Home > Osaka > Kyoto Day Tour of Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and Sanjusangendo from Osaka
USD $149.00
Kyoto Day Tour of Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and Sanjusangendo from Osaka
Osaka, Japan
Tour Kyoto’s famous landmarks all in one day, traveling by rail from Osaka! Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites in the former royal capital, including Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu Temple. You'll observe classical Japanese life in the elegant gardens of Heian Shrine, explore the Kyoto Imperial Palace and view 1,001 Bodhisattva statues at Sanjusangendo Hall. A local guide offers informative commentary throughout your day trip, including lunch, until you return to Osaka by train.
Transfer to the Osaka railway station after morning hotel pickup and hop aboard the JR rapid service train, accompanied by your guide. The train ride takes approximately 30 minutes to Kyoto, Japan's former capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. Set out to explore iconic sites by comfortable coach while your guide informs your group about the city’s rich cultural heritage. Start your full-day tour of Kyoto highlights at Nijo Castle, a 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage site that housed Tokugawa shoguns for 265 years. View the castle’s impressive fortifications such as the wide moat, heavy gate and massive stone walls — in contrast with its lavish interiors decorated in gold leaf. Explore the lovely gardens that feature groves of plum and cherry trees, with great photo opportunities during any season. Note: When Nijo Castle is closed you’ll visit Ryoan-ji Temple instead. Next, your guide reveals the splendor of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kinkaku-ji Temple, home to the celebrated Golden Pavilion. Stroll through one of the world's most authentic Japanese gardens at Kyoto's most popular Zen temple before heading to the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This ancient palace was the residence of the imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868, and clearly shows the Japanese aesthetic for purity, simplicity and tranquility. Note: When the Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed, the tour will visit Kitano Shrine (Kitano Tenman-gu) instead. This famous shrine, known as the god of study, has been designated a national treasure. It is especially worth seeing for its Japanese plum blossoms and colored leaves. After a Japanese-style lunch (vegetarian option available) and the opportunity to shop at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, re-board the coach for Heian Shrine. Your guide will point out the brightly colored shrine with its vermilion pillars and green roof that, along with enchanting inner gardens and ponds, reflect the elegance of life in the ancient Japanese court. At Sanjusangendo Hall, explore Japan's longest wooden structure, which honors the goddess of mercy. You’ll be rewarded with the sight of the 1,000-armed wooden statue of Kannon, in addition to 1,001 Bodhisattva statues standing alongside her. Continue your tour with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, another spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy panoramic views of Kyoto from its lofty terrace, surrounded by cherry and maple trees. This is a great place to take in the changing seasons — especially the breathtaking canopy of blossoms in spring. Your tour concludes with a guided trip on the JR rail back to Osaka Station, where you’ll make your own way back to your hotel.
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.
Review by: Bart S, November 2017
Nice!
Review by: Noel P, October 2017
This was a perfect excursion for a short trip to Kyoto. Guide was friendly and helpful. I did not feel rushed.
Review by: fgravel, June 2017
Would do it again!
Review by: ET phone home, May 2017
Great tour of Kyoto, we went with the group and returned on our own because we wanted to see more of the Gion district in Kyoto. We loved the fact that the tour was so flexible to let us do that. We enjoyed the tour with visits to beautiful castles and temples and shrines. We especially loved wandering off in Kyoto old districts and we'll definitely come back next time to spend more time in Kyoto than just one day!
Review by: Lingie, April 2017
I've been a loyal customer with Viator for a long time. But this time I wasn't that impressive on the other hand, I wasn't quite satisfied. The tour did cover pretty much most of the important must see attractions. However, it was too rush most of the time. We didn't have enough time to take photo around. My mom and I had to run sometime in order to take photo and catch up with the rest of the group. _br/_ Lunch place wasn't that great. It was too crowded because somehow they managed to have all the tour groups with different destination to have lunch there at the same time. It was too small to accommodate these many people. They should have scattered tour groups to other restaurants nearby not just dumped all in one place during lunch hour. We had to wait for our turn for an hour. But so far, the service is promising and great in terms of pickup and dropoff at the specified location.
Review by: Jason S, April 2017
The tour started well enough as we were staying in the hotel where the trip started from in Osaka. After a quick train ride to Kyoto we were ushered to the bus pick up area. Ended up waiting there abut 30 mins while the tour company seemed to be trying to organize which buses people were going on. They kept saying it was extra busy due to time of the year.
