Our 15 Favourite Kyoto Bus Tours

1.PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13,518 reviews · from $129Our pick

This 8 to 9-hour Kyoto bus tour links Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangendo, Arashiyama, Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari. An English-speaking guide such as Sakura, Mai, At-Chan, or Nagomi leads the day, with multilingual audio on the bus. Choose the buffet lunch option, wear good walking shoes, and expect a full schedule.

“Nagomi was wonderful! She was so prepared and shared a lot of knowledge about all our stops and then some. She made it so much fun and engaging, I never felt sleepy in the bus ride! Her energy made the full day tour a lot more enjoyable. Our driver Tana-san was the best driver in Japan, and we always get a nice greeting in and out of the bus. I would definitely recommend this tour to friends and family.”

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2.Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,316 reviews · 510 minutes - 9 hours · from $122

This nine-hour Kyoto bus tour links Kiyomizudera, Sanjusangendo, Arashiyama, the Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari. Guides such as Den, At-Chan, Sakura, Tommy, and Ciel add history, photos, and useful Japanese phrases. Choose the buffet lunch or explore Arashiyama on your own.

“Amazing visit. The most astonishing was our guide At-Chan: she is the best guide I have ever had: joyful, always smiling, a great sense of humour despite cultural difference, so passionate that you listen carefully her comments, carefull listening to her customers requests and needs,…I strongly recommend her and the visit.”

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3.Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,275 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $52

This 9 to 10 hour bus tour links Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Arashiyama from Osaka or Kyoto. An English or Chinese speaking guide, such as Amy, Willa, Fiona, or Christine, keeps the day moving while you enjoy free time at each stop. Expect walking, crowds, shrine steps, and a flexible return time.

“Amy was great and so organised during the whole trip! She has information about everything and she’s so funny too. Definitely recommend”

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4.Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 699 reviews · from $51

Start at 7:00 a.m. for a 10-hour-45-minute bus tour covering Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, and Fushimi Inari. You’ll have a bilingual English and Spanish guide, free time at major stops, and the choice to add attraction tickets and lunch. Guides such as Paula, Cesar, and Ángeles have earned special praise for their energy and clear commentary.

“Very organized tour. Cesar was an excellent guide. We were able to tour all the major highlights of Kyoto in one day. Highly recommended.”

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5.Full-Day Guided Bus Tour to Top Highlights & Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 533 reviews · from $50

Spend roughly 10 to 11 hours visiting Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, and Fushimi Inari by bus. English and Spanish guides such as Alan, Alex, Paola, Vicente, and Pastor explain the sites and keep the day on time. Choose the ticket option if you want entry to the paid attractions.

“magnificent, Paola was amazing, thr driver was amazing and me and my kids absolutely thoroughly enjoyed our entire day trip with the most spectacular views at all destinations”

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6.Nara & Traditional Matcha Experience Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 185 reviews · 8h 30m · from $122

Spend a full day traveling from Kyoto to Nara and Uji by air-conditioned coach. Visit Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Nara Park, and Byodoin Temple, then make matcha in Uji. English-speaking guides such as At-chan, Nanami, Mai, and Tsubasa add history, Japanese phrases, and practical help along the way. Lunch is optional.

“Mai was an excellent professional tour guide. She explained well the places we visited and when we were traveling on the bus between sights she engaged us by helping us learn words and how to count in Japanese.”

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7.Nara History Guided Half Day Bus Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 114 reviews · 6 hours · from $77

Travel from Kyoto to Nara with an English-speaking guide, then visit Kasuga Taisha, Todaiji Temple, and Nara Park. You’ll see the 15-meter Great Buddha, meet Nara’s friendly deer, and enjoy a Japanese-style lunch. Guides such as Yuko, Tammy, Emiko, and Sachi have led especially informative outings, though transport may use a bus, train, or both.

“Tammy was a fantastic guide for our day. All throughout our trip Tammy shared with us some interesting historical facts about Japan and the customs for Shrines and Temples. Tammy took the time to share with us information at each site. We found the half day Nara History trip to be one of the best trips we have done. We enjoyed feeding the deer and visiting the Todaiji temple.”

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8.Osaka/Kyoto: Katsuoji, Kinkakuji, Arashiyama 1-Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 33 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $56

Spend 9 to 10 hours visiting Katsuoji Temple, Arashiyama, and Kinkakuji by bus from Osaka or Kyoto. You’ll have an English or Chinese-speaking guide, free time at each stop, and round-trip transport. Guides such as Willa, Steven, Theodore, Amanda, and Eve have been praised for clear directions, good humor, and keeping the day on schedule. Temple admission and meals cost extra.

