Kyoto · OSAKA DAY TRIPS

The 15 Best Day Trips Between Osaka and Kyoto

52 tours  ·  from $52 a head

Osaka and Kyoto sit fifteen minutes apart by shinkansen, and many tours pick up in either. These 15 are compared on route, departure city, price and how long you spend at each stop.

Osaka/Kyoto:Kinkakuji,Arashiyama,FushimiInariShrine,NaraPark - Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha
Arashiyama Tours, Kinkaku-ji Tours, Kyoto Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Osaka/Kyoto:Kinkakuji,Arashiyama,FushimiInariShrine,NaraPark

1.Kinkakuji,Arashiyama,FushimiInariShrine,NaraPark

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,596 reviews · from $66Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned bus to Nara Park and Tōdai-ji, Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. An English- or Chinese-speaking guide handles the route and meeting times. Choose an optional Kobe beef shabu-shabu lunch on Osaka departures, or use the longer Arashiyama stop to find lunch yourself.

“Harry went out of his way to accommodate us over and over. He was so enthusiastic and kind! It was a long day, but so wonderful. Thank you!”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour - Nara Park and its deer
Arashiyama Tours, Fushimi Inari Tours, Kyoto Bus Tours, Kyoto Tours, Nara Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

2.Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,275 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $52Best value

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Osaka or Kyoto to Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama. An English- or Chinese-speaking guide handles the route and timing, while you explore each stop on foot. Expect deer, shrine gates, bamboo, temples and free time for food or extra sights. Tenryu-ji admission costs extra.

“Fiona was an amazing guide and made sure we had all the information prior and during the activity, which made the experience smooth! 100% would recommend”

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One-Day Tour of Kyoto's Highlights from Osaka/Kyoto - Fushimi Inari: a walk beneath thousands of gates
Kyoto Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

One-Day Tour of Kyoto’s Highlights from Osaka/Kyoto

3.One-Day Tour of Kyoto’s Highlights from Osaka/Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,092 reviews · from $66

Cover four Kyoto essentials in about 10 hours, departing from Osaka or Kyoto by air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi. Walk through Fushimi Inari’s red gates, see Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage and Kinkaku-ji’s gold-covered pavilion, then visit Arashiyama’s bamboo paths. An English-speaking guide leads the day; lunch is optional. Guides have included Naomi, Maria, Hama and others.

“Great tour and our guide was amazing too. Saw all the main highlights of Kyoto and it was super fun.”

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Osaka/Kyoto: Arashiyama, Nara & Fushimi Inari Shrine w/Lunch - Arashiyama’s bamboo grove
Arashiyama Tours, Fushimi Inari Tours, Kyoto Temple & Shrine Tours, Kyoto Tours, Lunch Experiences, Nara Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Osaka/Kyoto: Arashiyama, Nara & Fushimi Inari Shrine w/Lunch

4.Arashiyama, Nara & Fushimi Inari Shrine w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 754 reviews · from $61

Visit Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Nara Park and Fushimi Inari on a roughly nine-hour bus tour from Osaka or Kyoto. Lunch at the 120-year-old Kyoto Wasabi townhouse includes Kobe beef, pork or vegetarian curry. Your guide speaks English or Chinese, and free time at each stop lets you explore at your own pace.

“Gary's kindness and attentiveness were highly appreciated. The itinerary was consistently adhered to, and the destinations were exceptional, with Gary's recommendations proving valuable.”

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Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available) - Kasuga Grand Shrine’s lantern-lined setting
Kyoto Early Morning Tours, Kyoto Tours, Nara Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

5.Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 676 reviews · from $61Top rated

Walk Nara with an English-speaking guide in a group capped at 12, visiting Kofuku-ji, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara Park, and Todaiji’s Great Buddha. The early start helps you enjoy quieter shrine paths before the crowds build. Kyoto or Osaka transport is available as an option, but the return trip and Todaiji entry fee are extra.

“The family (2 adults and 2 children) had a great morning learning about the beautiful shrines and temples. The kids loved the deer park and Natsuho was really knowledgeable and fun to be with as our guide.”

