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Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: Japan Vision Tour
Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in
Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in 2
Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in 3
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Full-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Ninenzaka. Run by Japan Vision Tour, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Ninenzaka
  • Uji River
  • Runs 10 hours
  • Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese)

Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in: Key Facts

PriceFrom $65.5 per person
Duration10 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 10-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Ninenzaka. It is run by Japan Vision Tour, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years until 1868 and has 17 UNESCO-listed sites among some 2,000 temples and shrines. The big three are Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and best in morning light; Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden stage on the eastern hills with the Higashiyama lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it; and Fushimi Inari's gates. Nijo Castle has the nightingale floors that squeak against intruders, and Ryoan-ji the rock garden. Temples open around 8:00 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, and the city bus is slow; a day with a driver or a guide who orders the stops against the crowds is the difference between four sights and seven.

The price covers bilingual guide, Comfortable vehicle with A/C, Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location and All taxes. It does not cover Admission to Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple &, Meals and beverages and Other personal expenses, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

Japan Vision Tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Japan Vision Tour before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

2 starting location options

Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Kinkaku-ji

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (40 minutes)

Kiyomizu-dera

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2.5 hours)

Ninenzaka

Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing

Uji

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Walk (1.5 hours)

Uji River

Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Walk

Byodo-in Omotesando

Free time, Sightseeing, Walk

Byodo-in Temple

Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing (0 hour)

2 drop-off locations

Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Detailed Itinerary

2 starting location options: Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Kinkaku-ji: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (40 minutes)

Kiyomizu-dera: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2.5 hours)

Ninenzaka: Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing

Uji: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Walk (1.5 hours)

Uji River: Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Walk

Byodo-in Omotesando: Free time, Sightseeing, Walk

Byodo-in Temple: Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing (0 hour)

Includes

  • Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese)
  • Comfortable vehicle with A/C
  • Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location
  • All taxes, parking fees, toll fees, gas fees, environmental fees

Excludes

  • Admission to Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple & Byodo-in Temple
  • Meals and beverages
  • Other personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

Japan Vision Tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 10 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $65.5
$65.5
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 26 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
N
Noah
March 3, 2026

The itinerary was relaxed, with enough time to visit the three attractions. The tour guide provided detailed introductions to the attractions and provided good service. I hope to have the opportunity to participate in other day tours in the future.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
N
Noah
January 15, 2026

The tour is amazing. We felt that we were able to really explore Kyoto & Uji even just for a day. This tour made us want to go back to experience it again and more, but at the same time, gave your money’s worth.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
K
Kate
September 1, 2026

It was a very nice experience. Amanda was really nice and she told us a lot of interesting facts about this places. The route was very nice and everything in schedule is worth visiting!!! Highly recommended.

5
G
Gavin
March 30, 2026

The guides do a great job of co-ordinating the tour considering the volumes of people that are at the locations.

5
G
Guillaume
February 10, 2026

It was great , really knowledgeable. Would recommend!

5
R
Raquel
July 31, 2026

molt bé tot el tour, moltes gràcies ❤️

5
P
Pasara
July 5, 2026

ไกด์ทัวร์ดูแลดีค่ะสถานที่ที่ไปก็เป็นสถานที่เที่ยวหลักของเมืองโอซาก้า ได้ไปเมืองอุจิดีมากค่ะได้ซื้อชามัจฉะถูกใจค่ะ

5
T
Traveller
May 14, 2026

Jun is very entertaining and helpful with this trip. He sang to us in Japanese and Mandarin. 😁. He even gave us a parting gifts.

5
T
Traveller
April 5, 2026

Great tour to see a lot in one day. Able to walk around on our own and we had plenty of time to see everything.

5
T
Traveller
April 1, 2026

Thank you to our guide Jun for organizing. We felt safe throughout our trip. He was prepared, and despite the (rainy) weather, he made our tour day great. Thanks Jun!

5
T
Traveller
March 29, 2026

Our Kyoto and Uji day trip was absolutely fantastic! 🎉

5
T
Traveller
March 26, 2026

This was worth doing. Recommend taking this trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Japan Vision Tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover admission to kiyomizu-dera temple & kinkaku-ji temple & byodo-in temple, meals and beverages and other personal expenses. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese), Comfortable vehicle with A/C, Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location, All taxes, parking fees, toll fees, gas fees, environmental fees
The duration of the Kyoto and Uji Tour, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Byodo-in is typically 10 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$65.5