Kyoto Private Day Tour with English Driver: Customizable

Six major Kyoto landmarks in one day, arranged around what you want to see.

A private day tour of Kyoto by car with an English-speaking driver and hotel pickup, where you choose which attractions to visit and how long to spend at each one. The itinerary is built to your interests from a roster that includes Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama's bamboo forest, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Nishiki Market and the historic streets of Gion Corner. The driver handles navigation and transport. Admission tickets and meals are purchased separately at each location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Arashiyama Park1h
2. Golden Pavilion1h
3. Nishiki Market1h 30m
4. Gion Corner1h
5. Kiyomizu-dera Temple1h
6. Fushimi Inari Shrine1h

Explore Kyoto's iconic landmarks

• Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• See Tenryu-ji Temple and gardens
• View Togetsukyo Bridge
• Tour Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
• Walk through Nishiki Market
• Explore Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets
• Admire Yasaka Pagoda
• Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Hike Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine trails

The experience

If you've just arrived in Kyoto or have a free afternoon and want to see multiple sites without renting a car or joining a group, this tour solves the logistics. You get picked up at your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver who speaks English and knows the city. The route is yours to shape: tell the driver which landmarks matter to you, and the day builds around that. Fushimi Inari's thousands of red torii gates, the gold-leafed pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. You're not locked into a fixed schedule that rushes you through all of them.

The stops themselves are substantial. Arashiyama in western Kyoto centers on a bamboo grove where you walk between towering stalks. The area also holds the UNESCO-listed Tenryu-ji Temple and the Togetsukyo Bridge with mountain views. Nishiki Market runs five blocks as a food-focused shopping street with over a hundred stalls selling fresh seafood, produce, local sweets and Kyoto specialties. Kiyomizu-dera Temple sits on a forested hillside east of the city, with a wooden stage that juts 13 meters over the slope: cherry and maple trees below create a sea of color in their seasons. Fushimi Inari, founded in 711 AD, draws visitors to hike trails lined with donated torii gates and fox statues. The historic Higashiyama district around Gion Corner and the five-story Yasaka Pagoda preserves stone-paved streets and traditional machiya townhouses.

The driver waits while you explore each site. Admission to temples and shrines, food at the market, any special experiences. You pay for those on the spot. The tour runs 8 to 10 hours depending on which attractions you choose and how you pace the day. Pickup is included from your Kyoto hotel. If you're staying in Osaka or Nara, pickup is available for an additional fee.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking driver for the full 8 to 10 hours.
• transportation between all attractions you choose to visit.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ashan Global Tours

Is this one for you?An 8 to 10 hour commitment means you can see four to six major landmarks in one day without the rigid timing of a group tour: ideal if you're new to Kyoto and want a driver who knows the city but don't want to navigate or drive yourself. If you have only a few hours or prefer to linger in one neighborhood, a shorter private rental or a walking tour of a single district might suit you better.

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Top questions

Can I pick which Kyoto attractions to visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

The itinerary is customizable. You choose which landmarks to visit from the available options (Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market, Gion Corner), and the driver builds the day around your interests and how long you want to spend at each one.

What is Fushimi Inari Shrine known for?

Fushimi Inari is famous for thousands of vibrant red torii gates that form tunnels along hiking trails up Mount Inari. Founded in 711 AD and dedicated to the Shinto deity of prosperity and business, the shrine also features fox statues believed to be Inari's messengers, and the trails offer scenic views of Kyoto.

Does the tour include meals and admission tickets?

Admission tickets to temples, shrines and attractions, as well as any meals or food purchases, are not included and are purchased directly at each location. The tour covers transportation and the driver's time.

How long does the tour last?

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours depending on which attractions you visit and how much time you spend at each one.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, and private air-conditioned transportation throughout Kyoto are included. If you're staying outside Kyoto in Osaka or Nara, pickup is available for an additional fee of ¥20,000.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible, all areas and surfaces at the attractions are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.