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Full Day Guided Tour to Kyoto and Nara from Osaka by Van - Gion: old streets, lunch and a short wander
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Full Day Guided Tour to Kyoto and Nara from Osaka by Van

6.Full Day Guided Tour to Kyoto and Nara from Osaka by Van

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 420 reviews · from $106

Leave Osaka at 9:45 am with an English-speaking guide and visit Fushimi Inari, Gion and Nara Park by air-conditioned van. The group is capped at 11, with Wi-Fi and bottled water on board. Guides vary, with Taka, Woody and Jin among those who have led the tour. Lunch is on your own.

“Our guide, Taka, is very easy going and speaks english well. He steered us away from crowds whenever possible and gave us some great lunch recommendations! Tip: being bug spray for the trip to the shinto shrine, especially if you wish to hike through the bamboo forest! We stopped briefly in Gion for lunch. Not much time if you decide to grab lunch, so we were unable to do the geisha exhibit. Overall Highly recommended.”

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Nara Afternoon Tour from Kyoto or Osaka - Nara Park’s deer, with time to spare only if the schedule allows
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Nara Afternoon Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

7.Nara Afternoon Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 390 reviews · from $102

Ride from Kyoto to Nara for an afternoon at Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and Nara Park, where more than 1,000 deer roam. Admission, transport, and an English-speaking guide are included. Expect a substantial walk to Todaiji and a brisk schedule; guides such as Yuki and KC have led past tours.

“This tour was well organized and moved in a good pace. The guide Yuki was very informative and knowledgable. The bus was very comfortable. We really enjoyed this tour and would definitely recommend it. .”

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Osaka: Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring - Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha
Kyoto Tours, Nara Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Uji Tours

Osaka: Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

8.Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 302 reviews · 10 hours · from $57

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Osaka to Nara and Uji, with a multilingual guide, deer crackers, temple visits, matcha stops and time at Genji no Yu hot spring. You’ll have roughly two hours in Nara and 90 minutes in Uji, plus an hour for bathing. Temple and onsen admissions, meals and drinks cost extra, and the guide varies by departure.

“Didn’t get to do the hot springs, so was a little disappointed”

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Kyoto Morning Tour from Kyoto or Osaka - The Imperial Palace, with a closure plan
Kyoto Early Morning Tours, Kyoto Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto Morning Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

9.Kyoto Morning Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 281 reviews · from $87

This 4-hour-40-minute morning tour links Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji’s Golden Pavilion and Kyoto Imperial Palace by air-conditioned vehicle. A licensed English guide explains the sites, and admission is included at the castle and pavilion. Palace closures bring a shrine visit instead. The tour starts and ends at Kyoto Avanti, across from Kyoto Station.

“Very friendly and informative tour guide, great historical visits. Convenient meeting location and comfortable transport bus.”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park - Arashiyama’s bamboo path and river views
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Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

10.Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 265 reviews · from $69

This full-day outing links Arashiyama’s bamboo path, Kyoto’s gold-covered Kinkaku-ji, and Nara Park with its free-roaming deer and Todaiji’s Great Buddha. An English-speaking guide handles the route and shares local context. Guides vary by date; past groups have been led by Eiko, Yuki, Lydia, and Hama. Lunch and temple tickets depend on the option you book.

“Good example of a perfect guided day trip. Entertaining, informative, beautiful scenery, not too packed schedule. Eiko is an amazing and very knowledgeable guide, she provided us with background information on all the sites while traveling + a detailed plan in case anyone got lost and needed to find their way back. On top of that, she was able to get the whole group deer crackers in Nara at 4pm when all the stores had already been sold out. Thanks so much for the unforgettable experience!”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto and Nara Customized Private Guided Tour - Arashiyama’s bamboo, then Kinkaku-ji’s gold
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Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto and Nara Customized Private Guided Tour

11.Kyoto and Nara Customized Private Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 258 reviews · 10 hours

Plan a 10-hour private tour of Kyoto and Nara for up to six people, with hotel pickup in Kyoto, Osaka or Nara. An English-speaking driver-guide helps you shape the day around temples, shrines, markets and bamboo groves. Recent trips have been led by guides including Abdullah, Usama and Ali. Transport, tolls, gas and a Wi-Fi hotspot are included; tickets and lunch are extra.

