely into the large minivan provided by the tour company. Our guide was polite and helpful, but not too chatty. We communicated on WhatsApp to coordinate all the drop offs/picks ups. They provide a standard itinerary but you can make changes if needed, just be sure to let them know early enough. The experience was great for getting us close to all the attractions and seeing all the best sites around the city. We only had one full day here, and this was a great option for exploring in comfort.
Kyoto tour
justinemZ6039PQ,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fun and easy way in getting to most of the attractions in Kyoto. We weren’t able to visit all that in the checklists but we did all the major places we want to see. Our tour guide Shan went far and beyond to make sure we’re happy with the tour. He even took us to a kura sushi which is a revolving type of sushi restaurant that our teenagers appreciated very much. We had a wonderful time and absolutely enjoyed every second!
Excellent full day in Kyoto
William M,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent day in Kyoto with our guide Dhanu. He was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and worked hard and successfully to get us to the places we wanted to see (as well as adding in a very good addition that had not been on our radar screen). We were very happy we booked this tour.
Just excellent
Ajc110088,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent. Our English guide and driver was exceptional. Kept us comfortable like a son and had good time with him. God bless Malik our guide with all the success in life
Highly recommend Udara!
Tracey L,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a fun and relaxing day seeing the sights of Kyoto with Udara. I would highly recommend this tour, especially if you are short of time.
Beautiful Osaka and Amazing Experience
Katepsych,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an amazing day visiting so much of what beautiful Kyoto has to offer. Our driver was so patient and attentive, helping me get the best autumn photos. It was great to learn more about Japanese culture and to appreciate the Japanese temples and gardens. We loved having time at the markets for lunch and gettkng calligraphy at the temples.
Kyoto for the historical buff
JohnRamos,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Asha is a very patient tour guide. He knows the places to go. He would lead us to the ticket booth and let us explore the place by ourselves. I wish he accompanied us all the way and explain the nuances of the place. But he is not a native Japanese so he may not be as familiar with the history so I have to give him a pass on that. We asked to cut the tour shot so we can get back to Tokyo early. But we were stuck able to see a lot of Kyoto in a short time.
Excellent service and experience, highly recommend!
laurenhF5938LO,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our driver Madu went above and beyond to make sure that we had the absolute best experience! We had a large group including an infant and adult in a wheelchair. He made sure that we got to see everything we wanted to, had knowledge about all of the stops and where the accessible entrances/exits were. We would not have had such a great experience without him!