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Classic Kyoto Half Day Tour to Kinkakuji, Gingakuji, & Kiyomizudera

4.50· 10 reviews

Highlights

An excellent introduction to Kyoto’s major sites
See 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji
Audio guides in English, Chinese, and Korean are available
Last-minute booking is available!

What to expect

Take in the beauty and history of the three most famous temples of Kyoto on this easy half-day tour. Visit the amazing temples of Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera.

This half-day tour showcases the rich culture of the ancient city with stops at Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Kiyomizudera temples. The bus' wide windows and comfortable seating let you enjoy fantastic views as you make your way to your destination.
To enhance your tour, the vehicles are equipped with hand-held audio guide systems that provide English, Chinese, and Korean narrations about the various sights you will see along the way.

What's included

Korean audio guide
Japanese-speaking guide
Bus fare
English audio guide
Chinese audio guide
Admission fee

About this experience

Starting at: 10:00

The tour will be conducted in vehicles equipped with an in-car multilingual guide system, providing commentary in English, Chinese, and Korean. You can enjoy the multilingual sightseeing information synchronized with the bus journey, along with the guide's explanations in Japanese.
※Please note that audio guidance cannot be used in case of maintenance. We appreciate your understanding.

Schedule

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Check-in at JR Kyoto Station Karasumaguchi KYOTO Sightseeing"OKOSHI"Bus Terminal
10:00
Depart from the "OKOSHI" Bus (Kyoto Sightseeing Bus) Boarding Area
Please be sure to exchange your voucher (reservation confirmation) for a bus ticket at the KYOTO Sightseeing"OKOSHI"Bus Ticket window 10 minutes before the bus departure. It is necessary to have the bus ticket for boarding. Please make sure to arrive on time as the bus will depart as scheduled.
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Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
The top two floors of this Zen temple are completely covered in gold leaf and is surrounded by one of the most exquisite Muromachi Period gardens in the country.
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Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Founded in the early Heian Era, this temple offers sweeping panoramas of Kyoto from its mountainside perch. The temple is named for the waters that flow beneath it, which are legendary for their wish-granting powers.
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Ginkaku-ji Temple
The Temple of the Silver Pavilion is one of Kyoto's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Unlike the Golden Pavilion, this temple is not covered in silver, even though that was the creator's original intention. Instead, it is known for its beautiful Zen rock garden, traditional landscaping, and architecture.
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Lunch/Free Time
Check out the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area for shops and restaurants and enjoy some free time to rest and have lunch.

*Lunch is not included in the tour fee.
15:25
JR Kyoto Station Karasumaguchi KYOTO Sightseeing"OKOSHI"Bus Terminal
—
Tour Ends

Location and Directions

Check-in / Check-out
JR Kyoto Station Karasumaguchi
If you exit from the Central Exit of JR Kyoto Station, it will be on your left hand side (or on your right hand side if you exit from the Shinkansen Central Exit). The bus stop is located in front of the Isetan Department Store. If you are coming by subway, please use Exit 6 at Kyoto Station.

<font color="red">Before boarding, please exchange your voucher (reservation confirmation) for a seat assignment ticket at the ticket counter. You will not be able to board with just the voucher.</font>
Please refer to the file below for directions to the Okoshi Bus stop.

Operated by

KEIHAN BUS / Kyoto Sightseeing Bus

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation until your booking is confirmed.

Within 1 hours of start (local time): 100%

Reviews

4.50

10 reviews

Guest photos 4

Crowds and delays

Posted Date: 2018/11/27

Maile

The positives: bus transportation and pre-paid access into shrines and temples. The negatives: It was initially described as a Fall excursion but it was more like a highlights tour. They did not address any of the autumn trees or traditions for that time of year. Because of the Fall season is so popular, all of the places were very crowded, leading to a near race at each site just to get there and back in time for the bus. It also lead to a more than one hour delayed return, which, to be fair, t… The positives: bus transportation and pre-paid access into shrines and temples. The negatives: It was initially described as a Fall excursion but it was more like a highlights tour. They did not address any of the autumn trees or traditions for that time of year. Because of the Fall season is so popular, all of the places were very crowded, leading to a near race at each site just to get there and back in time for the bus. It also lead to a more than one hour delayed return, which, to be fair, they said might happen, but an update as the day progressed would have been better than announcing it at the tail end of a long day. We had plans to get back to JR station by a certain time so we had to depart the bus early and catch our own cab ride back which cost nearly $40.

