• 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

English, Indonesian, 日本語, Italiano, 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 6 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

Marie-Jeanne🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Eiji)

3 May 2025

We had a great time with Eiji in Nara. He showed us lots of great places skipping most of the crowds. He’s a kalm nice man we really loved his way of explaining everything to us. we made an extra stop to see the Fusjimi-Inari! 🤩Great guy!

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!

Megan

(About local Eiji)

13 September 2025

Eiji was knowledgeable and took us on a very carefully thought out tour. The bike riding was easy and even though it was a hot day most of the ride was shady and the riding meant there was a good breeze. It was a lot of fun riding down tiny streets and discovering new areas. Eiji is an excellent guide.Great experience!

Wes🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yoshihiro)

13 September 2025

Ted was an absolute gentleman. Helpful, insightful, interesting. A highlight was that he took us to the out of the way spots, not just the tourist areas we could have found ourselves. That's what makes touring with Ted special, that's his point of difference!Time with Ted

Janet

(About local Yoshihiro)

11 September 2025

We had only a short time to explore Kyoto during our cruise stop and reached out to Ted (Yoshihiro) through the With Locals website. From the moment we reached out, Ted was very helpful—he explained how to get from Osaka to Kyoto via the Shinkansen and suggested options for how to make the most of our limited time. We chose a tour of Gion and Higashiyama, and Ted was already waiting at the designated meeting point when we arrived. He gave us an informative tour, sharing insights into the history of Kyoto, as well as the traditions of Kabuki, Geiko, and Maiko. We continued on to Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and Yasaka Shrine, where we learned more about the significance of Buddhism and Shintoism in Japanese culture. The surrounding park area was serene and beautiful—a peaceful highlight of Kyoto. Thank you, Ted, for an enriching experience! Enriching tour of Gion and Higashiyama

Helene🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Guia)

11 September 2025

Fantastic guide showing gems and places with history and personal details. We enjoyed the tour and company with Guia!Kyoto guide

Howard🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yoshihiro)

10 September 2025

We just completed an amazing 7 hour private tour with Ted to see the highlights of Kyoto. Ted was very well organized, professional, and communicated with me throughout the process. We had chosen 4 primary sites to visit but as we finished a little early Ted, at no additional charge, gave us a few options to see for a 5th additional site. We really appreciated that added flexibility. Ted was an incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and personable guide. He took several amazing photos of our group and gave us a great suggestion for lunch. We recommend him at the highest level. I plan on booking with him again on our next trip to Kyoto. Important Note: We had an ambitious 1 day itinerary and with Ted’s assistance we booked a private driver for the day. If you can mange the budget, I highly recommend the private driver. The rate through Ted was lower than if I contacted the transport company myself. It was very hot during our September trip, having toe driver drop off/pick-up directly in front of most of the sites was definitely a lifesaver. Amazing Kyoto tour with Ted!

Mary🇺🇸 United States

(About local David)

9 September 2025

Wonderful evening with David! He was funny, engaging, and knowledgeable. Very informative and great tour. It was a highlight of our time in Kyoto and I highly recommend him!

tina🇸🇮 Slovenia

(About local Tiro)

8 September 2025

Had a great walk exploring Kyoto with Tiro, despite the crazy heat. We found a few parallels in our lives and our travels, so it was also fun to chat and compare experiences. The tour was really relaxed but at the same time very informative for all 4 of us. We saw some spots, which we would have surely missed if we had explored on our own. Tiro dropped us off by the restaurants next to the river, where we also had a delicious lunch. Great morning in Kyoto!Great walk and talk!

Travis

(About local Yoshihiro)

7 September 2025

We had such a great time with Ted walking through Kyoto! He promptly reached out to us prior to the tour/ after we signed up to introduce himself. We felt we could ask him any questions to help us prepare. Based off what we wanted out of the trip, he constructed a great day that matched exactly what we wanted to see. He was respectful, professional, and knowledgeable on his history. He was also very genuine!! He recommended us great restaurants for the remainder of our trip. Thank you for being so welcoming and showing us your city!! Ill be recommending to all my friends and will be contacting when I’m back :) A spectacular tour through Kyoto!!

Sandra

(About local Sebastian)

6 September 2025

We had a great trip with Sebastian to Ōsaka on our way back to the airport. Everything went smoothly - from the planning and communication in advance, the pick up at our hotel in Kyōto, the impressions of Ōsaka we were able to get to the drop off at Ōsaka airport. Sebastian shared much of his rich knowledge with us so that we got a lot of new impressions. It is not the cheapest way to explore Ōsaka but yet highly recommended!Great trip to Osaka

L Fay

(About local Eiji)

5 September 2025

Eiji was a delight. He communicated in advance well, was on time and kept us on time. He was helpful with our non-tour-related questions and shared his knowledge and experiences clearly. Eiji is obviously proud of his adopted city, Kyoto, and we'd be happy to go with him again. Well-paced, informative & tour

Kerstin🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Shohei)

