Osaka Private Tour with English Speaking Driver

Osaka Castle - Located in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan, Osaka Castle is a renowned Japanese castle and a significant historical landmark. It played a crucial role in Japan’s unification during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the sixteenth century. The castle and its surrounding park offer a peaceful retreat from the city’s urban landscape. Visitors can climb to the top of the castle keep tower for panoramic views of the castle grounds and nearby skyscrapers.

Shitennoji - Shitennoji Temple, established in 593 by Prince Shotoku Taishi, is Japan’s oldest official temple. Prince Shotoku was instrumental in introducing Buddhism to Japan. The temple is named after the Shitenno, the four heavenly kings of Buddhist tradition who protect the world from evil. Nearby, the Gokuraku-jodo Garden is designed to reflect the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha. The temple grounds also feature a treasure house displaying paintings, scriptures, and other valuable items in themed exhibitions.

Umeda Sky Building - Experience the spectacular fireworks display at the Umeda Sky Building, conveniently located overlooking the Yodogawa River. The Umeda Sky Building and Kuchu Teien Observatory will host special events in conjunction with the “Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival” on Saturday, August 3, 2024. There are four plans available, including a standard viewing from the Floating Garden Observation Deck, a plan with a substantial after-dinner meal, and a luxurious course dinner before the fireworks.

Sumiyoshi Shrine - As the grand head shrine among approximately 2,300 shrines across Japan, Sumiyoshi Taisha holds the highest rank in the Settsu Province. It is designated as an imperial shrine of major grade. During hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, Sumiyoshi Taisha is the most visited shrine in Osaka. Thousands of people visit in early January for religious pilgrimage, enjoying food stalls and gaming booths while praying for good fortune and drawing omikuji (paper fortunes). Despite the crowds, it is a remarkable experience. The Otaue Rice Planting Festival in summer attracts visitors to pray for a bountiful harvest through ritual rice planting and dances.

Cup Noodle Museum Osaka Ikeda - Cup noodles are a global favorite, with new flavors introduced annually. A Japan-exclusive flavor makes a great souvenir, but an even more memorable keepsake is creating your own original cup noodles at the Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda.

Sorraniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower - Solaniwa Onsen, the Kansai region’s largest hot spring theme park, spans 16,500m² and opened on floors 2 to 5 at Osaka Bay Tower North on February 26, 2019.

Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street - Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street, extending east to Mido-Suji Avenue, is Osaka’s most famous shopping area and a city icon. With a 380-year history, it was a prominent shopping area during the Edo Period. The 600-meter-long roofed arcade features shops for all ages, including traditional kimono tailors, western clothing and footwear retailers, restaurants, fast food outlets, jewelers, and boutiques with the latest fashions. It’s a delightful place for a leisurely stroll, window-shopping, and enjoying the local cuisine.

Dotombori District - Dotonbori is a vibrant hotspot for tourists and locals, featuring towering neon signs, clubs, bars, and restaurants offering local specialties. It provides an exciting glimpse into Osaka’s nightlife.

Osaka Aquarium - Explore these popular exhibits at Osaka Aquarium:

• Japan Forest: A surface zone recreating a Japanese forest, home to creatures like otters near rivers and surface waters.
• Antarctica: Observe penguins waddling and splashing in the Antarctica zone.
• Pacific Ocean: Home to majestic whale sharks and other sea creatures, including spotted eagle rays, leopard sharks, and manta rays.
• Great Barrier Reef: View a lively display of over 5,000 coral reefs and colorful fish at the Great Barrier Reef zone.
• Japan Deep: Discover the world’s largest variety of Japanese spider crabs and other deep-sea creatures, 200 to 400 meters below Japan’s oceans.

Nara Private Tour with English Speaking Driver

Todai-ji Temple - Todaiji (東大寺, Tōdaiji, “Great Eastern Temple”) is a renowned and historically significant temple in Nara. Constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan, it became so influential that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 to reduce its impact on government affairs. Until recently, Todaiji’s main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), was the world’s largest wooden building, despite the current reconstruction from 1692 being only two-thirds of the original size. The massive building houses one of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statues (Daibutsu), a 15-meter-tall seated Buddha representing Vairocana, flanked by two Bodhisattvas.

