Kyoto

Kyoto Private 6 hour Tour: English Speaking Driver Only, No Guide

Badge of ExcellenceKyoto, Japan
Tokyo Personalized Planning Concierge of National Licensed Guide
Likely to Sell Out

From $359.40

per group (up to 3)

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 6 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket

Overview

    What's Included

    • Air-conditioned vehicle
    • Private transportation
    • Hotel Pick up and drop off
    • Fuel surcharge
    • English speaking driver
    • Parking Fees
    • Highway fee
    • All Fees and Taxes
    • Lunch
    • Entrance Fees
    • A licensed guide

    Meeting And Pickup

    Pickup points

    Select a pickup point

    Pickup details

    Your driver can pick you up only in Kyoto. This is a tour with an English-speaking driver. It does not include a government-licensed guide. You will be able to reach your driver via phone during the tour only. Please use email for any communication before the tour. Please be aware we can not pick you up in Osaka, Kobe, Nara etc.

    What To Expect

    Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    1 hour Admission Ticket Not Included

    Gion

    1 hour Admission Ticket Free

    Kinkakuji Temple

    1 hour Admission Ticket Not Included

    Tenryuji Temple

    40 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

    1 hour Admission Ticket Free

    Arashiyama

    1 hour Admission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

    Traveler Photos

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    Reviews

    4.5
    54 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 54 reviews
    100% yes, book it!
    Tom_R, Dec 2023
    This was an excellent way for us to see Kyoto sights efficiently and comfortably. I do not think it could be done in one day taking public transit. Kan was a an excellent driven and shared lots of history and context to what we were seeing as well. Worth every penny!
    Response from Host, Dec 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    Punctual, nice clean car, caring
    Bernardo_Z, Dec 2023
    Very professional driver, made sure we always knew where to go in the shrines, very flexible with our schedule, spoke good English, punctual and very nice and clean car. Recommended!
    Response from Host, Dec 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    Flexibility and advice...
    Alberto_B, Oct 2023
    Flexibility and advice from the driver. Great pace and activity level. Travelled with kids aged 11 and 13 as well as 80year old grandma…
    Fantastic private driver experience, well worth the price.
    Tanya_C, Oct 2023
    We had a fantastic day with our driver Nobu-san! My husband and I are not really into major tourist destinations and we specifically didn't want to go on a tour. And whilst we understand that tourists will always be a part of a popular country to visit, our wonderful driver made sure that we visited the places we wanted, as well as some other lovely quiet, less popular spots around Kyoto. Nobu-san spoke fantastic English, was genuinely interested in us and very engaging. He even took me to a famous little tea shop because I love green tea. Honestly, couldn't have asked for a better day to experience Kyoto for the first time. Arigatou gozaimasu!
    Hiroshi’s Special Kyoto tour
    Todd_M, Oct 2023
    This was a very special experience for first timers to Kyoto! Hiroshi made the experience extra special with his knowledge and sharing and suggestions for altering and improving on our original itinerary to make most of time. It insured that we made the best use of our time and experience of the wonderful temples and shrines in Kyoto. His alertness avoided a medical situation with blood sugar issue with one in our party and ended our tour safely. It was a very informative, enjoyable, and educational experience overseen by a special driver/guide. Thank you Hiroshi!
    Response from Host, Oct 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    A beautiful day to see Kyoto.
    sanme121960, Oct 2023
    Our driver Harry was excellent. He was our driver, tour guide and photographer. He was very knowledgeable and courteous. He was an excellent driver as well. I recommend this tour.
    Response from Host, Oct 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    Awesome experience
    Stacey_K, Oct 2023
    Mr. Fujii was excellent! He did everything to accommodate us and our schedule. We traveled with my mom in a wheelchair. Mr. Fujii dropped us off at the closest possible entrance where our walking was limited. He even brought a handicap placard so we were able to park very close. Mr. Fujii escorted us to the entrances and even took our pictures! Such great service! After we parted, my husband realized he left his phone in the van. Mr. Fujii met us to return his phone! Can’t say enough good things about Mr. Fujii. He went over and beyond making our day trip to Kyoto so memorable! Thank you Mr. Fujii!!!
    Response from Host, Oct 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    Excellent tour
    claudialeuenberger, Oct 2023
    Could not add pick up in Viator tool. They said that they would inform Tour operator. Operator tried to call but we had no connection. Then they wanted to cancel the tour! After some WhatsApp messages, we could still arrange pick up and enjoyed a phantastic tour with an excellent driver. 6h were just perfect to Explore all Major sights in Kyoto
    Disaster
    Adiba_K, Oct 2023
    Tour started from the time when driver came and told us we cannot complete all six locations. He said we have to pick which one we’re gonna skip. Next he already told us which one are we skipping. He’s a nice guy, but the whole time of the tour we had the run from one side to another. Weather is already hard enough. The place we live we don’t have humid weather so we used to dry heat. There was not enough time to see, and enjoyed the locations, especially with going up the stairs, considering our age or health none of these things been taken into consideration. This company needs to really go over their tour information. They need to charge less money being charged or they need to add more hours. Some people have heart problems some people have health problems, especially in humid weather and when you’re not from another country and not used to humid, all those things have to be taken into consideration. During our tour also driver had his side mirror on a pole. It was a very loud bang. We feel bad that his car got damaged. However, it was frightening for us to be in the car we were worried about our safety. I do not recommend this company. They really need to guarantee safety and comfort for the passengers.
    Response from Host, Oct 2023