“I had a great Kyoto and Nara tour with Abdullah. He made everything easy, flexible, and personalized to what I wanted to see. He shared helpful stories, guided me through the key spots, and never made the day feel rushed. If you want a friendly and knowledgeable guide, he’s an excellent choice.”

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Nara Park, Osaka & Kobe from Kyoto Full Day tour - Dotonbori’s signs, food, and limited time
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Nara Park, Osaka & Kobe from Kyoto Full Day tour

12.Nara Park, Osaka & Kobe from Kyoto Full Day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $90

Start at Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande at 7:30 am and travel by bus from Kyoto to Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. You’ll have time for Tōdaiji Temple and Nara Park, Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, and a short Kobe stop. The guide speaks English and Spanish; guides on past departures have included Paula, Ele, Heli, and Montse, but your guide may differ.

“Great way to see multiple locations in one day. Heli was a wonderful guide. Everything ran smooth and on time”

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From Osaka: Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour - Arashiyama’s bamboo and river views
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From Osaka: Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour

13.Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 180 reviews · from $66

Travel from Osaka by air-conditioned bus with an English-speaking guide, then see Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, ride the 25-minute Sagano Romantic Train and visit Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari. Lunch is optional. Guides have included Masa, Haru, Jewell and Hiro, though your guide may differ.

“A big thanks to Masa for being our guide. He made the tour a lot of fun for our group”

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From Kyoto / Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour - Arashiyama: more than a bamboo grove
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From Kyoto / Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

14.Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 169 reviews · from $60

Spend about nine hours travelling by air-conditioned vehicle between Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama’s sights, including the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji and Togetsukyo Bridge. A guide handles the route and timing; you pay separately for lunch and Tenryu-ji’s 500-yen admission. Guides have included Mia, Fiona and Amy, though your guide will vary.

“We did this tour on New Years Day 2026. Surprisingly there were a lot of people on this tour. Amy our tour guide kept everything and everyone running on time/schedule. She was very informative and her bubbly nature kept us all with a smRead more”

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From Kyoto: Nara, Osaka & Kobe Day Trip – 3 Cities in 1 Day - Dotonbori: Osaka food, signs and city noise
Kyoto Tours, Nara Tours, Osaka Day Trips, Tour Reviews

From Kyoto: Nara, Osaka & Kobe Day Trip – 3 Cities in 1 Day

15.Nara, Osaka & Kobe Day Trip – 3 Cities in 1 Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 160 reviews · 10h 30m · from $129

Travel by coach from Kyoto to Nara, Osaka and Kobe in one long day. Walk among Nara’s free-roaming deer, find lunch in Dotonbori, see Osaka Castle, then explore Kobe’s Chinatown and harbor area. An English- and Spanish-speaking guide handles the route; food and drinks are extra.

“Alan and vincente were a lot of fun. They kept the energy up. The day has gone so quick! They always ensured we knew where to meet, where the toilets were but more importantly gave us loads of fascinating facts and history along the way. We learned so much. We wouldn’t have understood or learned so much if we had visited these places ourselves. We booked this to take the stress out of navigating ourselves between these destinations. We could have done that but we wouldn’t have enjoyed the day so much. This was stress free. The early start was worth it!!”

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New in Osaka Day Trips

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★ 5.0Osaka Private Tour by Public Transportation from KyotoFrom $1755 reviews
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★ 4.5Kyoto & Nara Private Tour from Osaka Kyoto Hotel Pick-upFrom $26632 reviews
★ 5.0Kyoto & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or KyotoFrom $5725 reviews
★ 5.0Kyoto Tour by Car from Kyoto Osaka Kobe8 reviews
★ 5.0Single- & multi-day Adventures within Kyoto Nara Osaka Kobe16 reviews
★ 5.0Kyoto&Nara&Osaka: One day private Customized Car tour3 reviews
★ 5.0Hiroshima, Miyajima 1 Day Bus with Indian Lunch from Osaka, KyotoFrom $2807 reviews
★ 3.5Kyoto, Osaka, Nara Full Day tour by Car English speaking Driver13 reviews
★ 5.0Private Osaka Tour from Kyoto with guide by public transportationFrom $2803 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Trip To Hiroshima from Kyoto or Osaka by Bullet TrainFrom $1,2915 reviews
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