Kyoto Private Car Charter: Customize Your Own Route

Build your own Kyoto day around the sites that matter to you.

A private car charter in Kyoto lets you customize a full-day itinerary or follow a recommended route through major temples, markets and historic streets, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You choose the attractions (Arashiyama's bamboo forest, Fushimi Inari's torii gates, Nijo Castle, Gion's traditional streets, Nishiki Market and others), and the driver handles the route and timing. The 10-hour window covers travel time, so you move at your own pace without a guide narrating the stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Arashiyama Park2h
2. Golden Pavilion1h
3. Nishiki Market1h
4. Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka1h
5. Gion Corner1h
6. Nijo Castle1h
7. Fushimi Inari Shrine1h

Explore Kyoto's top attractions

• Visit Arashiyama Park and Bamboo Forest
• See Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryuji Temple
• Tour Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
• Explore Nishiki Market
• Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Walk Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka streets
• Discover Gion district
• Tour Nijo Castle
• Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

The experience

Kyoto's temples, gardens and markets sit across different neighborhoods, and a private car lets you hit the ones you actually want to see instead of following a fixed group schedule. You can start with Arashiyama's bamboo forest and Togetsukyo Bridge, move to the Golden Pavilion's gold-leaf exterior and pond, then drop into Nishiki Market to walk past stalls of pickled vegetables and local sweets. The driver knows the routes and parking. You decide whether to spend an hour at one shrine or move through several. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean no navigating trains or taxis between sites.

The car comes with air conditioning, highway tolls and parking fees covered, so there are no hidden charges once you book. You can bring up to six, nine or thirteen passengers depending on the vehicle you choose, and the first child seat is free if you request it ahead of time. Travel time counts toward the 10 hours, so a site that takes 90 minutes to explore eats into the window: that is why the operator helps you plan the route in advance, fitting the attractions you want into the time you have. If you need more than 10 hours, overtime runs 5,000 yen per hour.

The recommended itinerary strings together Arashiyama, the Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu-dera Temple with its wooden architecture and city views, the cobblestone streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Gion's geisha district, Nijo Castle with its famous nightingale floors, and Fushimi Inari's thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up the hillside. You do not have to follow it. The operator will draft a custom route based on your favorites and any special requests you send before the trip.

What’s included

• Private transportation with a professional driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• highway tolls and parking fees.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• the first child seat at no extra cost if requested in advance.

Options for this experience

12 options

1-day Kyoto tour with 6 seatsUp to 6 per booking · No fixed timeBusiness van: maximum 6 passengers, up to 4 pieces of luggage when full. Duration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kyoto. Toyota Alphard: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto, 6 seatsUp to 6 per booking · No fixed timeBusiness van: maximum 6 passengers, up to 4 pieces of luggage when full. Duration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Osaka. Toyota Alphard: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Kobe to Kyoto, 6 seatsUp to 6 per booking · No fixed timeBusiness van: maximum 6 passengers, up to 4 pieces of luggage when full. Duration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kobe. Toyota Alphard: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

See 9 more options

1-day Nara to Kyoto tour with 6 seatsUp to 6 per booking · No fixed timeBusiness van: maximum 6 passengers, up to 4 pieces of luggage when full. Duration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Nara. Toyota Alphard: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day Kyoto tour with 9 seatsUp to 9 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kyoto. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto, 9 seatsUp to 9 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Osaka. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Kobe to Kyoto, 9 seatsUp to 9 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kobe. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day Nara to Kyoto tour with 9 seatsUp to 9 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Nara. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day Nara to Kyoto tour for groups of up to 13 seatsUp to 13 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Nara. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day Kyoto tour with 13 seatsUp to 13 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kyoto. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto, 13 seatsUp to 13 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Osaka. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

1-day tour from Kobe to Kyoto, 13 seatsUp to 13 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. Departs from the urban area of Kobe. Toyota Hiace: you cannot choose the drivers' nationality. Drivers speak English, Japanese or Chinese, assigned at random. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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.

Paid on siteJP¥ 10,000

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by osakatravel

Is this one for you?Choose this charter if you want to move between multiple sites without waiting for group departures or managing public transport, and if you prefer to spend your time at the attractions that interest you most rather than following a fixed itinerary. The 10-hour window and customizable route work best for travelers who have already decided which temples, markets and neighborhoods they want to see.

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Top questions

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 24 h before the start.

Can I pick which attractions to visit, or does the itinerary stay fixed?

You fully customize the route. Select your favorite attractions in Kyoto and share any special requests with the operator before your departure. They will plan the route, draft an itinerary and make advance reservations if necessary. A recommended itinerary is available if you prefer a ready-made option.

What is included in the 10-hour charter?

Private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, highway tolls, parking fees and an air-conditioned vehicle are all included. The first child seat is free if you request it in advance. Travel time between sites counts toward the 10 hours.

How many people can fit in the car, and how much luggage can we bring?

A 6-seat car holds 6 passengers and 4 pieces of luggage; a 9-seat car holds 9 passengers and 10 pieces; a 13-seat car holds 13 passengers and 6 pieces. You choose the vehicle size when you book.

What is Fushimi Inari Shrine, and how long does it take to explore?

Fushimi Inari Taisha is renowned for thousands of vermillion torii gates that wind through forested hillside paths, with smaller shrines and viewpoints scattered along the network of trails. The time you spend there depends on how far up the hillside you want to walk. The operator will help you fit it into your 10-hour window when planning your route.

Is there a guide on the tour, or do I explore on my own?

This is a self-guided tour with a driver only. You have no guide narrating the stops, so you move at your own pace and spend as long as you want at each site.

What happens if I want to stay longer than 10 hours?

Overtime beyond 10 hours costs 5,000 yen per hour for 6- or 9-seat vehicles. You can add extra time when you book or arrange it with the operator before your departure.