Review by: Linda M, March 2017
Wonderful experience, from service at pick up point, to train ride from Osaka to Kyoto, to beginning of tour at bus terminal to the beautiful sights of Kyoto. Our guide had a good knowledge of the history of the temples and castle visited plus her sense of humor made her presentations less dry and more interesting.
Review by: Steve G, August 2016
This is second time using Kyoto tour. First time my wife and I enjoyed the tour 13 years ago. This time bringing our children along. Lunch break was held at same location which was all familiar. It's worth it and no complains.
Review by: Ciaran H, July 2016
Really great tour. Guide was fantastic and the lunch stop was good, compared to the quality of most tour lunch stops.
Review by: Lawrence T, June 2016
Heavy rainfall spoilt the tour. The tour itself gets boring at times. However the beautiful scenery especially at the Golden Pavilion made up for the disappointment.
Review by: Cristina R, May 2016
We loved all the places covered in this tour. The pacing was just right. Guide gave us time to explore the places on our own. I just wished the tour included an option to take dress up with Japanese kimono. We would have loved to be in on that but couldn't as the time would not allow it.
Review by: Sowjanya A, May 2016
1. There are NO cumpulsory stops at Silk Centers or Sushi shops. The tour guide sticks to the itenary in the brochure. _br/_ 2. All the Six important places are covered at a fairly leisurely pace._br/_ 3. The guide was knowledgeable and pointed out to us, the subtle differences in the paintings and seatings of the various halls of the palace. _br/_ 4. We had ample time to try out touristy things like walking from the first Love-Rock to the second with eyes closed!!!!!!!
Review by: JohnHartson, April 2016
Interesting tour, guide was informative and friendly.
Review by: George A, April 2016
Beautiful sights on this tour. The highlight was the golden temple.
Review by: Brian F, December 2015
The sites are amazing, but our guide was only average._br/_ More explanation about the sites, history and how thing related to modern Japan would have been much appreciated
Review by: Carina S, December 2015
It was very good. They make sure that the English speaking tour guide comes with you on the train from Osaka and back. The tour in Kyoto was very informative.
Review by: gwapocat, October 2015
Fun and informative. Make sure you don't book on a holiday, those places can get pretty crowded on silver week.
Review by: pook, October 2015
Excellent tour, all staffs from the tour company are friendly and good services. We are like it all the place we went. In the near future we will use Viator to book our vacations again and recommend my friends to use it.
Review by: Nicole H, May 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Henrik S, March 2015
The tour was a bit too long otherwise terrific
Review by: Michele H, March 2015
Excellent glimpse into past history of Kyoto
Review by: ABI B, March 2015
In one day I saw a lot! The guide was good. What I really appreciated was the guiding to get to the station and the bus in Kyoto. And even at the end of the tour there was a lovely girl/guide to bring me back to Osaka!! That was really fantastic. I really liked the Japanese lunch!!
Review by: Mee Hiong Y, March 2015
Morning tour bit mess n not so organised. . Afternoon tour was ok..
Review by: michael a, February 2015
The tour from start to finish was great worth the time to go. The hosts very very knowledgeable great tour
Review by: shinie, February 2015
Nothing great. Lots walking to be done. Most of the interesting sections are closed for public. Buddhist temple with 1000 canon and the temple on the mountain with the street full of shops quite interesting.
Review by: shinie, January 2015
Nothing great. Lots walking to be done. Most of the interesting sections are closed for public. Buddhist temple with 1000 canon and the temple on the mountain with the street full of shops quite interesting.
Review by: Abhishek S, January 2015
tour got shortened due to typhoon. good tour nevertheless
Review by: carlo3854, December 2014
More touring and time at the sites, less time sitting on the bus.
Review by: silverio r, October 2014
great tour! Hiro-san wa taihen ii desu. great sense of history, of humor and was very able in assisting us for anything. will submit more later.
Review by: Anne-Marie L, September 2014
Very interesting and the guides were very knowledgeable.
Review by: faten a, July 2014
The golden pavillion was the best thing to be seen in the tour. The guide lost us and dropped us at the restaurant with the people with half day tour and we were full day tour, but while we were eating lunch they realized that and they came to pick us up. So it was really organized and the tour guide was very knowledgable. Thanks to all it was very enjoyable.
