Best of Kyoto Tour + Bamboo Forest, Temples & Castle

A great tour, very compact, but highly recommended for anyone wanting to see the highlights of Kyoto in a single day. Ou...

Paulina

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a famous bamboo forest, and iconic temples await on this best of Kyoto tour with tickets. Explore the city's most emblematic sites and discover its rich history with an English-speaking guide.

Details

Duration

10 hours 45 minutes.

Language

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English and Spanish.

Included

Transport by bus
English–speaking guide
Admission tickets to the Golden Pavillion (depending on selected option), Kiyomizu
dera Temple (depending on selected option), and Nijō Castle (depending on selected option)

Not included

Food and drinks

Supporting documents

Electronic voucher. Have it on your phone.

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible.

Sustainability

All services meet our

Pets

Not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

If you have other questions, contact us

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. Any cancellations after this or no-shows on the day will not be refunded.

Free cancellation

From

US$157.34

Meeting point

Hotel Keihan Kyoto

Where does the activity end?

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Reviews of our customers

9.1

Exceptional 6,379 Travelers·370 reviews

October 11, 2026
Paulina
Barcelona, Spain
A great tour, very compact, but highly recommended for anyone wanting to see the highlights of Kyoto in a single day. Our guide, César, and our driver...
As a couple
Is this useful?
October 9, 2026
Yolanda Gomez
Marinilla, Colombia
A wonderful experience showcasing the best of Kyoto! We enjoyed a spectacular tour of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks. It was an unforgettable experien...
Is this useful?
September 27, 2026
Alba Redondo
Spain
Alejandro was our guide for this tour. With this tour, we were able to discover the best of Kyoto in one go, as the bus transportation was very well p...
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 20, 2026
Concepcion
Murcia, Spain
The Kyoto tour was an excellent experience, and much of that was thanks to Ángeles. Her kindness, knowledge, and dedication made every moment special....
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 14, 2026
Isabel
Cádiz, Spain
Very comfortable for getting around, I do miss having a guide accompany you on every excursion throughout the entire trip, like in other countries whe...
Is this useful?
September 1, 2026
Fran Moreta
Madrid, Spain
It was an incredible experience. A very comprehensive tour that gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything at a relaxed pace. Alejandro told us so m...
Is this useful?
August 23, 2026
Anónimo
Spain
The tour is excellent; you visit several places in a single day. Each place has a lot to see, and some of these places aren't places you can spend the...
As a couple
Is this useful?
August 6, 2026
Javier Ariza Venegas
Gines (sevilla), Spain
An intense day in Kyoto, both because of the sightseeing and the sweltering heat. The group wasn't small (29 people), but the tour was entirely in Spa...
Is this useful?
July 16, 2026
Elena
Madrid, Spain
A very full day. Our guide, Ángeles, was exceptional. Everything was very well explained, offering a variety of options to suit different needs and pr...
Is this useful?
July 1, 2026
David González López
Madrid, Spain
Ángeles was an excellent guide. She maintained her positive energy throughout the day, even in the rain. She speaks both English and Spanish fluently,...
Is this useful?

Show all reviews

Best of Kyoto Tour

We'll meet at the Keihan Kyoto Hotel to begin our tour. We'll hop on a bus to the famous bamboo forest of Arashiyama, where, thanks to the early access ticket, you'll have the chance to walk along its trails before other visitors arrive. As you walk along its paths, you'll feel the peace and harmony that this forest offers, especially if the wind causes the bamboo to sway gently.

Next, we'll visit Kinkaku-ji, the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion," one of the most impressive temples in Japan for its golden structure and its reflection in the lake. Our next stop will be at Nijō Castle. As we visit the different tatami rooms, we'll tell you about the shogunate, the military government that was established in the Middle Ages, with this castle serving as its main power center.

Our tour will continue toward the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of the most iconic sites in Kyoto. We'll go on a guided tour of this temple, where you'll enjoy spectacular scenic views of the city from its wooden terrace. Afterwards, you'll be able to grab some lunch in the temple area. We'll then continue toward the Fushimi Inari-taisha, a shrine known for the thousands of red torii (traditional Japanese gates) that make tunnels throughout the mountain. Strolling under these arches will be an unforgettable experience and, without a doubt, the perfect way to wrap up our best of Kyoto tour.