Nara Park - Nara Park (奈良公園, Nara Kōen) is a vast park in central Nara, established in 1880. It hosts many of Nara’s main attractions, including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji, and the Nara National Museum. The park is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer.

Kasuga Taisha Museum - Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is Nara’s most celebrated shrine, established alongside the capital and dedicated to the deity protecting the city. It was the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, Japan’s most powerful family clan during the Nara and Heian Periods. Like the Ise Shrines, Kasuga Taisha was periodically rebuilt every 20 years for centuries, a custom discontinued at the end of the Edo Period. Beyond the free offering hall, a paid inner area offers a closer view of the shrine’s inner buildings, including the main sanctuary with multiple shrine buildings displaying the distinctive Kasuga style of architecture.

Naramachi - Naramachi (奈良町, “Nara Town”) is Nara’s former merchant district, preserving traditional residential buildings and warehouses open to the public. The district’s narrow lanes are lined with boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants, and a few museums. Many buildings from the Edo Period and earlier were machiya, long, narrow “townhouses” serving as both shops and living quarters for local merchants. The narrow storefronts were designed to save on taxes, which were calculated based on street access rather than total area. Today, some machiya have been preserved and opened to the public as museums.

Kofuku-ji Temple - Kofukuji (興福寺, Kōfukuji) was the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan during much of the Nara and Heian Periods. Established in Nara with the capital in 710, the temple once had over 150 buildings at the height of Fujiwara power. It features several historically significant buildings, including a five-storied pagoda and a three-storied pagoda. At 50 meters, the five-storied pagoda is Japan’s second tallest wooden pagoda, just seven meters shorter than Kyoto’s Toji Temple pagoda. Kofukuji’s pagoda is a landmark and symbol of Nara, first built in 730 and most recently rebuilt in 1426. Neither pagoda is open to the public.

Nara National Museum - The Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館, Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), located in Nara Park, is an art museum primarily displaying Japanese Buddhist art. Established in 1889, the museum retains its original building, joined by a new wing connected by an underground passage. Both wings display the museum’s permanent collection, including Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls, and ceremonial objects mainly from Japan. The new wing also hosts temporary exhibitions, including an annual exhibition of treasures from Todaiji Temple every autumn. A ticket provides access to both wings, with English explanations available throughout the museum.

Nara Palace Site Historical Park - During the Nara Period (710-794), Nara served as Japan’s capital, known as Heijo-kyo. The Heijo Palace, spanning about one kilometer wide and long, was the emperor’s residence and government offices. Due to its historical and cultural significance, the palace site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nara.

Isuien Garden - Isuien (依水園) is a beautiful Japanese garden featuring “borrowed scenery” from Todaiji Temple’s Nandaimon Gate and Mount Wakakusayama. The garden’s name, meaning “garden founded on water,” reflects its ponds fed by the adjacent Yoshikigawa River. The Yoshikien Garden is located just across the river.

Yoshikien - Yoshikien (吉城園) is a charming Japanese garden in central Nara, named after the Yoshikigawa River beside it. Built on the site of Kofukuji Temple’s former priest residences, the garden offers free entry to foreign tourists. It features three unique gardens: a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea ceremony garden. Visitors can explore three different styles of Japanese gardens in one location. For more Japanese gardening techniques, the Isuien Garden is just across the river.

Kyoto Private Tour with English Speaking Driver

Arashiyama - The most iconic feature of Arashiyama is the Togetsukyo Bridge, also known as the “Moon Crossing Bridge,” rebuilt in the 1930s after its original construction during the Heian Period (794–1185). The bridge is especially picturesque against the wooded slope backdrop. Nearby, a riverbank park is adorned with cherry trees. Enjoy pleasant walks and bike rides through the bamboo groves, where the gentle sway of bamboo stalks creates a scenic view. Bamboo has been used for generations in local workshops to craft various items, including mats, cups, boxes, and baskets. SANSO VILLA OKOCHI This is

