• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Make your trip a wholesome experience by seeing what other cities outside of Kyoto have to offer. On this private day trip, you don’t need to worry about anything! Follow your local host to Nara and be back in Kyoto the same day but with more unforgettable experiences than before.

Destination

Kyoto, Japan

Category

Day Trips

Duration

8 hours

Transport mode

Public Transport

Available languages

日本語, English, Indonesian, Español

Included

• Private guide
• Entrance tickets Toufokuji & Toudaji Temple
• Nara bus pass
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Train tickets are not included (JR passes are valid) and need to be paid at the train station.

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at At "JR central" exit ticket gate / Shichijo dori Exit - Kyoto to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. More about Japan

   Give yourself the time to not only visit Kyoto by also visiting Nara. Japan is such a beautiful country that the more you know about it, the more you’ll fall in love with it. That’s why your host can’t wait to take you to Nara

4. Gems of Nara

   Check out Toudaji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Toufokuji Temple, and more must-sees but with a twist...through the eyes of a local. Get to know some of the less walked paths in Nara with some great hidden gems and alternative stories that only a local knows about

5. Cultural Contrasts

   Cities are like snowflakes; each one of them is unique. And as you visit Nara, you’ll be able to see the differences compared to Kyoto. Discover how much traditions, architecture, and even language can change from one city to another and how they complement each other

6. Local Knowledge

   To experience the best of Nara, there’s no better way to do so than like a local. Your local host will make this private day trip an enriching experience by sharing knowledge, stories, insights, and answering your questions!

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Nick

(About local Eiji)

17 February 2025

The Nara tour was booked for my mother and her friend (60s). Here are the messages I received from them: "We are having a very good time ☺️Eiji is a wonderful tour guide." "We had an amazing tour, on our way back to the hotel now, my battery is at 10%🤣" [so many photos and videos] "What a great tour. The deer bit Eiji’s bottom, Jan’s bottom and tried to eat my tags on the wheelchair! Such a fun day 💕💕💕" It's been their favourite part of Japan so far - which is quite a high recommendation. If you're looking for a tour in Kyoto, Eiji-san is your man!Laughs, bites, and photographs

Pam

(About local Yoshihiro)

21 May 2024

Yoshihiro was so great and made sure to connect with a week ahead to make sure we had information on meeting point and to double check if we had JR Passes yet or not. We are so glad we booked a guid for Nara day tour as it is such a historical town and place that I would not have known a lot of the history. Additionally because Yoshihiro, knew we were in Kyoto for a few days in May, he gave us a great recommendation for a special Geisha performance, that again we would not have known about. We were able to secure tickets to such a special performance that not many tourists knew about. Thank you so much for making our trip so memorableGreat way to learn about history

Nick🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

5 May 2024

We had a great day in Nara with our guide, Sebastian. We met up at the Kyoto train station and from there Sebastian took over. The train ride to Nara was quick (40 minutes) and easy. Once in Nara it’s a 5 minute walk to Deer Park. There are hundreds of deer all over. The best place to feed them is closer to the Todaiji Temple. The Temple is pretty amazing. You will see the largest bronze Buddha in Japan. On the way home we stopped in the small town of Uji. It’s the home of matcha. Lots of small shops and a few temples. Great scenery. I would highly recommend this tour and booking Sebastian if available. Wonderful day in Nara with amazing guide

Haley🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

31 January 2020

Great tour! Shohei was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our party's dietary needs. We say a lot of stuff in a short time and if was great having a guide to help us through the madness and not get too caught up in one place. Definitely recommend.Wonderful tour!

Gerald🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Yoshihiro)

25 April 2025

Ted was an incredibly knowledgeable and friendly guide who truly elevated our experience. He anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making everything feel seamless and thoughtful. One of the highlights was when he brought us to a fantastic soba place we would’ve never found on our own. Highly recommend his services if you’re looking for someone who knows their stuff and genuinely cares about your experience. Great guide!

Kaye🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Eiji)

25 April 2025

We had a wonderful time with Eiji. I am not a confident cyclist and he had me navigating crowds like a local. Eiji is a delight, we saw so much that we could never have explored on our own. A great experience and well worth the money!!Best way to see Kyoto

Repa🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Sebastian)

25 April 2025

Our tour of Kyoto with Sebastian was very interactive and engaging. He's very knowledgeable about Japanese culture more broadly and Kyoto culture in particular. Very knowledgeable

Karin

(About local Jessica)

25 April 2025

It wat great to explore food in Osaka with Jessica. She took us to several places with delicious food. We enjoyed the evening spending with her also she gave us a lot of information about life in Japan. Very interesting. Thank you againwSuperb

Inge🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Sebastian)

24 April 2025

we hadden een erg leuke fietstocht, ik was vooraf niet op de hoogte dat we elektrische fietsen zouden krijgen, dus dit was in het heuvelachtige Kyoto een aangename verrassing! Sebastian was een zeer goede gids, hij wist ons veel te vertellen over de leuke plekjes in Kyoto. Alleen spijtig van de regenbui op het einde. Een hele leuke ervaring!Leuke fietstocht in Kyoto!

