Private & Custom KYOTO Day Tour (TOYOTA Max 13 Pax)

based on 9 reviews

Duration:8 hours (approx.)
Location: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture

From $935.81

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Private & Custom VIP Tour in KYOTO allows you to “Tailor Your Itinerary” to fit your specific travel expectations. You have your own private Minivan Toyota HIACE Commuter 2020 and English speaking driver for approximately 8 hours. Our team assists you to draft itinerary, prepare tickets, book restaurants/local experiences, communicate with local vendors, direct you to the destinations, keep time, assist you throughout the trip and more!

STEP1: Please select your favorite destinations from "What to Expect" and share with us your other special requests
STEP2: Our team draft your tentative custom itinerary and share with you
STEP3: We revise/finalize the itinerary base on your feedback

REMARKS
A. You can always make change to the itinerary even while traveling on the van. The tour is flexible to your own needs and goals.
B. Extra 1~2 hours will be given for free in case of heavy traffic jam and unexpected delay(s) only
C. Extra charges will be applied for over time service

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Arashiyama
TOGETSUKYO BRIDGE The Togetsukyo Bridge (lit. "Moon Crossing Bridge") is Arashiyama's most iconic landmark. It was originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185) and most recently reconstructed in the 1930s. The bridge looks particularly attractive in combination with the forested mountainside in the background. A riverside park with dozens of cherry trees is located just adjacent to the bridge.
2. Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu's grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later. Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu's former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955. Kinkakuji was built to echo the extravagant Kitayama culture that developed in the wealthy aristocratic circles of Kyoto during Yoshimitsu's times. Each floor represents a different style of architecture. The first floor is built in the Shinden style used for palace buildings during the Heian Period, and with its natural wood pillars and white plaster walls contrasts yet complements the gilded upper stories of the pavilion. Statues of the Shaka Buddha (historical Buddha) and Yoshimitsu are stored in the first floor. Although it is not possible to enter the pavilion, the statues can be viewed from across the pond if you look closely, as the front windows of the first floor are usually kept open. The second floor is built in the Bukke style used in samurai residences, and has its exterior completely covered in gold leaf. Inside is a seated Kannon Bodhisattva surrounded by statues of the Four Heavenly Kings; however, the statues are not shown to the public. Finally, the third and uppermost floor is built in the style of a Chinese Zen Hall, is gilded inside and out, and is capped with a golden phoenix. After viewing Kinkakuji from across the pond, visitors pass by the head priest's former living quarters (hojo) which are known for their painted sliding doors (fusuma), but are not open to the public. The path once again passes by Kinkakuji from behind then leads through the temple's gardens which have retained their original design from Yoshimitsu's days. The gardens hold a few other spots of interest including Anmintaku Pond that is said to never dry up, and statues that people throw coins at for luck. Continuing through the garden takes you to the Sekkatei Teahouse, added to Kinkakuji during the Edo Period, before you exit the paid temple area. Outside the exit are souvenir shops, a small tea garden where you can have matcha tea and sweets (500 yen) and Fudo Hall, a small temple hall which houses a statue of Fudo Myoo, one of the Five Wisdom Kings and protector of Buddhism. The statue is said to be carved by Kobo Daishi, one of the most important figures in Japanese religious history.
3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794. While the primary reason most foreign visitors come to Fushimi Inari Shrine is to explore the mountain trails, the shrine buildings themselves are also attractive. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Behind stands the shrine's main hall (honden) where visitors should pay respect to the resident deity by making a small offering. At the very back of the shrine's main grounds is the entrance to the torii gate-covered hiking trail, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii ("thousands of torii gates"). The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies, and you will find the donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate. The cost starts around 400,000 yen for a small sized gate and increases to over one million yen for a large gate. The hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 2-3 hours, however, visitors are free to walk just as far as they wish before turning back. Along the way, there are multiple smaller shrines with stacks of miniature torii gates that were donated by visitors with smaller budgets. There are also a few restaurants along the way, which offer locally themed dishes such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon ("Fox Udon"), both featuring pieces of aburaage (fried tofu), said to be a favorite food of foxes. After about a 30-45 minute ascent and a gradual decrease in the density of torii gates, visitors will reach the Yotsutsuji intersection roughly half way up the mountain, where some nice views over Kyoto can be enjoyed, and the trail splits into a circular route to the summit. Many hikers only venture as far as here, as the trails do not offer much variation beyond this point and the gate density decreases further.
