Category Kyoto Excursions from Osaka

Osaka · KYOTO EXCURSIONS FROM OSAKA

The 15 Best Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka

41 tours

Kyoto is under half an hour away, which makes Osaka a cheaper base than most people realise. Below are the best Kyoto day trips from Osaka: which reach Fushimi Inari before the tour buses, which add Arashiyama or Nara, what every seat costs, and which get you back for dinner on Dotonbori.

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket - How the day flows, and why the order matters

1.Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

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

Osaka or Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima by shinkansen, ferry, and bus, with Peace Memorial sites and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

“We really enjoyed our tour and were very lucky that it was a glorious hot sunny day. It was a long day (from Kyoto) but very well organised and well timed from the train to the coach to the ferry and back again. Our guide, ‘Joe’, was very enthusiastic and passionate about his job and about providing information, which we really appreciated. He was very knowledgeable about all the places he took us to. The museum at Hiroshima was very sad and quite emotional and in my opinion it was good that we went to Miyajima island afterwards rather than before (I saw some tours where Miyajima was first and…”

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

From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights 1-Day Guided Bus Tour - Starting in Osaka or Kyoto, Without the Headache

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

Ancient Capital Tour: Kyoto and Nara Highlights from Kyoto/Osaka - The Morning Start in Kyoto or Osaka, and Why the Choice Matters

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

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

Kyoto Arashiyama and Nara deer in one full day, with Golden Pavilion and Great Buddha included. Skip transit stress.

“The Temples and parks were great: the Buddha, Golden temple, the deer...pleasant experience. My only drawback and why I didnt give this tour a "5" is that everything felt a little rushed. I would have liked to have heard more history at the beginning of the trip. Our guide did become more informative as the trip continued. Enjoyed the time in Arashiyama. Beautiful town. It was great not having to worry about transportation.”

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

Osaka/Kyoto: Amanohashidate & Miyama Tour with Boat & Lunch - Amanohashidate by boat: seagulls, views, and that famous sandbar feeling

Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka - Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion: the fastest way to get the postcard shot

5.Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Osaka

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

Guided Kyoto and Nara day trip from Osaka with Shinkansen travel, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kasuga and Todai-ji.

“Very professional and knowledgable staff. I highly recommend for family whom visits Japan for the first time. Hatchi is tour staff with full knowledge about the places and history of Japan. She made people so excited during the trip. We laughed all the time with her stories. Two thumbs up.”

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From Osaka or Kyoto: Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour

From Osaka or Kyoto: Kyoto and Nara 1-Day Bus Tour - Nara Park and Todai-ji: deer encounters plus a huge wooden wow-factor

Volleyball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with locals!

Volleyball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with locals! - What Your 2 to 3 Hours Looks Like, Outdoors to Indoor Court

Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation - The day’s route: a hit list that moves east to west

8.Full Day Tour of Kyoto with Private Transportation

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

Private Kyoto full-day tour from Osaka with an English guide and van transport. Kiyomizu-dera, Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari.

“Great day. Exceptional guide. Christine was well versed with local culture. Her English was perfect and she superseded our expectations. A must tour and guide if visiting Kyoto area. Book this one!”

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Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide

Kyoto & Nara Private customized tour with English speaking Guide - Pickup, timing, and how to plan your start

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · from $549

Private Kyoto and Nara day trip with English-speaking guide, flexible route, and key sights like Fushimi Inari and Golden Pavilion.

“We are a family of 4, visiting in Osaka for a few days and wanted a day trip to Kyoto and Nara. Booked a private van with Viator and we are just so glad we did. Overall our trip was really great and it wouldn’t have been possible if not for our tour guide, Hamza. He speaks 7 languages and is super informative. Our gratitude to him for taking good care of us throughout our trip. We met him at our hotel at 8:30am and headed to Nara. It was such a smooth ride up Kasugawa where we fed the deer without the crowd. We proceeded to Todai-ji temple where…”

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Pickleball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with Locals!

Pickleball in Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto with Locals! - What you’re really doing for 2 to 3 hours: doubles, rotation, and learning on the fly

From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch

From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji: where the day becomes special

11.From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Day Trip with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · from $68

A full-day bus trip linking Arashiyama, Nara Park, Todai-ji and Fushimi Inari, with optional Kobe lunch at Kyoto Wasabi.

“The Kyoto and Nara tour was an absolute delight, thanks in large part to exceptional tour guide, Nick worked diligently to cater to our needs, maintain a lively atmosphere and create a lasting memories, his dedication and expertise truly made the tour special, and for that, we are extremely grateful. Bravo Nick!👏👏👏👏👏”

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Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto

Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya Sightseeing Full Day Trip from Kyoto - Price and What $64.90 Really Covers

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · from $64

Full-day coast tour from Kyoto or Osaka to Ine Bay and Amanohashidate, with funaya boathouses, a bay cruise, and pine-sandbar views.

“Had a great day in Ine and Amanohashidate. Very quaint towns surrounded by natural beauty. Very well organized tour. Lee provides very clear instructions and keeps the mode light with jokes. Note that seats on bus are assigned. Let trip leader know if you have a seating preference.”

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

Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide - Choosing your Kyoto stops: the secret is picking right

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

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

Private licensed Kyoto day tour from Osaka with a guide, custom 3 to 4 stops like Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Arashiyama, about 8 hours.

“Amazing day with Haru. He met us at the ship in Osaka and took us to Kyoto and returned us safely at the end of the day. He was flexible when some of our group had a hard time keeping up with the schedule that Haru and myself had paRead more”

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Kyoto and Nara UNESCO Highlights Full-day Tour From Osaka

Kyoto and Nara UNESCO Highlights Full-day Tour From Osaka - Getting to the Start: Osaka Pickup and the Kyoto Connection

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · from $62

Full-day Kyoto and Nara UNESCO sites from Osaka, with Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari and Todaiji. Value priced with guided convenience.

“Highly recommend this tour! In just one day, we got to explore Nara, Kyoto, and Fushimi Inari—all thanks to our amazing guide, Ms. Zhao. She was super friendly, shared cool historical insights, and took great care of us. —thanks for everything, Ms.Zhao and Gogoday travel”

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