Explore more curated experiences in Kyoto

View all Kyoto tours

Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: Travel Japan Together
Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator
Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator 2
Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator 3
+2
more

Full-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera and Nijo Castle. Run by Travel Japan Together, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Bus/coach
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Nijo Castle
  • Runs 10 hours
  • English-speaking guide

Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator: Key Facts

PriceFrom $158.5 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 Bus/coach, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kiyomizu-dera. It is run by Travel Japan Together, 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.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari, the deity of rice and business, and its thousand-plus vermilion torii gates, each donated by a company or family, run in tunnels up the 233-metre Mount Inari behind the main hall. The full loop to the summit is about four kilometres and two hours; most visitors turn back at the Yotsutsuji viewpoint halfway. It is open 24 hours and free, which makes it the one big Kyoto sight you can do at dawn or after dark, when the gates are empty and lit. By nine in the morning the lower tunnels are a slow queue. The fox statues carry keys to the rice granary in their mouths.

The price covers guide, Air-conditioned bus transportation, Admission fees to Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and All scheduled sightseeing stops. It does not cover Lunch, 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.

ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Travel Japan Together 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.

Starting location

ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA

Bus/coach

(20 minutes)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Kiyomizu-dera

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Nijo Castle

Pass by

Kinkaku-ji

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (50 minutes)

Ryōan-ji

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (40 minutes)

Arashiyama

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (50 minutes)

Sagano Bamboo Forest

Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (30 minutes)

Bus/coach

(30 minutes)

Arrive back at

ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA

Bus/coach: (20 minutes)

Fushimi Inari Taisha: Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Kiyomizu-dera: Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Nijo Castle: Pass by

Kinkaku-ji: Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (50 minutes)

Ryōan-ji: Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (40 minutes)

Arashiyama: Guided tour, Free time, Sightseeing (50 minutes)

Includes

  • English-speaking guide
  • Air-conditioned bus transportation
  • Admission fees to Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, and Ryoan-ji
  • All scheduled sightseeing stops

Excludes

  • Lunch

Important information

Meeting point

ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA

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

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $158.5
$158.5
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 83 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
K
Karen
September 11, 2026

Our guide Kosuke did an excellent job guiding our tour. He was very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history. We learned so much from him today! We enjoyed all the sights we saw today. He was very kind and adjusted the pace of the day to our needs. He gave us an excellent recommendation for lunch. Our bus driver did a great job too. Our van was very comfortable. Thank you Kosuke!!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
D
Dominik
September 9, 2026

I really liked the trip! Kanta is a really great guide and we got everywhere before the crowds so we could enjoy most of the Kioto sights.

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
S
Saira
September 4, 2026

Takuma was an incredible host, very kind, funny and knowledgeable. I enjoyed the day, the different places we visited and Takumas entertaining way of providing information. If you'd like to know more about Kyoto, it's history and it's temples I would highly recommend this tour!

Review photo 1
5
J
Jovan
September 16, 2026

well planned. Guide has been kind, knowledgable and helpfull. Weather was better than expected.almost no rain.

5
W
William
September 9, 2026

It was excellent! Kanta was a wonderful guide—very knowledgeable, patient, kind, intelligent, and charming. He made our tour truly remarkable and enjoyable. We really appreciated his excellent guidance and the way he made the whole experience so memorable. Thank you for providing Kanta as our guide today. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide! 🙏

5
G
Gregor
September 8, 2026

very helpful and knowledgeable made tour enjoyabl6

5
B
Brian
September 7, 2026

This tour was excellent. The driver and guide Kanta efficiently took us to eat sight and gave us the highlights and let us have free time to explore the area for our own. There was sufficient time to see the sights and explore the area at your pace. Kanta was a good guide and gave recommendations for lunch and answered all of our questions. This tour is a great way to see the out of the way highlights of a trip to Kyoto.

5
A
Angela
September 4, 2026

We were a small intimate group and the rain did not stop our fun! Takuma is friendly and very knowledgeable. The tour was insightful and easy to follow. A must for any Kyoto trip!

5
M
Marco
September 1, 2026

Manta das very helpful and always helping to understand locales

5
M
Murat
September 1, 2026

The tour was so comprehensive, we did not only explored the natural and historical wonders, but also dived deep into the Japanese culture. I would like to thank our guide Kanta for he was so amiable and energetic. You should definitely choose Kanta as a guide.

5
A
Anupam
August 26, 2026

Our tour guide (Kanta) was super helpful and friendly right from the beginning to end of our trip. Highly recommended.

5
C
Christopher
August 26, 2026

The places visited were fantastic, our driver was good and tour guide Kanta was exceptional. He was very knowlegable and made sure we enjoyed the day to the fullest, even recommending great places for lunch too. We truly had a superb time.

Frequently Asked Questions

ホテルヴィスキオ京都 by GRANVIA
The price does not cover lunch. 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.
English-speaking guide, Air-conditioned bus transportation, Admission fees to Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, and Ryoan-ji, All scheduled sightseeing stops
The duration of the Kyoto Bus Tour: Fushimi, Kiyomizu, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama by Local Operator 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$158.5