Published on Mar, 2025
My wife and I had a lovely experience on a day tour of Kyoto when we were staying in Osaka. It is a very good option to see Kyoto in one day if you don't have much time, or want to get an overview so you can decide how to spend your further days.
I chose this tour over other options because the guides are locals - our guide Ami is a native of Kyoto and Osaka and even pointed out that the school she attended growing up was nearby the scenic rail station. She knew more than just the historical information - she could also advise where to buy specialty products like handmade chopsticks (and how to avoid the touristy products) and also which drinks and snacks were yummy. Her English was good enough and we did not need to use any translation application.
Also, having both a driver and guide included in the tour saves time and walking - we could be dropped off closer to the entrances so that we did not need to walk from parking lots. When we got tired, our guide could advise on how to best get a flavor of each site - e.g. take a short rickshaw tour or a shorter route.
I strongly recommend this tour, especially if you value having a local Japanese guide and the convenience of having two people to guide and drive.