Review by: joe n, May 2014
This tour combines a morning and an afternoon tour of Kyoto, separated by a lunch. It is a very long and tiring day and would be better enjoyed if taken separately. The tour guide was excellent as was the driver, and the representative showed us where and how to take the subway after getting off the JR at the Osaka train station. She even showed us how to buy our tickets. This was very helpful for the remainder of our stay in Osaka.
Review by: daniel m, May 2014
Great tour ...
Review by: Peter, April 2014
JTB did a very good job in organizing the visits and we had a great time and enjoyed Kyoto very much.
Review by: kaciburger, April 2014
Overcrowded tour (300+ participants). Tour guides could not speak English and provided little background on sites. The brochures handed out at the destinations provided more information than the tour guides. Tempura lunch was cold.
Review by: waferworld, April 2014
very nice to see, such a beautiful city, great and beautifully presented luhch it was an incredible experience.
Review by: P l K, January 2014
The lunch break was too long - two hours plus esp given that we were rushed from place to place. The guide was good - very knowledgeable.
Review by: Forrest H, June 2013
This is a must do if you're going to Kyoto! Yes, it was exhausting seeing so much in one day, but it gave us the chance to see all the more popular sights at once and other days could be focused on the "out of the way" locations. Lunch wasn't great, but it was a planned meal that we did not have to worry about. The best part was that the final stop is a short walk to the Gion District, so we just left the tour (informing the guide of course) walked to Gion for sightseeing and dinner, and took the trains back to our hotel. All in all this is well worth the money!
Review by: TEN-HUAN O, February 2013
Very good and informative. We enjoyed it very much. Buffet lunch was good (tasty food) but time given for lunch could be shorter so more time could be spent on touring places of interest and souvenir shopping.
Review by: Macdara G, December 2012
Very enjoyable tour and friendly staff.
Review by: Ludwig M, September 2012
good tour, well organised
Review by: CHANG CHOY C, March 2012
I have booked with viator (Paris,Belgium and Amsterdam tour) before and I am satisfied with the services,very professional and would definitiely recommend viator to my friends.
Review by: Julia K, September 2011
The tour was great except for the Kyoto Handicraft Center. The luncheon buffet was "ok". We had thought that there would be more vendors selling merchandise but there were only a couple of stores with not the best of deals. The tour to the different areas were great though. Our favorite was the Golden Pavilion and Sanjusangendo. Great cultural experience!
Review by: Ali J, August 2011
Splendid tour guides.Shame the weather was too hot and humid to enjoy the tour.I think providing cold drinking water in the tour coach for the tour guests would have been very nice gesture from the tour organiser.Shame they did not do that considering the high tour charges.
Review by: BETTY G, December 2010
A MUST visit !
Review by: Pik Seang A, December 2010
The tour was quite good..we visited a good number of places and it did not feel rushed. The guides were interesting and full of facts and the meet/greets were punctual and welcoming. The afternoon tour was better than the morning tour...mainly because the guide was funnier which made the places more interesting. We missed going to Nijo Castle during the morning tour 'cos it was closed on Tuesdays which was a real shame. Would recommend this tour to our friends. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was a bit of a let down but not sure whether it is because of the guide or just the place.
Review by: Anne T, November 2010
The trip was quite rush, don't really have time for phototaking. The guide took time to explain every place we visited. Too bad we can't really hear her clearly as our group was rather big and her microphone was too soft and she walked really fast! We have to rush to catch up with her. ...but overall experience was good.... would still recommend the trip.
Review by: Alain P, November 2010
Beautiful places. Kiyomizu temple is a must see for the scenery and the shopping.
Review by: Blesilda G, Philippines, April 2010
The morning tour was fine except that not being able to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace (it was closed that day in preparation for public viewing) was a big letdown. The crowd for the afternoon tour, however, was too big. The bus was too packed; it was quite uncomfortable. Since we were seated way in the back, the others had gone ahead and the tour guide had already started talking before we could join them. It also ended too late. We had to go back on our own to Osaka because we were over an hour late for the 5:30pm meeting time back in Hotel Miyako. Could have used the time spent waiting in the bus and in traffic for more additional shopping and exploring time especially in Kinkakuji and Kiyomizu. But I was quite satisfied with both our tour guides. And the sights featured were truly impressive.
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