2 September 2025

Wegen der Hitze haben wir uns für einen Abendspaziergang mit das nächtliche Kyoto entschieden und es war ein sehr schönes Erlebnis. Von historisch bis modern, wir konnten viele Seiten dieser schönen Stadt kennen lernen und auch einige Tipps für den nächsten Tag mitnehmen. Shoei ist ein netter offener Typ der uns mit Spaß und viel Wissen einen guten Eindruck, auch abseits der großen Touristenmassen vermittelt konnte. Schöner nächtlicher Spaziergang

Caroline🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jessica)

2 September 2025

Jessica was very kind and gave me a bottle of gluten free soy sauce to take on the rest of my trip. We had a sake tasting in a very special little place and tried some Kobe beef as well. Jessica explained customs and etiquette to us as we went. We learned a lot on our tasting tour. Fabulous and catered for gluten free

Dimitri🇺🇸 United States

(About local Simone)

2 September 2025

We had a wonderful time touring Osaka with Simone. What a personable guide! He was truly indefatigable considering that it was an unbelievably hot day at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. He kept up a running dialog about all the sights he shared with us and it was clear he had a real love for Japan and was eager to share the special places of Osaka with us. We never felt rushed and he was so attentive to our needs, especially my wife who had some trouble with the heat. Very highly recommended!!Great introduction to Osaka with Simone

John🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

1 September 2025

My wife and I toured Gion in Kyoto with Eijii. I strongly recommend him. He is knows the city and its history very well. He is very kind and friendly - fun to be with. I had many questions about Kyoto history and culture as well as general questions about modern day Japan. I very much appreciated his answers and our conversation. He also gave us some excellent advice on other sites to see during our time in Japan. You would enjoy a tour with Eijii!Eijii is a great tour guide

John🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

1 September 2025

I highly recommend Shohei. My wife and I had a tour of the Shotgun Palace and the golden pavilion with Shohei. His explanations of the history and customs of these sites were fantastic. He is very knowledgeable, fun and has a great sense of humor. He has lived in the US and helped me better understand Japan's history and culture. You will certainly enjoy a tour with Shoei!Shohei is an excellent guide

Michel🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Simone)

1 September 2025

We had a fantastic time last night on our food tour with Simone. Simone was really knowledgeable on every aspects of Osaka. The food was really good and it gave us a real appreciation for the food scene in Osaka. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the experience. I hope to get the chance to do this all over with Simone on our next trip to Japan. Ciao Simone and thank you for making this a really fun experienceOsaka food tour with Simone

Mark🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Eiji)

1 September 2025

Eiji was very informative as you would expect guides to be on this platform but his ability to add in the extra details that appealed to me, architecture / sport / music details and ensured i did not miss the perfect photo opportunity was outstanding. beyond the normal touristy details

Kim🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Eiji)

31 August 2025

Eiji was the perfect guid. Well thought out tour. Great bits of insight into the culture. Eiji was easy to talk to and both my son and I really enjoyed the tour. What a great thing to do.

Sara🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

30 August 2025

We had an amazing experience with Eiji in Kyoto. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed trying foods we would never have tried unless Eiji had suggested it, and everything was delicious! We highly recommend this experience. Absolutely fantastic!

Maria

(About local Simone)

28 August 2025

We had an amazing guided tour of Kyoto’s main temples with Simone. He was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and always willing to answer our questions. What we appreciated the most was his openness in sharing insights about Japanese culture and traditions, making the experience not just informative but truly engaging. Thanks to his explanations, we were able to understand the deeper meaning behind the temples and rituals. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to discover Kyoto with someone passionate and attentive!A great japanese experience with Simone

Dominique🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Yoshihiro)

25 August 2025

We enjoyed very much the tour with Yoshihido. He gave the tour a personal touch and we learned a lot from him. Excellent gyided tour

jim

(About local Shohei)

22 August 2025

Great knowledge of the sites

Mária

(About local Guia)

21 August 2025

Mark🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

21 August 2025

Great job. We learned a lot. Great English. Kyoto

monika.wagner.paf🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Yoshihiro)

18 August 2025

Our guide was very nice and gave us a really good time in Kyoto. He was very kind and well informed about everything we wanted to know about the town and history. He also helped us with a reservation in a spezial keiseki restaurant. Thank you very much. we were 6 people, the price was a little bit high for 3 hours 310 €.Umfassende, sehr persönliche Betreung

f56b4bfpg5

(About local Sebastian)

16 August 2025

Sebastian helped us to know the city and realize the culture and meanings behind everything. The bicycle was comfortable and we enjoy the ride. Beautiful views. The tour could be a little bit shorter. Great experience!!!

