Perfect 1-Day Bus Tour

Perfect 1-Day Bus Tour, 8 to 9 hours, rated 4.9 across 17,054 traveller reviews.

Overview

The coach does the distance work, an English-speaking guide runs the group, and multilingual audio guidance plays on the bus. Admission tickets for the four paid temples are already in the package, and one reviewer noted that skipping the ticket lines saved considerable time.

The day is built for covering ground. Kyoto's headline sights sit far apart, and one reviewer described the route as smartly planned, moving from west to east and north to south without backtracking. A buffet lunch can be added at booking, and the listing warns that adding it on the day costs more, 3,000 yen, so the add-on is best decided in advance.

It is a big operation, up to 42 travellers, and the listing is blunt about the walking: stairs and hills at every stop, and not recommended for anyone who cannot manage long distances. Meeting time is 7:50 in front of the Tully's Coffee inside Kyoto Avanti, with departure at 8:00 and no joining mid-way for latecomers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Kyoto AvantiThe coach leaves at 8:00, and the listing states latecomers cannot join mid-way.
2. Kiyomizu-dera TempleOne hour at the temple, with the admission ticket included.
3. Sanjusangendo TempleForty minutes at the hall, with the admission ticket included.
4. ArashiyamaFifty minutes in Arashiyama, with free admission.
5. Bamboo Forest TrailTwenty minutes on the trail, with free admission.
6. Tenryu-ji TempleThirty minutes at the temple, with the admission ticket included.
7. Kinkaku-ji TempleForty minutes at the Golden Pavilion, admission included. The coach passes Nijo Castle on the way without stopping.
8. Fushimi Inari-taishaOne hour at the shrine, with free admission. The tour then returns to the meeting point at Kyoto Avanti.

What To Expect From The Tour

This is a fast, full day with real walking at every stop, so a few practical choices matter before booking.

• Wear proper shoes. The listing says customers walk stairs and hills at each place, and reviewers echo the advice to bring comfortable shoes. Sturdy footwear matters more here than on a typical city walk.
• Bring water. Reviewers describe days that ran hot, and one specifically recommends plenty of water. Drinks are not included, so carry your own.
• Pace yourself. Reviewers describe the day as fast-paced but well organised. Expect short stops rather than lingering visits.
• Book lunch early. The buffet lunch is an add-on at booking, and adding it on the day costs 3,000 yen more. Reviewers who pre-booked the buffet generally speak well of it, though one found the food just okay.
• Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of 42 travellers, so it is a coach operation rather than a small-group walk. One reviewer praised their guide's handling of a big group.
• Weather flexibility. The listing states the itinerary order can change with traffic, weather and operations, and that closed sites may be swapped for alternatives without refunds. Build some flexibility into your plans for the day.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and the listing says a moderate level of physical fitness is needed, with lots of walking throughout. Stops are short and the day is long, which some reviewers found tiring in heat. No hotel pickup or drop-off is offered, and the coach leaves at 8:00 sharp with no refunds or changes for latecomers. One reviewer reported that the operator refused a request to move to the next day's departure after a last-minute illness, citing the cancellation policy.

Common Questions