Top 3 temples in one day

Posted Date: 2015/06/03

Savvy808

There are so many temples in Kyoto but this tour took us to the 3 temples I wanted to see and the guide also pointed out all the temples along the way from the bus. It was just enough stops to maintain my 13 year old daughter's interest without getting bored. Audio headset for English and other languages were only used in the bus so we couldn't understand the guide's explanation at all the stops, which was disappointing to us and the rest of the non-Japanese speaking people on our tour. The time… There are so many temples in Kyoto but this tour took us to the 3 temples I wanted to see and the guide also pointed out all the temples along the way from the bus. It was just enough stops to maintain my 13 year old daughter's interest without getting bored. Audio headset for English and other languages were only used in the bus so we couldn't understand the guide's explanation at all the stops, which was disappointing to us and the rest of the non-Japanese speaking people on our tour. The time spent at each stop was perfect with enough time to quickly browse through the shops and try popular snacks sold near the temples. We received small omiyage or souvenirs from each temple which was a nice surprise! Although it's a ways down a lot of steps, you should take the time to drink the water flowing down 3 channels to a fountain at Kiyomizudera. They say it has wish granting powers for love, academic success and longevity. This was a great tour but would've been perfect if it was in English!

Well worth doing the trip.

Posted Date: 2018/06/10

Michael

Beautiful Temples and wonderful gardens and scenery. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of people!
The English translation device, which is available on the bus, only worked for the journey to the Kinkakuji Temple. After that there was no English explanation of where we we going or what we were seeing. Pity!

Great!

Posted Date: 2019/11/29

Ana

It was great! The guide seemed very knowledgeable, however she did not speak English and we felt that we missed some information. She did have some videos in English and signs. Overall the tour was good and would recommend it!

Great time in Kyoto

Posted Date: 2014/11/26

teddy85

First time went to Kyoto alone, we didn't know where to go, we found on the internet about this tour. We had a wonderful time and enjoy tour, tour guide is really friendly and closer with travellers. But only each sightseeing places too much travellers, and the time for sightseeing is limited, so that we have not lot of time to sightseeing as well.
If have change to travel again, we will chose this tour. Thank you

Excellent Tour

Posted Date: 2016/01/06

Luanne

Guide was excellent and we plenty of time to tour the attractions! I would recommend this tour. We found it very reasonable in price, also.

None

Posted Date: 2019/07/17

None

Good tour. Well organized aaaaaaasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddttttttttttfffffggggg

Great Tour to see three of the most popular sights.

Posted Date: 2019/12/05

David Seaton

Finding the starting point was easy as it was very easy to see at the train station. It was nice that there were translations available as one of us spoke English and the other spoke Chinese. Despite rainy weather the tour was great. The tour obviously runs on a schedule so lingering to meditate will not work. There was enough time to follow the trails and get a number of photos but be aware that there will be crowds as these are very popular tourist places. This is an easy way to see the temple… Finding the starting point was easy as it was very easy to see at the train station. It was nice that there were translations available as one of us spoke English and the other spoke Chinese. Despite rainy weather the tour was great. The tour obviously runs on a schedule so lingering to meditate will not work. There was enough time to follow the trails and get a number of photos but be aware that there will be crowds as these are very popular tourist places. This is an easy way to see the temples and to avoid numerous train and subway changes.

Very well organized tour

Posted Date: 2024/04/27

Beatriz

Great tour great organization! Highly recommended. The temples were beautiful. Just follow the instructions in the morning and will go swimmingly. It was a last minute booking and worked so well for me! Thanks

Great tour!

Posted Date: 2026/01/18

Montse

They cover the most famous temples in Kyoto and while the tour guide doesn't speak english, she was very patient and helpful! Overal a great tour for the price!!