“i would 1000% recommend this trip. ❤️ my partner and i booked this trip not knowing what to expect… we were so happy with our experience. theodore was an amazing, fun and engaging tour guide who gave us great history lessons along our trip as well as telling us funny jokes. the locations we visited were amazingly beautiful, while theodore gave us great advice on how to make the most of our time in each place. the transport bus was so easy and seamless, theodore gave us clear and uncomplicated directions on when and where we needed to return to. thank you so much for having us on your trip……”

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9.Nara History Guided Half Day Bus Tour with lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $78

Travel from Kyoto Station to Nara with an English-speaking guide, visiting Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Todaiji Temple, and Nara Park. See the Great Buddha, feed the famous deer, and enjoy a Japanese-style lunch before returning to Kyoto. Guides may include Tammie, Mana, or Shelley.

“The guide was amazing, helpful and very friendly. She was knowledgeable and I am so happy we took the tour.”

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10.Amanohashidate & Miyama 1-Day Bus Tour: From Osaka/Kyoto w/ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $97

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Kyoto or Osaka to Amanohashidate and Miyama. You’ll visit Chionji Temple, cruise across the bay, see the sandbar from Kasamatsu Park, enjoy lunch, and explore Kayabuki no Sato. English and Mandarin guides lead the day, with guides such as Harry, Eric, Liu, and Mike praised for clear explanations and helpful service.

“Harry is an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable, funny, and a great storyteller with a real passion for Japan’s history. As a bonus, he’s also a very good photographer! I had such a wonderful time, even on a rainy day. I highly recommend this tour.”

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11.Kyoto 1 Day Golden Route Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $71

This 9-hour-45-minute English-guided bus tour links Kyoto’s big sights in one packed day. Visit Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, and Kinkaku-ji, with admission fees, a Kyoto-style buffet lunch, and air-conditioned transport included. Guides such as Kuri-san, Toshi, Haromi, and Yoko have led departures.

“Trip was good. The guide was very helpful. The English wasn’t that good but she was always ready to answer the questions. It was a rainy day which made the tour a bit slow but overall it was good. Thanks”

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12.Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $111

Travel from Kyoto or Osaka to Hiroshima by Shinkansen, then join an English-speaking guide for a full day of Hiroshima and Miyajima. You’ll visit Itsukushima Shrine, see the Great Torii, ride a special ferry route, and spend about 90 minutes at the Peace Memorial Museum. Lunch is on your own.

“An important experience for anyone who is interested in history and is aware of the harm that human beings can cause. The temple is beautiful and Hiroshima, a historic landmark. It's very impactful going there. Really. The service was very well served and we learned more and more about the temple and the sad historical event in HiroshimaAuto-translated”

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13.Hiroshima, Miyajima 1 Day Bus with Indian Lunch from Osaka, Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $280

Spend about 12 hours visiting Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, and Miyajima’s Itsukushima Shrine. A guide such as Yuko, Joe, or Azura leads the day, with air-conditioned bus travel, a special ferry route, shrine admission, and Indian curry lunch that can be made vegetarian. Expect a moving, tightly timed group tour.

“Wonderful your. Smoothly organized. Great lunch, well paced! Greeter in Osaka got us right to our train. Easy ride to Hiroshima. Met the tour guide at the station got on the bus and went through Peade Park and the museum. After lunch eRead more”

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14.Kyoto Sagano Romantic Train in Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 6 reviews · from $156

Start at Kyoto Station at 7:30 am for an eight-hour guided day through Arashiyama and Kameoka. You’ll ride the 25-minute Sagano Romantic Train, take a roughly 90-minute Hozu River boat trip, visit Tenryuji and the bamboo forest, and eat a Kyoto-style buffet. Ms Yoka is one guide associated with this tour.

“A bit disorganised to begin with but the places visited were lovely. Lunch was average at the buffet. Unfortunately we had a family group that didn’t follow our guide’s instructions so we had to wait for them several times and were late for one paRead more”

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15.Kyoto Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · from $45Best value

Ride Kyoto’s open-top SKY HOP BUS between major sights including Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Gion, and Nishiki Market. You get multilingual audio commentary, earphones, onboard WiFi, and a one or two-day pass. Buses are unreserved and arrive about every 50 minutes, so careful planning matters.

“This is an easy way to look around Kyoto. But the buses come every 50 minutes and so there is only so much you can plan. However they are courteous and very helpful. Our business for Blue line was running late with risk of missing connection but we made it!”

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