Kyoto Tour: Hidden Temples and Scenic Views

Embark on a private van tour in Kyoto and Arashiyama with an expert local guide. Avoid the crowds at Fushimi-Inari Grand Shrine, explore temples and shrines, stroll through the uncrowded bamboo forest, and discover the unique Japanese nature. Don’t miss the secret roots of Japanese bonsai techniques and the breathtaking Fushimi-Inari Taisha at sunset. Book now for an unforgettable experience!

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kinkakuji Temple - Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a must-see destination in Kyoto. Located in the northern part of the city, it’s easily accessible by car, even though the public bus takes about an hour from the main area of Kyoto.
    The temple’s main attraction is the stunning golden pavilion that shimmers in the sunlight…
What's Included
  • Fuel and Toll Fees
  • Pick-up and Dropping off at anywhere in Kyoto City
  • Knowledgeable Guide with Fluent English
  • Parking fees
  • Comfortable Private Van
What's Not Included
  • Admission Fees (¥300~¥600 at each temples)
Additional Information

Explore Kyoto more deeply with a local Japanese guide, comfortably in a Japanese minivan!
•Visit the best but hidden temples without crowds: private bamboo forest, the best moss garden in Kyoto, Fushimi-Inari Shrine after sunset
•Drive farther to mountains by car, enjoy the unique nature of Japan with stunning views from the mountains and secret bonzai…

Location
Kinkakuji Temple
1 Kinkakujicho, Kita-ku,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(18 Ratings)
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B9548evmichaelb
Oct 22, 2024
Kyoto Highlights in Half a Day - A most enjoyable and enlightening experience for my wife and self. Daiki made every effort to customize the tour to meet our interests and capabilities. He did not mind making adjustments to accommodate wife’s walking limitations on that day. Within a few minutes he developed a new plan for our tour. His communication is flawless. No need to be concerned about getting a guide who might not understand you. He showed us some of his personal favorites which are found off the beaten path. We saw a few things that most tourists would not find their way to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F5063gukimc
Oct 12, 2024
Kyoto and Osaka tours with Mr Daiki - My family just had the two tours Kyoto Highlights and Secret, and Osaka and Nara in 1-day tour with Mr. Daiki Fukashi. Daiki is an excellent tour guide. He speaks English fluently and is very knowledgeable, flexible, and easygoing. He was willing to customize the tour itinerary to meet our requests. As an elderly couple, my husband and I deeply appreciated his caring and consideration toward us. The tours became much more enjoyable because of his tremendous effort. We highly recommend Daiki to all our friends and relatives who plan to visit Kyoto and Osaka in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
679biswaranjann
Sep 22, 2024
Amazing Kyoto Tour - The trip arranged was beautiful. Our guide Daiki gave us the best experience of the trip. He made sure that we not only saw the beautiful views but also understood the significance behind them. All the places listed for our tour were covered well within time. Daiki went out of his way to help us out regarding foods, queries, souvenirs etc. He also made sure we tasted the best Ramen at Kyoto. Daiki-San you Rock ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_o
Aug 22, 2024
Excellent way to spend the day! - Daiki was fantastic! His van is comfortable and air conditioned. He is very friendly and easy going. He took us to some amazing spots that we would have never found on our own. He is a very good driver and my son and two teenage boys and I had a wonderful day.
Review provided by Viator
Gracesw1781ty
Jun 12, 2024
Excellent value - best tours in Kyoto and Osaka - Daiki was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and has clearly done.a lot of research in order to provide customers with fun and educational insight into Kyoto. The private tour was comfortable and allowed flexibility that would be impossible in a group tour. Definitely great value! Strongly recommend this service!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
425jannee
May 16, 2024
Amazing day full of wonderful discoveries - We had an amazing day! Daiki was a great guide, friendly and fun. He took us to all the sights and walked around with us which was great. Also found a great solution to including an extra stop without missing out on any of the planned agenda. Getting to see some secret places was a bonus treat. I haven’t included photos of these to avoid spoiling :) Well worth the money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janne_e
May 8, 2024
Amazing day full of wonderful discoveries - We had an amazing day! Daiki was a great guide, friendly and fun. He took us to all the sights and walked around with us which was great. Getting to see some secret places was a bonus treat. I haven’t included photos of these to avoid spoiling :) Well worth the money!
Review provided by Viator
Eiyhlee
May 3, 2024
Must Book! - Daiki was great! He picked us up from our hotel on time and gave us the insider’s tour of Kyoto’s highlights. There were many stops and he worked with our pace - such a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Burgo808
Apr 5, 2024
Best day tour of Kyoto - Daiki Was the BEST guide, really knowledgeable and took us to the most beautiful places around Kyoto. We went in a super busy period yet he managed to take us to places in the bamboo Forrest and shrines with barely any tourists. We will 100% book with Daiki again, very professional and spoke great English :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenny_y
Mar 30, 2024
Less than half - Our tour guide’s name is Daiki Daiki was about 10 minutes late picking us up. The advertised itinerary (8 locations): Rokuon—ji temple (golden temple), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (didn’t go, too crowded), Tenryu-ji Temple (closed at 4:30pm), Giouji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple (closed at 4:30pm), Arashiyama Takao Parkway (never went but probably drove past and didn’t get pointed out), Fushimi Inari Taisha (too dark to take pictures), and Shogunzuka Seiryuden Temple (closed at 4:30pm). Places we actually visited (5 locations): Rokuon-ji temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji temple, Giou-ji temple, Nishiki Market, and Fushimi Inari Taisha. It was a cold day and rained for the second half of the tour. My group was tired and miserable so we opted not to continue after Fushimi Inari Taisha. Had the weather been nicer, my group probably would have liked to see the city view from the higher mountain top. Pro: 1) Daiki came prepared with umbrellas for each person 2) super nice and talk-a-time 3) we got to see monkeys at the Giou-ji temple 4) clean van for up to 6 passengers + 1 driver 5) never rushed us, but probably should have so we could see everything listed on itinerary. 6) Nishiki market was alternative to visiting the temples that closed at 4:30pm. Cons: 1) didn’t get to see about 50% of the listed itinerary. Not enough time to visit each site throughly 2) very broken English Luckily my group had 2 Japanese speaking friends who would better translate for us what was going on. I chose to give it a 4 star because my group looked like they were having a good time. Lots of laughs and smiles. It was expected of us to pay our own admission tickets and any parking fees that were required. This was also the cheapest tour I could find on Viator. The price definitely represents the quality.
Review provided by Viator
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December 2024
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