KYOTO DAY TRIPS FROM OSAKA

Kyoto from Osaka: The 15 Best Day Trips

55 tours  ·  from $49 a head

Kyoto is thirty minutes up the line, close enough to visit without changing hotels. These 15 trips cover the bus loops, the guided rail days and the routes that add Nara or Uji on the way.

World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience - Nandaimon and the Great Buddha at Todaiji
Historical Tours, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Tours, Osaka Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience

1.World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,573 reviews · from $129Our pick

Travel from Kyoto by air-conditioned coach to Nara’s Kasuga Shrine, deer park and Todaiji Temple, then continue to Uji for Byodoin Temple, matcha making and time for tea sweets. An English-speaking guide leads the day, with guides including Den, Nanami and Yuta. The tour lasts about 8.5 hours; lunch is available if selected.

“I would highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Japan for the first time. Nara was very fun but do be careful of the deer! I would also recommend opting for the lunch during the tour, this was a great chance to try some traditional JapanRead more”

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Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket - Okonomiyaki, Hiroshima’s local lunch
Hiroshima Day Trips from Osaka, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Bus Tours, Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

2.Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 919 reviews · 12 hours · from $277

Take a 12-hour guided trip from Osaka or Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Your day includes round-trip Shinkansen tickets, a coach, the Peace Memorial Museum, the Atomic Bomb Dome, a ferry, Itsukushima Shrine, and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Guides such as Joe, Hiro, and Azusa have led the tour, though your guide will depend on your departure date.

“We had a lovely day trip. The tour was informative and smooth. The guide, Joe, clearly loves what he does and brought wonderful energy to the experience.”

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From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour - Kiyomizu-dera’s Wooden Stage and City View
1-Day Tours, Guided, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Bus Tours, Osaka City Tours, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour

3.Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 714 reviews · 9 hours - 570 minutes · from $51

Spend a full day visiting four Kyoto landmarks by air-conditioned coach, with an English-speaking guide to explain their history and help you keep to the schedule. Walk beneath Fushimi Inari’s vermilion gates, see the city from Kiyomizu-dera, and finish among Arashiyama’s bamboo. Entry tickets are included; a traditional lunch is optional.

“Guide , Masa, could explain clearly what we were going to see and other instructions. Good highlights of Kyoto”

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Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available) - Nara Park: deer, biscuits, and a little unpredictability
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Morning, Nara Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

4.Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 676 reviews · from $61

Walk Nara with an English-speaking guide in a group of no more than 12, visiting Kofuku-ji, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara Park, and Todaiji’s Great Buddha. The early start gives you a quieter look at the shrine paths and deer before the day’s crowds arrive. Kyoto or Osaka transport is available as an option, but the return trip is on your own.

“Momoka is an amazing guide—thoughtful, attentive, and incredibly helpful. She patiently explained everything, answered all our questions, and shared great tips along the way. We truly enjoyed the tour. The early morning schedule was perfect, even during peak season. Highly recommended!”

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Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka - Kinkaku-ji: a golden landmark and garden walk
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka City Tours, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka

5.Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 332 reviews · from $90

This nine-hour coach tour links Kyoto’s Arashiyama district and Golden Pavilion with Nara Park and the Great Buddha at Todaiji. You’ll travel from Kyoto Station or central Osaka with an English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, and, on selected options, lunch and temple tickets. Guides such as Yuki, Maria, Haru, and Hama have been praised for clear tips and friendly help.

“It was a full day experience of Culture and Nature. Haru was wonderful as a guide. Recommend to everyone.”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park - Lunch in Kyoto, with an important menu caveat
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Tours, Tour Reviews

Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

6.Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 265 reviews · from $69

Travel from Kyoto or Osaka to Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Nara Park, with an English-speaking guide to keep the day organized and explain the sights. You’ll walk the bamboo grove, view the Golden Pavilion and its gardens, and meet Nara’s deer near Todaiji’s Great Buddha. Lunch and temple tickets depend on the option you book.

“Good example of a perfect guided day trip. Entertaining, informative, beautiful scenery, not too packed schedule. Eiko is an amazing and very knowledgeable guide, she provided us with background information on all the sites while traveling + a detailed plan in case anyone got lost and needed to find their way back. On top of that, she was able to get the whole group deer crackers in Nara at 4pm when all the stores had already been sold out. Thanks so much for the unforgettable experience!”

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Osaka/Kyoto: Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch - The view from Kasamatsu Park
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Osaka/Kyoto: Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch

7.Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 207 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $71

Travel by air-conditioned coach to Chion-ji Temple, Amanohashidate and Miyama’s thatched-roof Kayabuki no Sato. The tour includes a short boat cruise, a cable car or chairlift ticket, lunch and an English- or Chinese-speaking guide. Guides such as Harry, Nick and Eric have helped make the long day lively and easy to follow.

“The day was long but the tour guide made it fun and had loads of facts to share! loads to see, was a good day!”

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Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka - Kinkaku-ji: the Golden Pavilion beside its pond
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Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

8.Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 175 reviews · from $198

Leave Osaka early for a guided sweep through Kyoto and Nara: Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji’s gold-covered pavilion, the Imperial Palace or a substitute shrine, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and Todai-ji’s Great Buddha. Transport and entry fees are included. Choose a lunch option or spend the lunch break on your own.

“The Kyoto trip was pretty rush.. We wasn't give enough time to have a good look at the different places and for photo-taking. Nara trip was quite ok. Was given enough time to have fun with the deers, temple and shrine. Tour guide also make sure we make our way back to Osaka before they goes off.”

