Kyoto · KYOTO BUS TOURS

7 Kyoto Bus Tours Worth Booking

7 tours  ·  from $27

Good kyoto bus tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour - Sanjusangendo offers a quieter interior stop
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PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

1.PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13,518 reviews · from $129Our pick

Start near Kyoto Station at 7:50 a.m. and spend 8 to 9 hours visiting Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangendo, Arashiyama, Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari. Guides such as Sakura, Mai, At-Chan, and Nagomi lead the day, with multilingual audio on the coach and an optional buffet lunch.

“I had a wonderful time on this tour to see places like The Golden Pavilion, Sanjusangen-do Temple, and other temples and the Shrines. At-Chan was our very informative tour guide and we learned a lot from her. Thank you At-Chan for everything and our Japanese Lunch Buffet was the bomb!!!”

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Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour - Sanjusangen-do and its remarkable wooden hall
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Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

2.Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,316 reviews · 510 minutes - 9 hours · from $122

Spend nine hours visiting Kyoto highlights with an English-speaking guide such as Den, At-Chan, Sakura, or Tommy. The route covers Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do, Arashiyama, Tenryuji, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari, with coach transport, entry tickets, Wi-Fi, and optional buffet lunch.

“We just finished a tour of Kyoto’s most iconic sites, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience. From start to finish, the organization was seamless, allowing us to take in all the beauty of the city without any stress. The highlight of our day was undoubtedly our guide, Den. She was incredible—knowledgeable, professional, and so engaging. She shared fascinating insights at every stop that really made the history of the temples and shrines come to life. Also, a special mention for the food: it was delicious! The lunch spot chosen was authentic and high-quality, which made the day even more special. If you are looking for a smooth, insightful, and…”

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Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket - Starting at Kyoto Station
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Kyoto: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

3.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 2,034 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $27Best value

Use a one or two-day mobile-voucher pass to ride Kyoto’s open-top sightseeing bus between major temples, markets, shrines, and museums. You can follow two routes, hear audio in seven languages, and spend as long as you like at stops such as Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Nijo Castle, and Kiyomizu-dera.

“Amazing , the bus drivers and the attendants were both great”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour - Nara Park and the deer of the old capital
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tours, Fushimi Inari Tours, Kyoto Bus Tours, Kyoto Tours, Nara Day Trips, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

4.Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,275 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $52

See Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Arashiyama in one 9 to 10-hour bus tour from Osaka or Kyoto. English and Chinese-speaking guides such as Amy, Willa, Christine, and Fiona lead the day, with free time for bamboo, temples, food, and photos.

“Our Kyoto tour was truly unforgettable, and a huge part of that was our incredible guide. Not only were they deeply knowledgeable, but the way they shared Kyoto’s history and stories made every temple, street, and moment come alive. On top of that, she was unbelievably kind and thoughtful, even surprising us with delicious Hokkaido rice biscuits along the way (which were so good!). Add to that a great sense of humor, perfectly timed jokes, and an easygoing vibe, and the entire tour felt warm, relaxed, and full of laughs. If you’re looking for a guide who combines history, heart, and humor, Amy is the one. Kyoto felt richer, more…”

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Kyoto: Nara & Traditional Matcha Experience Bus Tour - Starting near Kyoto Station at 8:00 AM
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Kyoto: Nara & Traditional Matcha Experience Bus Tour

5.Nara & Traditional Matcha Experience Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 185 reviews · 8h 30m · from $122

Travel from Kyoto to Nara and Uji with an English-speaking guide such as At-chan, Nanami, Mai, or Tsubasa. Visit Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, and Byodoin Temple, feed Nara’s deer, enjoy optional Japanese lunch, and make matcha in Uji.

“Tsubasa was an excellent tour guide as we adventured through Kyoto, Nara, and Uji! We learned so much about Japanese culture, history, and more. Tsubasa made sure the tour ran efficiently! We were in and out of destinations with a reasonable time to explore, eat, take photos, and shop.”

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From Kyoto: Nara History Guided Half Day Bus Tour with Lunch - Meeting in front of Kyoto Avanti
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From Kyoto: Nara History Guided Half Day Bus Tour with Lunch

6.Nara History Guided Half Day Bus Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 114 reviews · 6 hours · from $77

Travel from Kyoto to Nara for a six-hour guided outing with Todaiji entry, Kasuga Taisha, Nara Park deer, and a Japanese-style lunch. Guides such as Yuko, Tammy, Emiko, Aki, and Sachi have led recent departures. Expect group transport, plenty of walking, and no large luggage.

“Such a good experience. Emiko-san was very knowledgeable and was happy to answer all of the group's questions. We took the train from Kyoto to Kintetsu-Nara and then took a small private bus around Nara. The sites we visited (Todai-ji, Kasagutaisha Shrine, the deer) were all amazing. The weather was bad but Emiko-san made the day very interesting and educational.”

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Cruises & Boat Tours, Kyoto Bus Tours, Kyoto Tours, Sagano Romantic Train Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride

7.Kyoto Bus Tour: Sagano Railway & Hozugawa River Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · from $127

Start at Kyoto Station, ride the Sagano Railway from Saga to Kameoka, then take a roughly 90-minute Hozugawa River boat ride to Arashiyama. A Japanese-speaking guide manages the schedule, while GPS audio guidance is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. Free time follows in the bamboo grove area.

“This tour was OCD-level organized! From meeting point at bus terminal at Kyoto Station to assigned seating on bus to railway and assignment of cars, to boat boarding to directions for free time in Arashiyama, our guide was on top of everyRead more”

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Explore Kyoto

Pick a lane, a temple or a tea room.

The lanes

GionHigashiyamaWalking ToursNight WalksRickshaw Rides

Temples and shrines

Fushimi InariKiyomizu-deraKinkaku-jiNijo CastleZen Sitting

Tea and food

Tea CeremoniesMatchaNishiki MarketCooking ClassesSake Tastings

Out of town

NaraOsakaUjiSagano RailwayPrivate Car Days