4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizudera (literally "Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. The main hall, which together with the stage was built without the use of nails, houses the temple's primary object of worship, a small statue of the eleven faced, thousand armed Kannon. Other structures on the spacious temple grounds include the Okunoin Hall, which resembles the main hall on a smaller scale and has also a stage. Near the Okunoin are halls dedicated to Shaka Buddha (the historical Buddha) and Amida Buddha, as well as a small hall with nearly 200 stone statues of Jizo, the protector of children and travelers. The three-storied Koyasu Pagoda stands among the trees in the far southern end of the temple grounds, and a visit is said to bring about an easy and safe childbirth. Around the entrance of Kiyomizudera, outside the paid area, stand various other temple buildings, including a vermilion three storied pagoda, a repository for sutras, large entrance gates and the Zuigudo Hall which is dedicated to Buddha's mother and where against a small entrance fee you can wander the pitch black basement that symbolizes a mother's womb.Behind Kiyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. In front of the shrine are two stones, placed 18 meters apart. Successfully finding your way from one to the other with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in finding love. You can also have someone guide you from one stone to the other, but that is interpreted to mean that an intermediary will be needed in your love life as well. The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera's main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. Each stream's water is said to have a different benefit, namely to cause longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life. However, drinking from all three streams is considered greedy. Part of the fun of visiting Kiyomizudera is the approach to the temple along the steep and busy lanes of the atmospheric Higashiyama District. The many shops and restaurants in the area have been catering to tourists and pilgrims for centuries, and products on sale range from local specialties such as Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets and pickles to the standard set of souvenirs. The Higashiyama district together with Kiyomizudera, Yasaka Shrine and other temples in the area, have special evening illuminations during the annual Hanatoro event held in mid March. Kiyomizudera also has special illuminations during the autumn leaf season in the second half of November.
5. Gion
Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. Gion attracts tourists with its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. Due to the fact that property taxes were formerly based upon street frontage, the houses were built with narrow facades only five to six meters wide, but extend up to twenty meters in from the street. The most popular area of Gion is Hanami-koji Street from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple. A nice (and expensive) place to dine, the street and its side alleys are lined with preserved machiya houses many of which now function as restaurants, serving Kyoto style kaiseki ryori (Japanese haute cuisine) and other types of local and international meals. Interspersed among the restaurants are a number of ochaya (teahouses), the most exclusive and expensive of Kyoto's dining establishments, where guests are entertained by maiko and geiko. Another scenic part of Gion is the Shirakawa Area which runs along the Shirakawa Canal parallel to Shijo Avenue. The canal is lined by willow trees, high class restaurants and ochaya, many of which have rooms overlooking the canal. As it is a little off the beaten path, the Shirakawa Area is typically somewhat quieter than Hanami-koji Street. Many tourists visit Gion hoping to catch a glimpse of a geiko or maiko on their way to or from an engagement at an ochaya in the evenings or while running errands during the day. However, if you spot a geiko or maiko, act respectfully. Complaints about tourists behaving like ruthless paparazzi are on the increase in recent years. The ultimate experience is being entertained by a maiko or geiko while dining at an ochaya. As expert hostesses, maiko and geiko ensure everyone's enjoyment by engaging in light conversation, serving drinks, leading drinking games and performing traditional music and dance. The services of geiko are expensive and exclusive, traditionally requiring an introduction from an existing