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Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour - Kiyomizu-dera and its hillside stage
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour

9.Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 171 reviews · from $82

Spend about nine hours moving between Kyoto’s best-known sights by air-conditioned bus, with an English-speaking guide handling the route. Walk through Fushimi Inari’s red gates, explore Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera, and ride the 23-minute Sagano Romantic Train. Lunch is optional. Expect a full day, plenty of walking, and limited time at each stop.

“It was a very nice experience, however i could have been better if we could spend more time at bamboo forest. Overall it was unforgettable”

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Nara Early Bird Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available) - From Kyoto Station to Nara
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Nara Early Bird Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available)

10.Nara Early Bird Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 142 reviews · from $88

Start from Kyoto Station or meet the group in Nara for a guided morning walk to Kofuku-ji, Todaiji, Nara Park, and Kasuga Grand Shrine. The Kyoto option includes the train to Nara and takes about four hours; the Nara meet-up takes three. Guides such as Futaba, Kota, and Genki lead groups of up to 12.

“amazing tour in an amazing city, with amazing guides. Shuma-kun knows a lot about the city, he knows the right paths and hidden gems. Nara is not just about the deers, there are way more beautiful things, worths to check and worths to walk.”

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From Osaka or Kyoto: Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour - Nara Park and the Great Buddha
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From Osaka or Kyoto: Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour

11.Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 141 reviews · from $64

Ride between Nara and Kyoto’s signature sights on an air-conditioned bus, with English or Chinese commentary. The planned stops include Nara Park and Todaiji, Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari. Kinkaku-ji admission is included; Todaiji admission is extra. Osaka departures offer an optional Kobe beef lunch.

“Friendly and professional guides - English and Chinese speaking. Good value for money but be prepared for bus loads of tourists at each destination and a long day out.”

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Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation - Arashiyama’s bamboo, bridge, and Kimono Forest
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Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

12.Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 130 reviews · from $247

Travel by private vehicle between Kyoto’s headline sights: Kiyomizu-dera, the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka lanes, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari. An English-speaking guide helps you manage the day, and guides such as Ben, Christine, Lewis, and Somei have tailored stops to guests’ interests. The tour runs about 8 to 10 hours; lunch is not included.

“Delightful, immersive experience covering the culture, history and sights of Kyoto. Picturesque and colorful views, taste of some local food and visiting key attractions in the city were the highlight of the tour. Our day started with Benji - our enthusiastic and friendly tour guide picking us up in the morning in his spacious, clean and cool minivan. We visited shrines, temples, had lunch at a local vegan restaurant given our meal preferences, had time to do some shopping and took a lot of pictures! to create lasting memories. Overall highly recommend this tour and we look forward to doing another for other sights when we visit kyoto next. Thank…”

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Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide - Arashiyama: bamboo, shops, and a crowd check
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Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide

13.Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews

Spend 8 to 10 hours visiting Nara and Kyoto in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide. The route can include Nara Park, Tōdai-ji, Arashiyama, Tenryū-ji, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari. Guides named in past bookings include Hamza, Ali, Nomi, and Sha. Pickup is offered in Osaka, Kyoto, or Nara.

“The travel was just apt and with the best support and guide like Hamzi, it made travel and sightseeing so easy. Hamzi was brilliant and knew every place with complete details. His politeness, behaviour and understanding nature made us feel very comfortable during the entire day. Highly recommended”

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From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch - Arashiyama: bamboo, with choices to make
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From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch

14.Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · from $68

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Osaka or Kyoto to Arashiyama, Nara Park and Fushimi Inari. Each main stop gets about 80 minutes, with an optional shabu-shabu or Kobe beef lunch at Kyoto Wasabi. English or Chinese commentary is provided, and guides have included Nick-san, Amanda, Harry and Gary.

“Great tour guide. Very knowledgeable. Loved the lunch option. Great choices for areas to visit with good time at each location.”

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Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto - Amanohashidate from the viewpoint
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Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto

15.Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · from $64

Spend about nine hours visiting Ine’s waterfront boat houses, riding a bay sightseeing boat if you choose, and viewing Amanohashidate from above and on foot. Round-trip transport and a guide are included; the boat cruise, chairlift or monorail, and lunch cost extra. Guides vary by departure.

“Nate was truly the great amazing he can speak so many languages and the trip was well worth it I highly recommend for the value”

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New in Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka

★ 3.1Kyoto and Nara Customizable Guided Day Trip5 reviews
★ 4.5Private Guide Tour of the Castle from Osaka or KyotoFrom $2037 reviews
★ 3.9Nara One Day Private Tour5 reviews
★ 4.1Arashiyama, Nara Park, Fushimi Shrine TourFrom $5113 reviews
★ 3.7Private Customizable Day Tour to KyotoFrom $2786 reviews
★ 3.5Kyoto Private Day Tour9 reviews
★ 3.810-hour Private Custom Tour to Kyoto10 reviews
★ 3.6Kyoto Highlights Tour and Pottery Workshop ExperienceFrom $1164 reviews
★ 3.9Kyoto Highlights & Nara Park Day TripFrom $694 reviews
★ 5.0Nara Customizable Self-Guided Tour with Driver5 reviews
★ 4.5Full Day Sightseeing Tour of KyotoFrom $6516 reviews
★ 4.5Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Kyoto coast day trip from Osaka/KyotoFrom $8417 reviews
★ 5.0Hiroshima and Miyajima Private Day Tour from Kyoto/Osaka17 reviews
★ 5.0Nara Private Tour: Flexible Pickup from Kyoto, Osaka, or NaraFrom $13117 reviews
★ 4.5Hiroshima and Miyajima 1 Day Private Tour from Kyoto or OsakaFrom $54318 reviews

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