Kyoto Morning Tour: Golden Pavilion & Imperial Palace Visit

The Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle has carvings so intricate the tour stops there alone.

A morning tour of Kyoto's three most significant historical sites—Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, and Kyoto Imperial Palace—led by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter, with admission and transport included. Departing from either Kyoto or Osaka (with shinkansen transfer from Osaka), the tour runs four to six hours and ends at Kyoto Station, leaving the afternoon free. On days when the Imperial Palace closes, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Nishi Hongan-ji Temple substitutes; if Nijo Castle is closed, Ryoan-ji Temple replaces it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kyoto morning tour highlights

• Travel from Osaka to Shin-Osaka Station
• Take shinkansen to Kyoto Station
• Walk to Sunrise Tours Desk at Kyoto Avanti
• Board bus and start sightseeing tour
• Visit Nijo Castle and see Ninomaru Palace
• Visit Golden Pavilion and surrounding pond
• See Kyoto Imperial Palace or alternate site

The Experience

The tour starts in the morning and moves through three stops that shaped Japan's imperial and feudal history. Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate; the guide walks you through the Ninomaru Palace, where the carvings and decorative work are the centerpiece. From there you move to the Golden Pavilion, also a World Heritage site, where the wooden structure is covered in thin layers of pure gold and sits beside a pond. The final stop is Kyoto Imperial Palace, which served as the Emperor's residence until roughly 150 years ago.

If you're departing from Osaka, an English-speaking assistant meets you at Hotel Granvia Osaka and travels with you to Kyoto via public transportation and shinkansen (non-reserved seating). The journey takes you from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka, then the bullet train to Kyoto Station, where you walk to the Sunrise Tours Desk at Kyoto Avanti to board the tour bus. From Kyoto, you board directly at the same desk. The tour ends in front of Kyoto Avanti across from Kyoto Station, so you're positioned to explore the city on your own for the rest of the day.

A National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter leads the sightseeing portion and explains the history and architecture at each site. Admission fees and all transport during the tour are included. The order of stops and arrival times may shift depending on traffic and crowds at the destinations. Note that seating on the shinkansen and tour bus is not reserved, and the tour does not enter the Honmaru Palace or Painting Gallery at Nijo Castle.

What’s included

• National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter for the sightseeing stops.
• admission to Nijo Castle, Golden Pavilion, and Kyoto Imperial Palace (or their substitutes).
• transport by tour bus during the tour.
• shinkansen and public transportation from Osaka to Kyoto (Osaka departures only).

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.

Is this one for you?Book from Osaka if you're in the Kansai region and want a guide with you during the shinkansen journey; book from Kyoto if you're already staying there and prefer to skip the transfer time.

Traveler reviews

4.44★★★★★★★★★★

423 verified traveler reviews

5 ★275

4 ★89

3 ★38

2 ★12

1 ★9

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed when I visit?

Kyoto Imperial Palace closes on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a holiday) and on days when there is an Imperial Household Agency event. On those days, the tour visits Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead, which is famous for the god of learning and has a main hall designated as a national treasure. If the closure falls on the 25th, the tour visits Nishi Hongan-ji Temple instead. No refund is issued when an alternative destination is substituted.

Is Nijo Castle always open during the tour?

Nijo Castle closes on Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December, and from December 26 to January 3 (or the following day if Tuesday is a holiday). When closed, Ryoan-ji Temple is visited instead, and no refund applies.

How does the transfer from Osaka work?

An English-speaking assistant accompanies you from Hotel Granvia Osaka to Kyoto Avanti, traveling by public transportation from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka Station, then by shinkansen (non-reserved seating) to Kyoto Station. Seating on the train is not guaranteed. The tour ends at Kyoto Avanti and does not include return transportation to Osaka.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter for the sightseeing portion, admission fees to all three landmarks, and transportation during the tour itself. From Osaka, the shinkansen and public transport to Kyoto are included, but the return trip to Osaka is not.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Children up to five years old may join free of charge but will not be provided with a bus seat or lunch. If a bus seat or lunch is needed for a young child, book under the child rate. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and strollers are permitted.

How long is the sightseeing portion, and what time does it end?

The tour runs four to six hours from the time the bus departs at Kyoto Avanti. It ends in front of Kyoto Avanti across from Kyoto Station, allowing you to spend the afternoon exploring Kyoto independently. Exact arrival times may vary depending on traffic and crowds at the sites.