Finally, we'll say our goodbyes at this last spot, where we'll conclude this 10-hour and 45-minute tour. Here, we'll tell you how to return to the Kyoto Station.

Tour Options

During the booking process, you can choose between different options:

Tour without tickets: in this case, you'll need to pay the price of the tickets for the Kinkaku-ji (500JPY per person), Kiyomizu-dera Temple (500JPY per person), and Nijō Castle (1000JPY per person)
Tour with tickets: if you choose this option, you'll have tickets to Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Nijō Castle included.

Partial Closures

At times, it may not be possible to visit Nijo Castle. In that case, we'll visit Sanjūsangen-dō Temple instead.

9.1

Exceptional 6,379 Travelers·370 reviews

October 11, 2026
Paulina
Barcelona, Spain
A great tour, very compact, but highly recommended for anyone wanting to see the highlights of Kyoto in a single day. Our guide, César, and our driver...
As a couple
Is this useful?
October 9, 2026
Yolanda Gomez
Marinilla, Colombia
A wonderful experience showcasing the best of Kyoto! We enjoyed a spectacular tour of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks. It was an unforgettable experien...
Is this useful?
September 27, 2026
Alba Redondo
Spain
Alejandro was our guide for this tour. With this tour, we were able to discover the best of Kyoto in one go, as the bus transportation was very well p...
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 20, 2026
Concepcion
Murcia, Spain
The Kyoto tour was an excellent experience, and much of that was thanks to Ángeles. Her kindness, knowledge, and dedication made every moment special....
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 14, 2026
Isabel
Cádiz, Spain
Very comfortable for getting around, I do miss having a guide accompany you on every excursion throughout the entire trip, like in other countries whe...
Is this useful?
September 1, 2026
Fran Moreta
Madrid, Spain
It was an incredible experience. A very comprehensive tour that gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything at a relaxed pace. Alejandro told us so m...
Is this useful?
August 23, 2026
Anónimo
Spain
The tour is excellent; you visit several places in a single day. Each place has a lot to see, and some of these places aren't places you can spend the...
As a couple
Is this useful?
August 6, 2026
Javier Ariza Venegas
Gines (sevilla), Spain
An intense day in Kyoto, both because of the sightseeing and the sweltering heat. The group wasn't small (29 people), but the tour was entirely in Spa...
Is this useful?
July 16, 2026
Elena
Madrid, Spain
A very full day. Our guide, Ángeles, was exceptional. Everything was very well explained, offering a variety of options to suit different needs and pr...
Is this useful?
July 1, 2026
David González López
Madrid, Spain
Ángeles was an excellent guide. She maintained her positive energy throughout the day, even in the rain. She speaks both English and Spanish fluently,...
Is this useful?

Show all reviews

Points of interest in Kyoto

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Palacio Imperial Sento de Kioto Fushimi Inari Taisha

Types of activities in Kyoto

Guided Tours & Free Tours in Kyoto Transport Cards in Kyoto Day Trips from Kyoto

Other activities in Kyoto

Free Tour of Kyoto Gion Free Walking Tour Kyoto Private Walking Tour Traditional Kimono Rental Nishiki Market Food Tour Kyoto Tourist Bus Kyoto Tower Tickets Haruka Express Train Between Kansai Airport and Kyoto or Osaka Kyoto Imperial Palace + Nijo Castle Guided Tour Kyoto Bike Tour

Best of Kyoto Tour

Finally, we'll say our goodbyes at this last spot, where we'll conclude this 10-hour and 45-minute tour. Here, we'll tell you how to return to the Kyoto Station.

Tour Options

During the booking process, you can choose between different options:

Tour without tickets: in this case, you'll need to pay the price of the tickets for the Kinkaku-ji (500JPY per person), Kiyomizu-dera Temple (500JPY per person), and Nijō Castle (1000JPY per person)
Tour with tickets: if you choose this option, you'll have tickets to Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Nijō Castle included.

Partial Closures

At times, it may not be possible to visit Nijo Castle. In that case, we'll visit Sanjūsangen-dō Temple instead.

Best of Kyoto Tour