Full Day Private Kyoto Tour

Embark on a private full-day tour from Osaka or Kobe to explore the top attractions of Kyoto. Visit the bamboo forest groove, Kinkaku-ji temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, and more. Customize your itinerary and experience the historic and cultural beauty of Kyoto in a comfortable and time-efficient way.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Bamboo Forest Street - After the pick up from the port, we will need 2 hours to reach Arashiyama area west of Kyoto. Immerse yourself in the enchanting Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama, where towering bamboo stalks create a serene and otherworldly atmosphere. Visit the historic Nonomiya Shrine, a hidden gem nestled within the bamboo grove, offering a…
What's Included
  • Tour management
  • Tour guiding
  • Driver arrangement of pick up and drop off
  • Guiding fees
  • Transportation cost is NOT included in the price here, it is an extra cost
What's Not Included
  • Transportation cost: JPY 120,000 for up to 5 pax, JPY 140,000 up to 7 pax
  • If the start time is after 10 am, tour duration is shortened to 10 hours, or extra fee for driver
  • If the total tour duration is more than 10 hours, extra charge is required for the guide and the car
  • Personal Expenses
  • Gratuities are always appreciated but never expected (In case your experience was exceptional)
Additional Information

The tour itinerary is crafted for a 10-hour car or van hire (JPY 120,000 for up to 5 people, JPY 140,000 for up to 8 people), with cash payment to the driver on the day of the tour. This allows for a thorough exploration of Kyoto’s most renowned cultural and historical sites, offering a rich experience of the city’s heritage.
Itinerary (Customizable):…

Location
Port of Kobe
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.3
(16 Ratings)
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Vishwanath_t
Apr 22, 2025
Both the driver and the... - Both the driver and the tour guide were extremely good. Very comfortable ride. They accommodated our dietary needs(Vegan) and were fantastic.
Review provided by Viator
Christine_k
Apr 21, 2025
An excellent and memorable day in Kyoto when cruise stopped in Kobe - This was an excellent personalized tour. Ahmed was very easy to communicate with and did an excellent job getting everything arranged for us. Kinoshita-san was a very professional and capable driver. He met us at the Kobe port right as we excited our cruise ship and took us to meet our guide Ayako in Kyoto, drove us between locations and then safely returned us to the cruise port in Kobe. The vehicle was very clean and comfortable. (The tour listing was very clear that the driver fee was additional to be worked out once booked, which we did and it was no problem.Some might find it expensive, but for our family of 4 senior citizens it was priceless to have this convenience and to save us some steps since the site seeing already involves a lot of walking and stairs at temples and shrines.) Our guide for the day, Ayako was so pleasant, personable and knowledgeable. We all felt the great benefit of spending the day with her. She was in touch before we met and was very in-tune to putting together a day that included our wishes and needs. She even took us for a very special lunch of okonomiyaki that none of us will ever forget. Very tiny local spot and was a delicious experience. It may sound like an over the top thing to say, but truly our lives are richer for the day we spent with her. Thank you to all 3 of you for making our trip to the Kobe/Kyoto area so very special!
Review provided by Viator
Rebecca_b
Mar 30, 2025
Quick day in Kyoto - We came in from port of Kobe and had limited time. Our guide was fantastic! She made sure we hit the best places. She was knowledgeable and personable. We loved the day!
Review provided by Viator
Mary_g
Mar 29, 2025
Take this tour, ask for Ahmed. - This was our sixth tour through Viator during our trip around Japan. It was by far the best of the tours. That is because the guide was also our best. Ahmed was personable and knowledgeable, just what you want in a tour guide. He was happy to customize the tour for us, and in fact, even made a last-minute change. We were picked up on time and brought back to our ship on time.
Review provided by Viator
Margaret_h
Mar 5, 2025
So nice to be on our own with a guide - Sami met us at the cruise terminal and guided us on the subway for our customized itinerary. We had 6 hours and saw Nagoya Castle, the Toyota museum, Osu Kannon Temple, and the Osu Kannon shopping area where we had lunch. Sami reached out ahead of time to get our input on what we wanted to do.
Review provided by Viator
Patricktilley
Feb 16, 2025
Perfect day in Kyoto - We had the best day of our trip in Kyoto. We were picked up in Kobe and taken to Kyoto were we met our guide Yukari. Yukari was delightful and fitted in with our family very quickly. She adapted the itinerary to pick up everyone’s interests. We went to a Japanese bbq for lunch which was very reasonably priced and delicious. That meal will live long in the memory. I would definitely go back to Kyoto as it is a beautiful place full of interesting places. Yukari was born and had lived in Kyoto all her life, so knew where to find anything we asked. When we got back to the cruise, I compared what a cruise excursion to Kyoto would have covered in the same time and we easily did twice as much. We loved it and thank you for making it a special family day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_h
Jun 24, 2024
Great day in Kyoto with Keiko and Miya - Keiko and Miya were amazing guides during our time in Kyoto. We had a fabulous time visiting Arashiyama, Tenryuji Temple & bamboo forest, Ryuanji Temple rock garden, Nijo Castle, delicious ramen, Inari Shrine, and exploring Gion. Keiko provided just the right amount of history so we could fully appreciate our surroundings. She also gave a great recommendation for lunch and it was the most delicious ramen I have ever had. Miya navigated the crowded streets gracefully and we felt very safe with him as a driver. He is also an excellent photographer. If you go to Kyoto I highly recommended you utilize their tour service!
Review provided by Viator
Nicola_t
Apr 12, 2024
Fantastic - We had an amazing day in Kyoto thanks to Hero our guide. The route was well planned and he was knowledgeable and very interesting. It was a great tour enjoyed by all
Review provided by Viator
Elias_s
Mar 18, 2025
Overpriced and Underwhelming: Private Kyoto Tour - We booked the "Full Day Private Kyoto Tour From Osaka/Kobe Port" expecting a high-quality experience, given the price point. Unfortunately, our tour fell short of expectations. The itinerary looked promising, covering iconic landmarks like the Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. However, our guide seemed underprepared and lacked in-depth knowledge about the sites we visited. The tour felt rushed, and we didn't have ample time to explore each location as promised. The guide's commentary was brief and didn't provide much insight into Kyoto's rich cultural heritage. Considering the cost, we anticipated a more personalized and engaging experience. While we appreciated the convenience of a private tour, we felt that the quality didn't match the price.
Review provided by Viator
Avin_s
Apr 10, 2025
Misleading prices - I received an email when I confirmed the Trip stating that the price was $490. The day before the trip when we were contacted by the ground operator, they demanded an additional $850 for “transportation” My confirmation never said $490 plus travel expenses, so it was very misleading. We did not take the trip. We feel that a full refund is in order because of your misleading practices
Review provided by Viator
From $490 (Per Group)
up to 10 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).