6 Best Tours to Discover Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is a city where ancient traditions meet modern charm, making it one of Japan’s most captivating destinations. Whether you're here for the historic temples, serene Zen gardens, or the vibrant Gion district, choosing the best tours in Kyoto can transform your visit into an unforgettable experience.

As someone who has explored this city extensively, I know firsthand how guided tours can unlock Kyoto’s hidden wonders, offering deep cultural insights and seamless itineraries.

From the stunning Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of vermillion torii gates, to the breathtaking Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto is filled with bucket-list spots. But the real magic lies in expert-led food tours, immersive tea ceremonies, and private walks through geisha districts, where you get a rare glimpse into Kyoto’s living history. Whether you’re after a day trip to Nara, a Kyoto night tour, or a cycling tour along the Kamo River, there's a perfect option for every traveler.

In this guide, I’ll break down the top-rated Kyoto tours, covering everything from private excursions to budget-friendly group tours, so you can maximize your time in Japan’s cultural heart. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or a nature lover, these curated experiences will help you discover Kyoto in the most immersive way possible. Let’s dive into the best tours that will make your Kyoto adventure truly unforgettable.

Excursions from Kyoto: 6 irresistible proposals

Throughout the post you will find a wide variety of suggestions: from Nara with its sacred deer, to Osaka, the birthplace of street art and culinary cradle of Japan, where you can also spend a day at Universal Studios (or visiting the medieval castle). As I said: there are options for all tastes, budgets and travelers. Are you curious yet? Let's see them one by one!

Did you know that you can travel all over Japan by train with unlimited freedom thanks to the Japan Rail Pass ? Take a look to see if it's worth it for you - there are 7, 14 or 21-day passes.

1. Nara, one of the Best Tours from Kyoto

Nara was the capital of Japan for almost 800 years , from 710 to 794, so it's a little piece of living Japanese history - and so very much so! Today, it's home to a huge community of very friendly sacred deer , who'll want to munch on your map as soon as you take it out of your pocket. Spread across the area are more than 1,000 temples and shrines , including some of the most important in Japan .

Taking a trip to Nara from Kyoto is not only a recommended option, but also a very simple one. You can easily get there by train and/or bus and the trip will not take more than 1 hour.

Once in Nara, among all the places to visit, we highlight the following:

Todai-ji : Nara's most important temple, it houses a large 15-meter-high bronze Buddha, known as Daibutsu .
Kofuku-ji : a temple and shrine complex that was the political and religious center of Nara for centuries.
Isuien : a Zen garden with ponds, waterfalls and rocks.
Nara Park : a 500-hectare park home to over 1,000 deer, which are considered sacred (please do not feed them).

Nara Park: Japan's sacred deer sanctuary | CNN

2. Osaka

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan and is known for its lively nightlife , pop culture and especially for its street food … In fact, it is considered the gastronomic capital of Japan , that's something! In its narrow streets you can have a feast based on takoyaki , okonomiaki , gyozas and other typical dishes of Japanese cuisine . Legend has it that there has not been a single traveler who passed through this city and returned with fewer kilos than before arriving.

The connections between Kyoto and Osaka are continuous and super simple: the train will take you only between 30 and 60 minutes (depending on the type of train), so you have no excuse not to go. And once there, you can always sign up for a free tour , a full-day guided tour in Spanish , or create your own route, which cannot miss the main places of interest in Osaka, which are:

Dotonbori : is a shopping and dining district with many restaurants, shops and bars.
Universal Studios Japan : This legendary theme park is located in Osaka and features attractions based on movies and TV series. Buy your ticket in advance here .
Osaka Castle : a medieval castle, which is one of the symbols of the city and one of the most impressive in the country.

what to see and do in osaka

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3. Himeji Castle

Another highly recommended excursion from Kyoto is the one that will take you to Himeji Castle , also known as the White Heron Castle . It is famous and super popular among the Japanese for being one of the most beautiful medieval castles in the country of the rising sun, and for being considered an outstanding example of Japanese feudal architecture . It is not for nothing that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Entrance costs 1,000¥ and we recommend you visit it to be amazed by one of the wonders of Japan and to learn about what life was like in this representative period in the country's history (with the audio guide you will learn lots of interesting facts and secrets). Just be prepared to climb some steep stairs!

To get to Himeji from Kyoto , the best option is to take the train (hitchhiking didn't work out so well for us, heh). If you have the JR Pass with a Shinkansen bullet train , it will only take 43 minutes, otherwise you will have to change at Nishi Akashi Station (it takes about 1.5-2 hours). Once at the station, you can walk for about 20 minutes to the castle grounds and it's easy to get there: you have to follow Otemae Street straight ahead.

Himeji Castle, one of the best excursions in Kyoto

4. Koyasan, an incredible getaway from Kyoto

More of an experience than an excursion, you'll visit the sacred city of Koyasan , where Shingon Buddhism was founded (shhh, no jokes about the name) . While the other getaways can be done perfectly in a day, on this one we recommend staying at least one night to fully immerse yourself in this magical and enigmatic corner of the Japanese mountains, full of temples, sanctuaries and centuries-old monuments.

Although for us there are two essential experiences: visiting the Okunoin Cemetery and spending a night in a Shukubo . Shukubo ? These are temples that offer tourists the chance to spend the night, participate in their religious ceremonies and enjoy traditional vegetarian meals called shojin ryori (for a fee, of course, hehe). It's not exactly cheap, but it will be money well spent as you will always remember the experience... For us, it was one of the best things about Japan.

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5. Hiroshima

Although the ideal is to spend 2 or 3 days to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima calmly , there are many travelers who are short on time who take advantage of the Shinkansen pass to make a daily excursion to Hiroshima from Kyoto (and it is not at all a crazy option if we consider that the train only takes 1h40m-2h each way).

If you are planning to take a few hours' walk through the city that sadly became famous throughout the world for the atomic bombs in World War II, don't forget to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum , and if you have time, go to the beautiful island of Miyajima to see its curious "floating" tori.

Hiroshima and Miyajima 1 Day Bus Tour from Osaka and Kyoto in Hiroshima | Pelago

6. Kobe

If there's one thing Kobe is internationally known for, it's beef , but that's not its only attraction. On a day trip from Kyoto you'll be able to see the main attractions: the Kitano Ijinkan-gai district , the Ikuta Jinja shrine, Sankita Street, Chinatown and of course the port . It's also popular in Japan for sake production; we saw the Sake Factory Museum thanks to our couchsurfing hosts .

But back to Kobe beef… Did you know that it is considered one of the best in the world ? It is valued for its quality as it comes from a breed ( Wagyu ) from which meat with a high intramuscular fat content (marbling) is obtained. To achieve this, the calves are cared for in several ways: the animals are raised in a controlled environment, they receive a carefully balanced diet that includes beer and they are massaged to improve the distribution of intramuscular fat.

You can get there from Kyoto by bus or train (it takes between 30 min and 1 hour approx.). If you prefer to go on a tour, this excursion to Kobe + Himeji Castle is quite complete.

Views of Kobe, another of the recommended Kyoto excursions

We've taken you on a journey through the best Kyoto tours , showing you natural wonders and cultural experiences in iconic Japanese locations. Come on, by now you've probably figured out that Kyoto, with its rich history and culture, is also a perfect starting point for a getaway. Do you know of any other Kyoto tours you might recommend?

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