Kyoto & Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Arashiyama, Todai-ji & Fushimi Inari

Three Temples, One Day: Kyoto & Nara from Osaka with Lunch

You travel by air-conditioned bus from Osaka or Kyoto through three of Japan's most visited cultural sites in a single day. You walk the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, see the 15-meter Great Buddha inside Todai-ji Temple, and pass through thousands of red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Lunch is optional but includes Kobe beef if you choose it. The bus departs on schedule and returns to your starting city by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Arashiyama Park50m
2. Togetsukyo Bridge10m
3. Nara Park40m
4. Todai-ji Temple40m
5. Fushimi Inari Shrine1h 20m

Explore Kyoto and Nara highlights

• Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Walk through Arashiyama Kimono Forest
• See Togetsukyo Bridge
• Enjoy lunch at Kyoto Wasabi Restaurant
• Explore Nara Park
• Visit Todai-ji Temple and Great Buddha
• Walk through Fushimi Inari Shrine torii gates
• Return by bus to Osaka or Kyoto

The experience

The bus leaves right on time (they're serious about that), and you've got about two hours in Arashiyama before anything else happens. If you skip the lunch option, you can wander the bamboo forest on your own schedule, grab something from a local spot, sit by the Togetsukyo Bridge and watch the river move. The bamboo grove itself is exactly what you've seen in photos, except you're actually standing in it, and the light does something different depending on what time you show up. The Arashiyama Kimono Forest installation is right there too if you want the color contrast.

Then you head to Nara, Japan's ancient capital, and the day shifts. Todai-ji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and inside it is the Great Buddha: a 15-meter bronze statue that sits in what's technically the world's largest wooden structure. You walk in and it's just there, and you understand why people came back to photograph it for centuries. Nara Park surrounds the temple, and if you time it right, you'll see the deer that roam freely, though they're used to tourists by now. The whole stop is built into the schedule, though the itinerary notes that timing depends on traffic and how things are running that day.

Fushimi Inari Shrine closes out the trip, and this is the one that stops people mid-step. Thousands of vermilion torii gates form a tunnel-like pathway up Mount Inari, each one a small shrine honoring the deity Inari Okami. You can walk as far up as you want or stay near the base: the gates keep going, and the light changes as you climb. It's the most photographed landmark in Japan for a reason, though it's also genuinely quiet if you move past the main entrance. After that, the bus takes you back to either Osaka or Kyoto, whichever you booked.

The whole day runs on a fixed schedule with an English or Chinese-speaking guide. If you choose the lunch option, you get 50 minutes at Kyoto Wasabi Restaurant for Kobe beef shabu-shabu, pork shabu-shabu, a Kobe beef rice bowl, or Kobe beef sukiyaki, then 60 minutes back in Arashiyama. One piece of luggage per person fits in the vehicle, and anything in the trunk stays there between stops, so keep valuables with you. Show up 10 minutes early at your assigned meeting point. The guide has a participant list for each bus, and late arrivals don't get refunded.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle with one piece of luggage per person.
• English or Chinese-speaking guide.
• entry to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Fushimi Inari Shrine.
• optional lunch at Kyoto Wasabi Restaurant featuring Kobe beef shabu-shabu, pork shabu-shabu, Kobe beef rice bowl, or Kobe beef sukiyaki.
• return transport to either Osaka or Kyoto.

Options for this experience

10 options

Guide in English or Chinese08:00

Guide in English or Chinese09:10

Guide in English or Chinese08:00

See 7 more options

Guide in English or Chinese09:10

Guide in English or Chinese09:10

Guide in English or Chinese08:00

Guide in English or Chinese09:10

Guide in English or Chinese08:00

Guide in English or Chinese08:00

Guide in English or Chinese09:10

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:10

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 49

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VIP Japan Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Kyoto and Nara highlights in one day without arranging your own transport, temple entry, or timing: the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, and the optional lunch saves you from hunting for a restaurant in Arashiyama.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the whole day trip?

The itinerary spans a full day with multiple stops. Arashiyama takes 120 minutes if you skip lunch, or 110 minutes if you eat (50 minutes lunch, 60 minutes exploring). Nara and Fushimi Inari follow, with return travel included. Exact duration depends on traffic and operational conditions.

What's included in the optional lunch?

Lunch at Kyoto Wasabi Restaurant offers four choices: Kobe beef shabu-shabu, pork shabu-shabu, Kobe beef rice bowl, or Kobe beef sukiyaki. The lunch option takes 50 minutes, and you get 60 additional minutes to explore Arashiyama afterward.

Can I choose to return to Osaka or Kyoto?

Yes. At the end of the tour, you can disembark the bus at either Osaka or Kyoto, depending on where you started or prefer to end your day.

What happens if I'm late to the meeting point?

The bus departs on time with no exceptions. If you arrive late or at the wrong meeting point, you will miss the tour and no refund will be issued. Arrive 10 minutes early at your assigned location.

Can I bring luggage?

You can bring one piece of luggage per person. It must fit comfortably in the vehicle. Items stored in the trunk are not accessible between stops, so keep valuables with you.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour departs regardless of weather or traffic conditions unless the supplier cancels due to extreme weather or natural disaster. In that case, you receive a full refund. The itinerary may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances.

Do I need to book a confirmation email before the tour?

Confirmation emails are not sent automatically. If you need information or clarification, contact the operator during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–6:30 PM JST).

Can I make restaurant or other time-sensitive bookings right after the tour?

No. Avoid booking time-sensitive activities like restaurant reservations or cruise ship departures immediately after the tour, as return times may be delayed due to traffic or operational conditions.