customer. In recent years, however, some travel agencies and hotels have started to offer lunch or dinner packages with a maiko to any tourist with a sufficient budget. There are even a few companies which target foreign tourists without Japanese language skills. A more accessible experience is the cultural show held everyday at Gion Corner at the end of Hanami-koji. Aimed at foreign tourists, the show is a highly concentrated introduction to several traditional Japanese arts and include short performances of a tea ceremony, ikebana, bunraku, Kyogen comic plays and dances performed by real maiko. If you are in Kyoto in April, check out the Miyako Odori with daily dance performances by maiko. Shijo Avenue, which bisects the Gion district, is a popular shopping area with stores selling local products including sweets, pickles and crafts. Gion is also known for the Gion Matsuri, the most famous festival in Japan. Ironically, the most spectacular events of the festival are held outside of Gion on the opposite side of the Kamo River. A visit to Gion is best combined with a stroll through the nearby Higashiyama District between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizudera. This area has more preserved streets and traditional shops selling all kinds of local foods, crafts and souvenirs.
6. Sanjusangendo Temple
Sanjusangendo (Sanjūsangendō) is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire. Measuring 120 meters, the temple hall is Japan's longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally "33 intervals") derives from the number of intervals between the building's support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a large, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) that is flanked on each side by 500 statues of human sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows. Together they make for an awesome sight. 1000-armed Kannon are equipped with 11 heads to better witness the suffering of humans and with 1000 arms to better help them fight the suffering. Note that the actual statues have only 42 arms each. Subtract the two regular arms and multiply by the 25 planes of existence to get the full thousand.
7. Ginkakuji Temple
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple, modeling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's retirement villa at the base of Kyoto's northern mountains (Kitayama). The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490. As the retirement villa of an art obsessed shogun, Ginkakuji became a center of contemporary culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture in contrast to the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather's times. Unlike the Kitayama Culture, which remained limited to the aristocratic circles of Kyoto, the Higashiyama Culture had a broad impact on the entire country. The arts developed and refined during the time include the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh theater, poetry, garden design and architecture. Today, Ginkakuji consists of the Silver Pavilion, half a dozen other temple buildings, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden. It is enjoyed by walking along a circular route around its grounds, from which the gardens and buildings can be viewed.
8. Nishiki Market Shopping District
Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. The stores found throughout the market range in size from small narrow stalls to larger two story shops. Most specialize in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.
9. Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyōto Gosho) used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park (Kyōto Gyoen), an attractive park in the center of the city that also encompasses the Sento Imperial Palace and a few other attractions. The current Imperial Palace was reconstructed in 1855 after it had burnt down and moved around town repeatedly over the centuries. The complex is enclosed by long walls and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. The enthronement ceremonies of Emperors Taisho and Showa were still held in the palace's main hall. Tokyo Imperial Palace is now used for enthronement ceremonies.
10. Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. Nijo Castle can be divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense) and some gardens that encircle the Honmaru and Ninomaru. The entire castle grounds and the Honmaru are surrounded by stone walls and moats.
11. Eikando Zenrinji Temple
Eikando (永観堂, Eikandō), formally known as Zenrinji Temple, belongs to the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism. Located just north of the large temple complex of Nanzenji, Eikando is very famous for its autumn colors and the evening illuminations that take place in fall. The temple has a long history, and there are a variety of buildings and a pond garden that visitors can explore. A court noble of the Heian Period (710-1185) donated his villa to a priest, who converted it into a temple under the name Zenrinji (lit. "temple in a calm grove"). At its founding, Zenrinji was part of the Shingon sect and its first head priest was a disciple of the great Kobo Daishi, the sect's founder.