Neil

(About local Guia)

24 April 2025

What a wonderful day with Guia exploring Kyoto We saw exactly what we wanted to see and Guia ‘s knowledge was fantasticGreat Dsyc

Christiane🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Eiji)

24 April 2025

Eiji was a great guide and we had a brilliant tour discovering interesting and beautiful places in Kyoto. He was very welcoming, had a lot of insider information and took great pictures of us throughout the trip. As we had only one full day in Kyoto (not enough) this tour with Eiji gave us a really good insight with a great local guide. This is one of our best holiday memories, thank you so much Eiji! Christiane and family/friends Great cycling tour with local highlights

Debbie

(About local Shohei)

24 April 2025

Early walk through old Kyoto which was beautiful & atmospheric. Stunning but peaceful gardens, awesome temples, a way of living at one with nature & your environment. Loved it all. Even got an amazing coffee! Shohei brought great perspectives, charm & fun.Kyoto at its best 👌

Rikard🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Shohei)

23 April 2025

We met this nice guy and had three wonderful hours full with interesting stories about Kyoto’s history combined with modern life in Japan. Shohei is very knowledgeable about history and presented it in a relaxed way. Thanks for a memorable afternoon AoRInteresting and relaxed

Bonnie

(About local Guia)

22 April 2025

We had a wonderful culture tour of the Gion area with Guia. Guia is very knowledgeable about the maiko/geisha training, culture and history. She also shared great insights into Japanese culture and life in Japan. Thanks!Insightful

Kaye🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

21 April 2025

My husband and I spent several hours with Yoshihiro “Ted” at the Nishiki market tasting the weird and the wonderful. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and Yoshihiro a great guide and companion. He artfully selected the best stalls to sample from and introduced us to flavours and tastes we hadn’t tried before. He’s a lot of fun too. All round brilliant day. Thanks “Ted”.Wonderful day in Kyoto. Thanks Yoshihiro!

Kelley

(About local Yoshihiro)

21 April 2025

My family of four had a wonderful time touring Kyoto with Ted. He is very knowledgeable about the city and gave us all sorts of tidbits related to culture, history, etc. He was also very flexible when we told him we had already visited one of the sights he had in mind. He gave us great restaurant recommendations and stayed in touch to offer his assistance afterwards.Delightful tour

Andrew🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Eiji)

21 April 2025

Naomi

(About local Shohei)

21 April 2025

We were a group of adults and teenage boys. Before we left for Japan I was in touch with Shohei about the tour. He always responded promptly and was flexible about what the tour was going to cover. Shohei was knowledgeable and fun. He was able to enagage both the teenagers and adults. As well as the tour he gave useful advice about other things we might want to do in Kyoto, given our interests. They all proved to be spot on. We planned to do a day trip from Kyoto. He gave us advice about how to navigate the trains and buses. We couldn't have done the day trip without his help!

Nani and Manuel🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Yoshihiro)

20 April 2025

Ted was incredibly kind, polite, and warm-hearted. He shared so many interesting stories and facts with us, and his passion made everything even more special. We truly enjoyed our time with him – such a lovely person!History of Kyoto with Ted

Heather

(About local Guia)

20 April 2025

Guia gave us a wonderful tour in Kyoto - she was warm and personable. She was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. The kids are still bringing up things they learned from Guia today on the tour. Guia was deft at giving a tour that met the needs of an age range of 11 yrs old to 54 years old. Guia is the perfect tour guide

Sabine

(About local Eiji)

19 April 2025

We were quite a big group with a six year old child. Navigating traffic in the narrow streets of Kyoto is not easy. Our Guide took very good care of us in his relaxed way. He took good care of us

Mary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

19 April 2025

Yoshihiro was a great guide and helped us experience the history, beauty and charm of Kyoto, even in the rain!Great experience in Kyoto

Elena🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

19 April 2025

Shohei is a wonderful person and guide. He is is positive and knowledgeable person. We spend nice . It was really interesting to listen his stories. Highly recommended!Amazing

Darren🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

18 April 2025

Just want to send a shout out to Ted. We booked a simple walking tour with him on our first morning in Kyoto. Weather was great, sakura were still in bloom, and luckily the crowds weren't too big. To top it off, Ted did a great job of providing context to us as we walked through Gion, Chionin Temple, and Maruyama Park, ending at the Yasaka Shrine. He then dropped us off at a nice soba and tempura restaurant, which the family was craving. Wish we could've done/seen a little more within the tour, but that's probably a good indicator. Not to mention the next two days in Kyoto our kids were asking if we were going to bump into Ted again and were actively looking through the crowds for him =). Great first Kyoto experience with the fam

Jana🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

18 April 2025

Guia was an amazing guide to have for my family during our time in Kyoto! We went on two tours with Guia, and she was so kind and helpful! We had some truly great experiences with Guia. She was able to share some stories and history behind what we were seeing-which really makes so much more of an impact, and she did so great with our three kids! She really made our time so much more meaningful. So glad we booked two tours with Guia. Thank you!Amazing guide and experience!

Simone🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Eiji)

17 April 2025

We were a group of three generations travelling together and we had a wonderful time with Eiji - he was very patient and happy to be flexible to accommodate individual preferences, which was great. We learned a lot and would definitely do a tour with him again !! Awesome food tour in Kyoto

Unknown

(About local Shohei)

16 April 2025

Had an amazing experience with Shohei, learnt a lot from him. It was a fun & engaging tour. Highly recommended

Sarah

(About local Eiji)

16 April 2025

Eiji was fantastic. He took us to see a few temples of Kyoto and expertly guided us through the streets, stopping off for some street food along the way. He was very kind and patient with our kids (nearly 3, 6 and 8) who aren’t always the easiest! He was informative and friendly and easy to talk to, explaining to us about the many temples of Kyoto, pointing out details like the little gargoyle protectors on houses. He took some great photos of us which he sent us right after the trip and gave us some tips for a rainy day. It was lovely to meet him and spend that time exploring with a guide - especially as we visited at a busy time and we would have struggled to navigate it all. Thank you so much Eiji! Brilliant guide of Kyoto

Samantha

(About local Shohei)

15 April 2025

We loved the tour with Shohei. He was knowledgeable, interesting and humorous. Would highly recommend him as a guide. Great tour in Kyoto

Unknown

(About local Sebastian)

14 April 2025

We loved our biking tour with Sebastian! He was easy to talk to and full of information! He obviously has a passion for history and Japan. We loved all of the temples and shrines and other landmarks that he pulled over to to tell us a story about. We would highly recommend him to anyone!Favorite tour guide yet!

Susie🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Eiji)

14 April 2025

Highly recommend this tour, you can see so much by bike and it is all flat. Eiji is super lovely and full of interesting information. Eiji was fabulous

Kwame

(About local Yoshihiro)

13 April 2025

Ted was a great and informative guide. Very easy-going and fun to be around. He even helped us at the pharmacy. Highly recommended. A really enjoyable time

Laurie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

12 April 2025

We had a blast with Sabastian. He has a great sense of humor, knows his stuff and some great off the beaten path adventures. Can’t go wrong with The way to see Kyoto.

Renarta🇯🇵 Japan

(About local Yoshihiro)

11 April 2025

Ted was very flexible with our tour given our children and showed us some key sights of Kyoto. He also shared some great recommendations for later in our trip. Lovely host

Tamara

(About local Yoshihiro)

10 April 2025

Ted-san was very accommodating to prepare our tours with what we wanted to see with the highlight being The Philosophers Path during peak cherry blossoms! He also took us to a very local restaurant that served delicious soba and udon noodles and I was interested in purchasing handmade prints and he took me to the perfect store. On our second day we took the Romantic Train outside of Kyoto and then transferred to an old fashioned boat to come back down the river. A delightful day and Ted-san planned everything perfectly! We look forward to returning and will definitely book him again. Great two days of tours with Ted-san

2mrggd2c79

(About local Shohei)

9 April 2025

My son and I spent a great morning with Shohei, who knowledgeably showed us around Kyoto with humor and energy. Shohei has a young , contemporary sensibility which we found engaging and interesting. He was particularly informative on the history and politics of Shinto religious practices. He showed us a great deal in a few short hours. Thank you, Shohei!Flexible and informative

Maria Claudia🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Shohei)

9 April 2025

**Kyoto** Shohei was very knowledgeable about Kyoto’s history and was an excellent guide. He adapted to our rhythm and interest and showed us some fantastic hidden gems!! He was fantastic company and his tour was definitely the highlight our trip to Kyoto. Perfect guide for Kyoto

Sean🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Eiji)

9 April 2025

Had a great time with Eiji. Got to try lots of different things we wouldn’t have thought to order ourselves and he taught us lots of different things about the city’s history annd people along the way. He was a fantastic host and would definitely recommend him for anyone visiting the city. Eiji was fantastic

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

8 April 2025

We absolutely loved our tour with Sebastian! He was super friendly and engaging and his English is very good. He showed us so many little hidden gems and we learned so much from his tour. Would definitely hire him again! JessicaAbsolutely loved our tour with Sebastian!