    Hello and thank you for your review! We remember working with you quite well. We had suggested that you extend your tour and even with an extension, it would take up to 9 hours to see all the sights you had seen. We worked extensively with the driver as well in order to try to fit in the sights the best that could be done. We have not found any problems with the car as suggested as all cars have driver recorders attached as well. Summer in Japan is very hot. We suggest all visitors check the weather before travelling to another country. JGA Customer Support
    Perfect for speeding travellers
    Milena_T, Sep 2023
    This is the best way to see what is important and interesting to each of us in a comfortable way, in the order we prefer and in our own pace. Thanks to our driver Yutaka Ito!
    Response from Host, Sep 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    A great experience!
    Adam_H, Aug 2023
    We had such a great time on our tour around Kyoto! Nob Aihala was a fantastic driver who was extremely knowledgeable and taught us about each site throughout the day. He also was extremely flexible with us and we mixed in some of the more major sites with some that are less popular. Highly recommend!
    Great experience!!! Our...
    Orlando_R, Aug 2023
    Great experience!!! Our driver was Hero. Great communication even before we arrived. Highly recommended.
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
    Great Tour!
    Lewis_W, Jul 2023
    Our driver was friendly, respectful, and quite accommodating. We are very happy with the experience!
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan.
    Beautiful Kyoto
    Sharon_C, Jun 2023
    We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the beautiful old capital, Kyoto, a very charming and captivating place. Our chauffeur was Ito, he was very kind, friendly and accommodating. He took us to all of the places we asked including, Gion, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and gave us helpful tips. He even fulfilled our request to take us to the headquarters of our favourite Japanese biscuit - Kogetsu Senju Senbei. We were so thankful for that. The other highlight of the day was the breathtaking Arashiyama Bamboo groves, truly a must visit!
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan.
    Amazing tour of Kyoto
    Tenzin_N, Jun 2023
    Our tour guide Harry was amazing. He provided us with so much information about the sites that we chose to visit that it was so great. We have been on other tours where the guide didn’t tell us anything. Harry was very friendly, and made you feel comfortable. He was also so helpful if we had any concerns or questions.
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan.
    Great
    Ken_L, Jun 2023
    Our driver Nob was amazing. Gentle knowledgeable and took us on a superb tour. Request to have him. Great tour
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    Thanks so much for Viator review. I asked the driver to show you other places such as Saga-Arashiyama and other places which were not included in the itinerary. This travel was possible thanks to your hiring the cab. I am happy you enjoyed the tour and wish you all to have returned home safely. Regards Nob
    Great driver! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Anne_H, Jun 2023
    Our driver went above and beyond to give us the best experience in visiting the Kyoto shrines and temples!
    Kyoto, beautiful Kyoto
    Sambaran_M, May 2023
    Hara-san was our driver. Here was a nature lover who was himself getting excited seeing a bright sunny day. His excitement rubbed up on us. Our goal was to finish as much of Kyoto in a day (due to time constraint) and it would not have been possible without a chauffeur driven cab. (PS: Kyoto needs 4-5 days of its own where you give a leisurely 1 day to each temple. It does not make much sense to rush through temple gardens whose central idea is slow-down and peace) There was a avoidable mess-up in the morning to meet us (despite our repeated clarifications the previous day). I would expect better from viator. However, the subsequent great trip helped us erase the memory of a bad-start.
    Response from Host, May 2023
    We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan.
    One Day Tour of Kyoto
    Sylvia_S, Apr 2023
    Our driver Kan was wonderful!!! He was right on time and met us at the train station innKyoto. He made suggestions about the order of places we wanted to see and was friendly and made the day an incredible experience. It is really the only way to go if you only have a day like we did.
    The idea is good, but Not worth the money as execution of the tour and attitude of the driver was suboptimal..
    Kalinka_D, Apr 2023
    We have opted for this Tour as we had limited time and wanted to see as much as possible in 1 day. The tour includes 6 stops in all key sightseeing points. As we were picked up, we told the driver that we have booked walking tour for Gion, so we can skip this part of 60 min. The tour started at 9:30 in the morning with pick-up at the hotel. 1st stop was Fushimi Inari Shrine. Then we made an attempt to drive to Kiyomizu-dera, but the driver suggested because it's too crowded, we should skip it and go to Kinkaku-ji Temple (2nd sop), where I felt the driver started rushing us. The tourists are allowed to follow a certain way, and once you pass the Teahouse you cannot return back. As we were going down, pass the security the driver was asking us if we want to buy souvenirs, I said that we want to see the Teahouse. So we had to go back, pass the security and ask for permission to return. Next, The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (3rd stop), which is very close to Tenryū-ji temple (4th stop). As we were passing the entrance of the temple, the driver was just walking ahead and ignoring to point out what is it. When I said I want to see it, he told us, "yes but you have to pay"... Of course we knew we had to pay. Thats when I really felt he was rushing us and walking ahead - almost like he had enough of the day. I pointed out what i want to see and he again said it is on the other side, we passed it. After that when we sat at the car he asked us whether he should drop us the hotel, as the drive back to the hotel is 30 min, and our tour is for 6h (45 min less for him and 2 places less to visit, but that didn't bother him). Itinerary: You'll get picked up at your hotel 1. Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Stop: 60 minutes - Admission excluded 2. Gion. Stop: 60 minutes 3. Kinkakuji Temple. Stop: 60 minutes - Admission excluded 4. Tenryuji Temple. Stop: 40 minutes - Admission excluded 5. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. Stop: 60 minutes 6. Arashiyama. Stop: 60 minutes You'll return to the starting point
    Response from Host, Apr 2023
    Thank you for your review. As mentioned in our description, the driver is not a guide for the tour and is not meant to guide you at the locations. To control crowds, there are only certain paths allowed and queues are formed for certain areas such as teahouses. We hope this information you have written will provide helpful to other guests. JGA Customer Support

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