Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do | Viator.comKyoto and Nara 2-Day or 3-Day Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
based on 7 reviews
Duration: 2 - 3 days (approx.)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Product code: 2142TYO_QT2_QT3
Choose from a two-day or three-day Bullet train excursion to Kyoto and Nara from Tokyo. You'll tour Nara's temples and shrines, spend the night in Kyoto and take morning and afternoon sightseeing tours of Kyoto. You'll then have the option of spending a second night in Kyoto, with a day free to spend at your leisure exploring the city that’s known as the cradle of Japan’s cultural heritage.
As you zoom your way to Kyoto from Tokyo by Bullet train, look out for splendid views of Mt Fuji if the weather permits. After lunch at the New Miyako Hotel, you'll travel to Nara in Japan's Kansai region. Nara was the country's first permanent capital city, and has an abundance of Unesco World Heritage sites. You'll visit the Todaiji Temple housing a great image of Buddha, colorful Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns, and the Deer Park, where tame deer freely roam.
After spending the night in Kyoto, you'll visit the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, noted for its gorgeous interiors, and KyotoImperial Palace. After lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, you'll visit Sanjusangendo Temple with its 1,001 impressive images of Buddha, the vermilion-hued Heian Shinto shrine and the Kiyomizu Buddhist temple.
You then have the option of returning to Tokyo by Bullet train, or staying another night in Kyoto and returning to Tokyo by Bullet train the next evening after spending the day exploring the city at your leisure.
- Choice of two-day or three-day trip from Tokyo to Kyoto and Nara by Bullet train
- Views of Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen Bullet train (weather permitting)
- Afternoon sightseeing tour of Nara's highlights: Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Shrine and Deer Park
- Morning and afternoon sightseeing tours of Kyoto's highlights: Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Sanjusangendo Hall, Heian Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple
- Choice of one or two nights' tourist-class or first-class accommodation in Kyoto
- English-speaking guide
- Pick-up and drop-off from selected Tokyo hotels
Heian Shrine Kyoto
- Daily
Unavailable Dates:
- 28 December to 5 January
Tour departs from the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal, or selected hotels in Tokyo.
JR Train Line:
Take Yamanote Line or Keihin Tohoku Lines to Hamamatsucho Station (follow signs to bus terminal)
Subway:
Take Asakusa Line to Daimon Station (follow signs to bus terminal)
- 9.00am
Passengers commencing the tour from central departure point (Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal) will need to be there by 8.40am at the latest in order to check in for the tour.
Duration: 2 - 3 days (approx.) Return details:Tour concludes at the Tokyo Station at approximately 9:00 - 9:15pm. Drop off service is available to selected hotels only.
Hotel Pickup:Selected Tokyo hotels as per the list below. If you are staying at one of the following hotels and wish for a hotel pick up, you MUST enter your hotel details (Name and address) in the 'Hotel Pick Up" box. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will be required to call the supplier and advise them of this information directly. The supplier contact details will be on your voucher once you have a confirmed booking.
If your hotel is not on the list below, you will need to make your way to the central departure point, Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal, at 9.00am.
Hotel Pick Up List and Times:
- Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka - 8:00am
- ANA InterContinental Tokyo - 8:25am
- Ariake Washington - 8:00am
- Century Hyatt - 7:50am
- Cerulean Tower Tokyu - 7:40am
- Conrad Tokyo - 8:10am
- Crowne Plaza Metropolitan Tokyo - 7:40am
- Daiichi Hotel Tokyo - 8:25am
- Four Seasons (Chinzan-so) - 8:00am
- Ginza Capital (annex bldg.) - 8:00am
- Grand Hyatt Tokyo - 8:25am
- Grand Pacific Meridien - 8:10am
- Grand Palace - 7:50am
- Hilton Tokyo - 7:55am
- Imperial (main bldg.) - 8:25am
- Intercontinental Tokyo Bay - 8:30am
- Keio Plaza Tokyo - 8:05am
- Laforet Tokyo - 7:55am
- Le Meridien Pacific Tokyo - 8:15am
- Mandarin Oriental - 7:50am
- New Otani (main bldg.) - 7:50am
- New Sanno - 8:05am
- Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa - 8:20am
- Nikko Tokyo - 8:15am
- Okura (main bldg.) - 8:10am
- Palace - 8:05am
- Park Hotel Tokyo - 8:20am
- Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo - 7:50am
- Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Ginza Hotel - 8:15am
- Royal Park - 7:50am
- Royal Park Shiodome Tower - 8:25am
- Shiba Park - 8:30am
- Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Main Tower) - 8:05am
- Shinjuku Washington - 7:45am
- Sunshine City Prince - 7:30am
- Tokyo Dome - 8:20am
- Tokyo Prince - 8:30am
- The Prince Park Tower Tokyo - 8:20am
- Tokyo St. (Hato Bus at Marunouchi South Exit) - 8:15am
- Westin Tokyo - 7:55am
- Yaesu Fujiya - 8:05am
- Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal - 9:00am
You will need to be in the hotel lobby 10 minutes prior to the above departure times.