D Scott🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

8 April 2025

“Ted” provided two great tours in Kyoto. He took us to places that we would have never seen on our own. Loved the shrine with the fully bloomed plum trees at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. He is very knowledgeable of the historical places. An even bigger highlight was being guided by him in the Nishiki market. We had a lot of free tastes and experiences and besides cost of his time, we only paid for food and drinks we were interested in. It was a very good food tour. I recommend Ted as a guide for Kyoto.2 Great tours

Dmitri🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

7 April 2025

Ted was great. Knowlegeable, easy going, great with our kids. Someone you want to spend the day sightseeing with.Quality time

Bianca 🇬🇺 Guam

(About local Guia)

6 April 2025

Firstly Guias English is excellent and I mean truly excellent. She also has such a warm and friendly personality and instantly welcoming to all of us. She adapted the tour on the spot based on tastes of what we liked and every single food tour spot was a hit. In fact we went back to some of them another day Along the way she had plenty of information about the area, the history of the food and really made the experience a highlight of the trip. We looked to book another tour with her before we left kyoto but she was already booked up, unsupringly so. Definitely a fantastic hostess!

Sue

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 April 2025

We met Ted for his 90 minute tour on our first day in Kyoto. It was a great way to orient ourselves to the city and to get some insider tips on how to navigate the busyness of cherry blossom season. Ted was friendly and informative. I would recommend him to others. Kickstart Kyoto Tour

Joya

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 April 2025

We enjoyed our food tour with Ted so much! He taught us about different food specialities and gave us insights about Kyoto that were super helpful for our stay. Super recommended and he is such a nice guy ❤️Great food tour with great company!

Katie

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 April 2025

Ted was punctual and very good at communicating prior to our tour. He gave us detailed information on the tour about Kyoto and the history and cultural events. Plus, he felt like a friend and was so kind and courteous and went above and beyond to help us figure out some plans for that evening and the next day. Ted went above and beyond!

m.n.k

(About local Jessica)

5 April 2025

Jessica was a very nice guide, who went with us to all the „must see places“ in Osaka, told us a lot about those places and the history behind it and also took us to two very good restaurants, where we ate the best gyozas ever. We can recommend Jessica to all people who want to see beautiful places around Osaka and/or who want to go to the best restaurants, also japanese people would go to. Also she recommended us a very good kobe restaurant, where we ate the best beef in our life. So thanks a lot.very tasty tour

m.n.k

(About local Yoshihiro)

5 April 2025

Ted was a very nice guide who knows a lot about the history of Kyoto and takes us to the important historical places. He also showed us the most beatiful cherry blossom spots and took a lot of pictures from us. We can recommend Ted to all, who are interessted in the historical site of Kyoto.intressting historical tour

Ilhan🇹🇷 Turkey

(About local Guia)

5 April 2025

We recently had the pleasure of taking a guided tour in Kyoto, and I cannot recommend our guide enough! With years of experience under her belt, she truly brought the city to life with her deep knowledge of its rich history and cultural nuances. Our day was wonderfully organized and flowed smoothly from start to finish, thanks to her meticulous planning. She was incredibly helpful, answering all our questions and providing insightful recommendations that enhanced our experience. From exploring beautiful temples to tasting local delicacies, every moment was memorable. Overall, our day in Kyoto surpassed our expectations, and we are grateful to our guide for making it so special. If you're considering a tour in Kyoto, definitely seek out her expertise for an unforgettable experience!Wonderful Day Trip

Harry🇮🇲 Isle of Man

(About local Eiji)

4 April 2025

We had an amazing tour with Eiji! It was the perfect tour for our first time in Kyoto. We walked through the streets in the evening and Eiji took us to some great well known places like the Geisha street and a great shrine just outside the centre. He was great at pointing out the local history, he took brilliant photos for us and had a really great sense of humor! After the tour he sent us some amazing recommendations for quieter shrines, temples and local restaurants one of which led to us finding our favourite lunch spot during our time in Japan! Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun, fact filled, friendly tour! Thanks Eiji! :) Incredible Kyoto Tour!

Carla🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Eiji)

4 April 2025

We had a fabulous time with Eiji, he was knowledgeable and so accommodatingLoved our experience