Karol🇱🇺 Luxembourg

(About local Yoshihiro)

16 August 2025

3h tour with Yoshihiro at the beginning of our Kyoto adventure gave us great insights into Kyoto culture, Kabuki history and religious context. Exactly whether we needed! Local stories and family atmosphere. Taste of Kyoto Culture

Kurt

(About local Simone)

15 August 2025

Simone met us on time and with a cheerful greeting. His English is excellent, and he has deep knowledge of food, sights, culture and is very engaging. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and he went well and beyond helping make our visit to Kobe memorable.Simone is a great guide

tembe🇺🇸 United States

(About local Shohei)

13 August 2025

Perfect choice as a guide for Kyoto. Gave us a great insider look at Kyoto and in a short period of time we saw everything. He is fun and informative with a great command of English. Shohei is amazing

Irene Kanter🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Yoshihiro)

12 August 2025

Ted is extremely friendly and knowledgeable, he answered all our questions along the way and made sure to make the tour engaging for our teenage girls as well.Very nice tour!

jar0311

(About local Guia)

12 August 2025

The tour with Guia was really nice, fun and interesting. She has shared really a lot about the history and life itself in Japan, she has great knowledge about Kyoto. She’s very open and easy talking to. I really had a wonderful time with Guia exploring the beautiful historical places in Kyoto. I really recommend her as an experienced tour guide!Exploring historical Kyoto

Rebecca🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Simone)

10 August 2025

Simone was excellent. We would highly recommend him for anyone looking for a tour in Osaka. He went above and beyond in preparing for our tour to meet the food allergies of our daughter. Everyone in our family had a fantastic memorable time. Osaka Food Tour

Douglas🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eiji)

8 August 2025

Eiji gave us a fun and informative day through Kyoto and its lesser known areas. He was a gracious and helpful guide who told some great stories, talked baseball, and made the day memorable.Great Tour of Kyoto

Mark🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Simone)

8 August 2025

On our last day in Japan, we had a wonderfull tour with Simone. In advance we had contact to tailor-made our tour and we eventually had a great day with Simone. He showed us several interesting places in Osaka and we had much fun. Not only knows Simone a lot but we had a great connection and time run by very fast because we had a lot of fun. He showed us how it is to live in Japan and how everyday life in Japan is. If you have the chance to book Simone, we highly recommand it. Thanks Simone!A wonderfull tour with a wonderfull guide

Harry🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jessica)

6 August 2025

Jessica was fantastic & the food was great. Highly recomend.What a great wvening

Katarina🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Yoshihiro)

6 August 2025

We booked a private 90min Tour with Yoshihiro (Ted). Communication before our meeting was very easy. Ted was really great and so friendly. He gave us a nice Tour of Gion and answered our many questions. He also gave us many recommendations and asked where we were planning on going next. After the tour he sent us a lot of information on our next stops via Whatsapp! I can fully recommend booking a tour with him. Thank you so much for a great time!Fun and interesting Tour with Yoshihiro

Anne Lene

(About local Simone)

6 August 2025

We are super happy with the guided tour from Simone. He had a good overview and a great historical understanding of everything he showed us, as well as being very sympathetic, attentive and responsive. Overall he was a wonderfull guide and we can highly recommend Simone.We highly recommend Simone

Shay🇺🇸 United States

(About local Guia)

3 August 2025

Look no further. It was a perfect day with Guia with Kyoto with my family including two kids. She showed us cool spots, history of Kyoto and Tokyo and a perfect end to our trip in KyotoBest day in Kyoto wiyu Guia

Ineke🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Eiji)

1 August 2025

Eiji is a super guide! We loved the bicycle tour and all the ins and outs of Kyoto and the nice pictures Eiji made (and send us afterwards). Many thanks! Great experience

Ajay

(About local Eiji)

31 July 2025

So, this was my first time in Japan, and I wanted to learn about the traditions in Japan from a local rather than an YouTube guide. Mr. Eiji was the perfect person for it. He was extremely patient with me and more than just being a guide he genuinely wanted me to enjoy Japan and what it had to offer. It was very heartwarming because most guide don't go that far. He showed me the nuances of Japanese culture and explained to me the commute methods. Also, he is a very good photographer lol.First time in Japan

Karen🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Tiro)

29 July 2025

We had a great time with Tiro. His tour was the perfect mix of education, information and entertainment. We really enjoyed the way he shared his experience and knowledge about sake, Kyoto, living and working in Japan. Highly recommend for a family with adults children!An unforgettable sake experience!

jameselliotlawrence1975

(About local Yoshihiro)

26 July 2025

We had a fantastic morning with Yoshihiro (Ted) at Shimogamo water festival. Ted has really considered our brief, 'off the tourist trail, with some fun for the kids', he hit the brief spot on. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Ted, his english is great and so is his patience and most importantly he has a wealth of knowledge. If/when I return to Kyoto i would happily spend some more time with TedAuthentic tour with a great guide

Dana

(About local Eiji)

24 July 2025

We had a great bicycle tour with Eiji! Eiji is a very kind, relaxed and happy guide. Hé told us many stories about Japanse culture and answered all of our questions. When we come back we will definitely contact Eiji again. Eiji is a great guide!

Damiano🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Yoshihiro)

23 July 2025

Best guide everTed simply the best

Zac🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

23 July 2025

Sebastian sabe mucha historia local y todos los detalles del castillo. Además él supo conectar con la gente del grupo menos inspirado por la historia, contando temas japoneses interesantes para ellos para que todos se lo pasaran muy bien. Sebastian fue fantástico!