Itinerary:You may choose between a two or three day tour. Please see below for options available. Please note that Day 1 is the same for both tours:
Day 1: Tokyo - Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto:
You will be transferred in the morning to Tokyo Station around 9:40am and board a Shinkansen train for the classical city of Kyoto. Enjoy a splendid view of imposing Mt. Fuji en route (weather permitting). Lunch at New Miyako Hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a tour to Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan. Visit Todaiji Temple housing a great image of Buddha, colorful Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns, and Deer Park where many tame deer are freely roaming, before returning to Kyoto.
Kyoto overnight accommodation (your choice from the following):
Tourist Class Hotel or First Class Hotel
*see Kyoto Accommodation List for details
Day 2:
OPTION 1: Kyoto (Option for 3 day course)
Morning sightseeing of Kyoto, visiting Golden Pavilion, Nijo castle noted for its gorgeous interiors, and Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Higashi Honganji Temple instead). After lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center, enjoy afternoon sightseeing of the city, visiting Sanjusangendo Hall with its 1,001 impressive images of Buddha, vermilion-hued Heian Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple with its wooden veranda. Return to Kyoto hotel in the evening.
OPTION 2: Kyoto - Tokyo (option for 2 day course)
Enjoy a morning sightseeing around Kyoto, visiting Golden Pavilion, Nijo castle noted for its gorgeous interiors, and Kyoto Imperial Palace.
After lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center you will see more of the city, visiting Sanjusangendo Hall with its 1,001 impressive images of Buddha,vermilion-hued Heian Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple with its wooden veranda. In the evening board a Shinkansen train back to Tokyo - around 6:40pm. Transfer to major hotels in Tokyo around 9:30pm.
Day 3: For 3 days Course
Free at leisure before returning to Tokyo. In the evening board a Shinkansen train back to Tokyo at 6:40pm. Transfer to major hotels in Tokyo at 9:30pm.
Kyoto Accommodation:
You can choose from the following Tourist or First Class hotels in Kyoto. Please specify in the 'Special Requirements' box at time of booking. Hotel is not guaranteed and is subject to availability.
Tourist Class hotels:
- Kyoto Montrey Hotel
- New Miyako Hotel
- Kyoto Tokyo Hotel
- Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto
First Class hotels:
- Kyoto Hotel Okura
- Kyoto ANA Hotel
- Prices are listed as a guide only. For an exact price quote, select a date
- Infants aged 0-5 years are free of charge, provided they do not occupy a seat. Meals not included.
- If seat or meal is required for an infant, you must pay the Child Price. Please enter infants age as a Child age when submitting the booking.
- Children aged 6 to 11 years, inclusive, qualify for child rate providing they are sharing a room with 2 or more adults and utilize existing bedding. Child prices are not applicable if only 1 adult traveling
- Prices are per person.
- Currency is set to USD. Change currency
- Our pricing is updated constantly to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
- Learn more about our low-price guarantee.
- Hotel pickup (from selected Tokyo hotels only)
- Lunch
- English speaking guide
- One or two nights tourist-class or first-class accommodation in Kyoto, option to be selected at time of booking
- Tokyo to Kyoto return trip by Bullet train
- Morning and afternoon sightseeing tours of Kyoto
- Gratuities (optional)
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- Baggage Handling
- This tour must be booked at least 3 days in advance of your travel date
- Confirmation for this tour will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability.
- Tours are conducted in English unless otherwise stated
- Nijo Castle - On Tuesdays in January, July, August and December 'Nijo Castle' is closed a visit to 'Ryoanji Temple' will be included instead.
- Kyoto Imperial Palace - On Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays and some other days, Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed and a visit to 'Kitano Tenmangu' will be included instead. On June 25, September 25 and December 25, you will visit 'Ryoanji Temple' instead.
- Please note: The bullet train does not have a luggage compartment. You can only take a day pack or small back pack along with you. Recommended to store most of your luggage in your Tokyo hotel.
Bookings cancelled or amended 8+ calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure or commencement time will not be charged any fees; between 3 and 7 calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 50% cancellation fee; within 2 calendar days of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 100% cancellation fee.
Local Operator Information:Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.
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Since 1999, over 3 million travelers have experienced more with Viator!
Great trip; the tour folks took us onto the bullet train in Tokyo and then met us at the other end in ... Read more ›
Stephen K, United States of America, March 2008
This trip certainly packs a lot into a short space of time. If you don't have long and you want to see ... Read more ›
Matthew G, United Kingdom, November 2008