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Posted By : Beverly_V
We had a great trip lead by tour guide Jessa. She took us to the Imperial Palace, Bamboo Forest and many other places. All were impressive! The highlight of the trip was lunch at a Japanese restaurant. She helped us order the many different selections. Jessa was intelligent, and knew Japanese history.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-13 19:22:50

Posted By : Jane_L
We had a fantastic day in Kyoto. Excellent driver and our guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. We visited 4 of the best sites in Kyoto
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-05 17:44:27

Posted By : Kanchana_R
Apart from the iconic Fushimi Inari Temple, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites and the stunning bamboo grove of Arashiyama, our guide Nett and driver Ha were a perfect pair on this trip. Nett is a superb guide, knowledgeable, patient, flexible in adjusting schedule on the spot and packing in all our needs. Stopping at every blooming cherry blossom while we took pictures, arranging our shopping to include a Japanese Katana among other souvenirs in very traditional parts of Kyoto, and around Nishiki Market. Nett was just fantastic with our family group of 6 - while we sampled snacks and took pictures at our own pace! I highly recommend this tour as a must-do and see when in this part of Japan.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-04 23:57:34

Posted By : Irene_B
I am on a 12 day Japan cruise and sad to say the shore excursions through our ship have been somewhat disappointing so we decided to book privately. Our Guide Kai was fantastic! She and our driver Ha really brought Kyoto to life for us! We gave them a wish list and managed to cover everything we wanted to see and do! I only wish I had booked them for another day to see Osaka, as sadly, the ship excursion in Osaka was again, lacking. I know that post Covid, there are only a fraction of the tour operators as there were pre Covid and that has created problems. We felt lucky to have Kai and Ha showing us the sights.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-10 07:39:45

Posted By : Bruce_C
Driver and tour guide were extremely nice, so much so that someone left sunglasses in the van and the driver came back the next day to deliver. I would recommend using those speaker devices with each person having a headset. Tour guide was young (17) and appeared new and needs to explain more both during the van ride and at sites. They chose a great place for lunch. We didn’t realize we had to pay admission fee for tour guide in order for him to enter locations and speak with us, that should be communicated in advance.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-04 19:39:01

Posted By : Anthony_L
After confirming we can customized our tour and add Nara to the trip, we booked this tour with guide. After receiving the agenda we decided to skip Nara as it took too much time away from Kyoto. We confirmed the new agenda. Unfortunately on the day of pickup, we were informed that they didn't factor in appropriate travel time to and from. We agreed to cut out one stop and shorten our lunch. During the tour, we were told there might be traffic and guide wanted to cut out more. They kept on reminding us there is overtime charges. We told her we came a long ways and wanted to see the places on the agenda and if needed pay more than the $950! Knowing we were pressed for time, guide took us to lunch that felt out of the way. Also, when we got there the restaurant was extremely small, which made it hard to sit our party of 8. Our drive back did not take 2 hours as they suggested that it might and I'm glad we insisted on the stops on our agenda. Not sure if guide didn't have details about our stops, but we didn't feel like she shared much.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-19 13:27:55

Posted By : Nepthalie_C
Our tour assistant, Rina, was the best tour guide. She was very competent and accommodating. She explained everything, and accompanied us all the way. Our day became very enjoyable because of Rina.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-07-30 05:06:35

Posted By : RAMIL_G
Our tour guides, Paulina ( Rina) & Naoya are awesome! They made our tour fun and at the same time, it was informative. Since they were 11 of us in the group they really took care of us really well. We all had a great time from start to end. We highly recommend this tour! Glad we got the BEST tour guides!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-07-18 14:48:24

Posted By : Ed_O
Great guide along with good driver. Guide and driver provided a very friendly and family-like atmosphere.

Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-06-13 16:36:14

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Tickets

Private & Custom KYOTO Day Tour (TOYOTA Max 13 Pax)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Arashiyama

2. Kinkakuji Temple

3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

5. Gion

6. Sanjusangendo Temple

7. Ginkakuji Temple

8. Nishiki Market Shopping District

9. Kyoto Imperial Palace

10. Nijo Castle

11. Eikando Zenrinji Temple

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

Retrieving available

Tickets

Private & Custom KYOTO Day Tour (TOYOTA Max 13 Pax)

WHAT'S INCLUDED ⟱

WHAT TO EXPECT ⟱

1. Arashiyama

2. Kinkakuji Temple

3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

5. Gion

6. Sanjusangendo Temple

7. Ginkakuji Temple

8. Nishiki Market Shopping District

9. Kyoto Imperial Palace

10. Nijo Castle

11. Eikando Zenrinji Temple

ADDITIONAL INFO ⟱

CANCELLATION POLICY ⟱

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY