Osaka · KYOTO DAY TRIPS FROM OSAKA

The 15 Best Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka

40 tours  ·  from $6

Kyoto is half an hour away and impossible to finish in a day, so the shape of the day matters more than the sights. These 15 sort the bus tours, the private cars and the self-guided runs by what they cover, what they cost and how early they leave.

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket - Starting at Shin-Osaka or Kyoto Station
Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Trips, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Bus Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

1.Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 919 reviews · 12 hours · from $277Our pick

Travel from Osaka or Kyoto to Hiroshima by shinkansen, then visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, and Hiroshima Castle before lunching on local okonomiyaki. A bus and ferry carry you to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine. Guides such as Joe, Azusa, Hiro, and Kane add history, humor, and practical help.

“Fascinating day exploring Hiroshima and Miyajima island! Hiroshima was incredibly emotional and thought-provoking, but be prepared for a busy museum! Our lunch trying authentic Japanese food was excellent and the trip around the island afterward was the perfect way to end the day. Transportation was seamless and our guide was extremely knowledgable!”

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From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour - Fushimi Inari and its famous torii gates
1-Day Tours, Guided, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour

2.Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 714 reviews · 9 hours - 570 minutes · from $51

Spend nine hours visiting Kyoto’s biggest sights by air-conditioned coach, with an English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, and temple admissions included. Walk through Fushimi Inari’s torii gates, see Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside view, visit the Golden Pavilion, and stroll through Arashiyama. Add a traditional lunch or bring your own.

“We saw plenty of Kyoto highlights and the it was well timed and organised. Plenty of time to see each attraction before heading to the next.”

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Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka - Starting in Arashiyama with bamboo and river views
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka

3.Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 332 reviews · from $90

Join guides such as Yuki, Haru, Maria, or Michiko for a 9-hour bus tour from Kyoto or Osaka. Walk through Arashiyama, photograph Kinkaku-ji, feed Nara’s deer, and see Todaiji’s Great Buddha. Choose lunch and check whether your booking includes temple admission.

“It was ok in general terms, but if you want to take more pictures, the schedules could be sometime stressing 😅! Our tour guide did her best "Michiko" thank you!”

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Osaka/Kyoto: Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch - Chion-ji Temple and the rotating bridge
Amanohashidate and Ine Day Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka/Kyoto: Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch

4.Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 207 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $71

Spend 9 to 10 hours exploring northern Kyoto by air-conditioned bus. Visit Chion-ji Temple, cruise beside Amanohashidate, ride a cable car or chairlift to Kasamatsu Park, enjoy a Japanese seafood lunch, and walk Miyama’s Kayabuki no Sato. English and Chinese-speaking guides lead the day.

“Mike did a great job with the tour! He made sure we had a great time and kept us informed.”

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Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka - Starting in Osaka and crossing to Kyoto
1-Day Tours, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews

Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

5.Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 175 reviews · from $198

Travel from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara with an English-speaking guide, visiting Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kasuga Shrine, and Todai-ji. The day uses trains and a coach, includes admissions, and offers optional lunch. Expect a fast pace and limited time at each stop.

“everything is ok except for the lunch which was close to terrible even if it was buffet. I also don't understand why u allow kids below 5 to join this tour? They were crying the whole time we were on the bus and our tour guide has a very soft voice, we can hardly hear her over the crying young kids!”

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Volleyball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with locals! - What the regular volleyball session feels like
Kobe Day Trips from Osaka, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews

Volleyball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with locals!

6.Volleyball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with locals!

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 131 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $6Best value

Join a small volleyball session in Osaka, Kobe, or Kyoto with English and Japanese instructors. Expect friendly games, shared equipment, and players from Japan and abroad. All levels are welcome, but some sessions move quickly, so bring indoor shoes and be ready to play.

“amazing, friendly and fun to meet everyone that came from around the world”

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Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation - Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Kyoto’s old lanes
Full-Day, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

7.Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 130 reviews · from $247Top rated

Spend 8 to 10 hours exploring Kyoto by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Visit Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari. Guides such as Ben, Christine, Lewis, and Somei can adjust the day for families, food needs, shopping, or shore-excursion schedules.

“We spent an amazing day in Kyoto with guide Ben (Yujiro)! He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny and so accommodating to our family of 4. Our kids still rave about the ramen shop he took us to which had THE best ramen we Read more”

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Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide - Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji
Guided, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Day Trips from Osaka, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide

8.Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews

You’ll travel by private air-conditioned vehicle from Osaka, Kyoto, or Nara with an English-speaking guide such as Hamza, Ali, Nomi, or Sha. Shape the day around Nara Park, Todai-ji, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari, with time for food and photos.

“We had an amazing experience with Ali during our trip to Kyoto and Nara. He is not only a safe and skilled driver, but also a knowledgeable, friendly, and thoughtful guide who made our journey smooth and memorable. Ali knew the best routes Read more”

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Pickleball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with Locals! - What the three-hour session is like
Kobe Day Trips from Osaka, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews

Pickleball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with Locals!

9.Pickleball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with Locals!

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 80 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $6

Join English and Japanese-speaking hosts, including Shuu-san or Mark, for friendly doubles pickleball at a gym in Osaka. All skill levels are welcome. Balls, showers, and lockers are provided, while paddles can be rented and indoor shoes are required.

“We had so much fun playing pickleball with the Osaka locals in Japan. We were visiting from Hawaii and I wish I could have planned more play time. Everyone was super friendly and they keep score in English!”

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Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto - Funaya no Sato Observation Park
1-Day Tours, Amanohashidate and Ine Day Trips, Full-Day, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews

Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto

10.Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · from $64

Spend about nine hours exploring Ine’s wooden boat houses, bay lookout, sightseeing boat, and Amanohashidate’s pine sandbar. Round-trip transport, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guide are included. Chairlift, boat ride, lunch, and personal expenses cost extra.

“We had a poor experience for this tour. The tour guide Charles was disinterested the whole time and didn’t bother to explain any spot/history of the planned places. The bus ride is 2 hours each way from the pickup/drop off location and he slept all through the ride in and out. Additionally he didnot cover all the spots mentioned in the plan. I would really advise the tour company to find motivated “guides” who actually care to do their job. Ine village and cable car ride were worth the visit but the experience would have been more enriching iff the guide would have done their job.”

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Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide - Getting from Osaka to Kyoto without wasting the morning
Full-Day, Guided, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide

11.Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $201

This eight-hour private walking tour links Osaka with Kyoto by public transport and a licensed English-speaking guide. Choose three or four sites from 35 options, including Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, Gion, Nishiki Market, and Arashiyama. Guides such as Ichiro, Rie, Bell, and Haru tailor the day to your pace.

“Was great tour especially with Ichiro he was our tour guide has so much knowledge and energy,he took us for three main attractions in Kyoto.”

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Kyoto 1 Day Tour from Osaka - Kinkakuji and the Golden Pavilion
1-Day Tours, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto 1 Day Tour from Osaka

12.Kyoto 1 Day Tour from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · from $183

Travel from central Osaka to Kyoto by JR rail, then visit Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji’s Golden Pavilion, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangendo, and Kiyomizu Temple. An English-speaking guide handles the city connections, while you choose a Western, Indian thali, or no-lunch option.

“The tour was very full and the tour guide comments could not have been heard as she had a very low voice.We left the tour early to visit Kyoto on our own.”

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Kyoto and Nara UNESCO Highlights Full-day Tour From Osaka - Kiyomizu-dera and the old lanes of eastern Kyoto
Full-Day, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto and Nara UNESCO Highlights Full-day Tour From Osaka

13.Kyoto and Nara UNESCO Highlights Full-day Tour From Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · from $62

See Kyoto and Nara’s best-known sights in one busy day from Osaka. Visit Kiyomizu-dera, wander old Kyoto lanes, pass through Fushimi Inari’s torii gates, and feed deer in Nara Park before visiting Todaiji. Guides such as Lu, Jason, and Ms. Zhao have been praised for clear explanations and helpful group support.

“This was an unforgettable trip! Our guide was super professional, knowledgeable, and full of passion for their work. Even though the schedule was a bit tight, we still managed to explore some amazing sights and experience the culture. It was my first time visiting Japan, and I highly recommend this itinerary!”

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Amanohashidate & Ine Boathouse Full-Day Tour from Kyoto or Osaka - The long ride north from Osaka or Kyoto
Amanohashidate and Ine Day Trips, Full-Day, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Tour Reviews, Tours

Amanohashidate & Ine Boathouse Full-Day Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

14.Amanohashidate & Ine Boathouse Full-Day Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · from $48

Spend about 10 hours visiting Amanohashidate, Chion-ji Temple, and Ine Fishing Village from Osaka or Kyoto. Ride an air-conditioned bus with a multilingual guide, then choose the Amanohashidate ropeway or Ine boat ride for extra fees. Guides such as Jay, Lily, Fred, and J are praised for keeping the day organized.

“You can't miss out on this trip, beautiful country side, great scenery, and the most beautiful view's of the coast and beaches. A highlight of our trip.”

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Kyoto & Nara Private Day Tour - Arashiyama’s bamboo and the time-pressure problem
Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Nara Day Trips from Osaka, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto & Nara Private Day Tour

15.Kyoto & Nara Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews

Travel by private vehicle from Osaka to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Nara Park, Todai-ji, and Kasuga Taisha Museum. The English-speaking driver handles the roads while you explore independently. Ali, Hamza, Hashan, and Ibrahim have earned especially warm praise, but service can vary.

“Ali was amazing!!! Very knowledgeable, kind, patient, he made our tour absolutely amaizing!!! Visited allá the places in the “what to expect list”. Tickets are not included but you can buy them on the spot easily.”

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New in Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka

★ 4.1Arashiyama, Nara Park, Fushimi Shrine TourFrom $5113 reviews
★ 5.0Hidden Gems of Osaka Kyoto Nara – Private Car Tour by Local Guide14 reviews
★ 4.6Kyoto and Nara Private Day Trip15 reviews
★ 4.5Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Kyoto coast day trip from Osaka/KyotoFrom $8417 reviews
★ 4.5From Osaka or Kyoto: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of KyotoFrom $6516 reviews
★ 5.0Hiroshima and Miyajima Private Day Tour from Kyoto/Osaka17 reviews
★ 5.0Badminton in Osaka & Kyoto with Locals!From $617 reviews
★ 5.0Volleyball in Osaka & Kyoto with Locals!From $621 reviews
★ 5.0Kansai/KIX Airport to or from Osaka/Kyoto Private Transfer20 reviews
★ 4.5Hiroshima and Miyajima 1 Day Private Tour from Kyoto or OsakaFrom $54318 reviews
★ 5.0Kyoto Top Four Highlights Day Trip from Osaka or KyotoFrom $6718 reviews
★ 3.7Amanohashidate Day Tour【Including tickets】From $5820 reviews
★ 4.5Private Customized Day Tour to Kyoto20 reviews
★ 4.4Kyoto, Nara, Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama Day TourFrom $5619 reviews
★ 4.7Kyoto & Nara & Uji Historical and Scenic One-Day TourFrom $5621 reviews

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