Kinkakuji Temple - The Zen temple Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), located in northern Kyoto, has its upper two floors entirely covered in gold leaf. Originally named Rokuonji, the temple was Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s retirement residence. After his death in 1408, the shogun left it as a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect. Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Yoshimitsu’s grandson, built Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) on the opposite side of the city a few decades later. Kinkakuji is the only remaining building from Yoshimitsu’s retirement complex, an elegant temple overlooking a large pond. Throughout history, it has burned down several times, including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that caused significant destruction.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is a prominent Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, famous for its thousands of red torii gates along paths behind the main structures. These paths lead into the forested area of the sacred Mount Inari, rising 233 meters on the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of the many shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes, believed to be Inari’s messengers, are represented by numerous statues throughout the shrine grounds. The shrine’s history predates Kyoto’s establishment as the capital in 794. Exploring the mountain paths is a major draw for international visitors.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Kiyomizudera, meaning “Pure Water Temple,” is one of Japan’s most famous temples. It derives its name from the pure waters of the Otowa Waterfall, located on the forested hillsides east of Kyoto, where it was founded in 780. Initially associated with the Hosso sect, one of Japan’s oldest Buddhist schools, the temple established the Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple’s most notable feature is its wooden stage, extending 13 meters over the hillside from the main hall, offering stunning views of cherry and maple trees below.

Gion - Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, is located along Shijo Avenue between the Kamo River to the west and Yasaka Shrine to the east. The area is filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses) offering entertainment by geiko (Kyoto’s term for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices). Gion’s traditional wooden machiya merchant houses attract many visitors. These houses were built with narrow facades, only five to six meters wide, but extending up to twenty meters from the street, as property taxes were once based on street frontage. Hanami-koji Street, from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple, is Gion’s busiest area, lined with beautiful and upscale dining establishments.

Sanjusangendo Temple - Sanjusangendo, commonly known as Rengeo-in, is a temple in eastern Kyoto renowned for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after a fire, the temple hall is Japan’s longest wooden structure, measuring 120 meters. The name Sanjusangendo, meaning “33 intervals,” refers to the number of intervals between the building’s support columns, a traditional method of measuring building size.

Ginkakuji Temple - Ginkakuji, or the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple in Kyoto’s eastern mountains, Higashiyama. In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the site of today’s temple, inspired by Kinkakuji, his grandfather’s retirement villa in Kyoto’s northern mountains, Kitayama. After Yoshimasa’s death in 1490, the villa was converted into a Zen temple. As the retirement villa of an art-loving shogun, Ginkakuji became a center of new culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture, contrasting with the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather’s era. Unlike the Kitayama Culture, which remained within Kyoto’s noble circles, the Higashiyama Culture had a broad impact nationwide. Arts developed and refined during this time include the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh theater, poetry, garden design, and architecture.

Nishiki Market Shopping District - Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five-block-long shopping street with over one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this bustling market specializes in food-related items, such as fresh seafood, produce, knives, and cookware. It’s an excellent place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, including Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi. Nishiki Market has a lively atmosphere, inviting those eager to explore Kyoto’s culinary delights. The market’s stores range from small stalls to larger two-story shops, with most specializing in a specific type of food, all locally produced and sourced.

Kyoto Imperial Palace - The Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyōto Gosho) was the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is situated in the expansive Kyoto Imperial Park (Kyōto Gyoen), a beautiful park in the city’s center, also encompassing the Sento Imperial Palace and other attractions. The current Imperial Palace was rebuilt in 1855 after multiple fires and relocations over the centuries. The complex, enclosed by long walls, includes several gates, halls, and gardens. The enthronement ceremonies of Emperors Taisho and Showa were held in the palace’s main hall. The Tokyo Imperial Palace is now used for enthronement ceremonies.

• Private transportation
• On-board WiFi
• English speaking driver
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Parking fees

• Lunch
• Entry tickets

Experience an extraordinary and memorable 3-day journey in Japan with us! Discover the captivating attractions of western Japan as we guide you through the best of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka in just three days. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Osaka City, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo, and the Kansai Region’s economic hub for centuries.

Travel to Kyoto, Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence from 794 to 1868. As one of the country’s ten largest cities, Kyoto boasts numerous temples, shrines, and other historically invaluable structures, offering a rich cultural experience.

Next, visit Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, established in 710. Nara is filled with historic treasures, including some of Japan’s oldest and largest temples.

We offer complimentary pick-up for all travelers from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara locations.

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