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.
Highlights
- 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 from selected Tokyo hotels
Recent Photos of this Tour
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Mount FujiMount FujiPhoto by: Anonymous08 2012 -
Japan Kyoto Golden PavilionOverlooking the pond.Photo by: Eddie02 2011 -
Japan Nara hungry deerFriendly localsPhoto by: Eddie02 2011 -
Japan Nara templeTo give an idea of the size of this, the gold figures on top of the temple are over 3m tall.Photo by: Eddie02 2011 -
Smiling deer at Nara parkThis cute little deer was smiling. The deer park was amazing.. 1000 friendly deers that want some crackers!Photo by: Zina A06 2010 -
Bowing deer at Nara parkI didn't know this before I went, but the deer know how to bow to you! This cute little deer bowed to me because he/she ...Photo by: Zina A06 2010 -
Useful Information
Heian Shrine Kyoto
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.
- At the "Nijo Castle", on every Tuesdays in Jan., Jul., Aug. & Dec., "Nijo Castle" is closed and you will visit "Ryoanji Temple" instead.
- At the Kyoto Imperial Palace, on every Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and some other days, Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed and you will visit "Nishi Honganji" instead.
- To enter the Kyoto Imperial Palace, you are required to fill out the form (your name, sex, age, nationality).
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 below 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:
- New Miyako Hotel - opposite train station and within walking distance to Gion
- Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto - near train station and within walking distance to Nishi Temple
First Class hotels:
- Kyoto Hotel Okura - central location with easy access to subway and a short walk to restaurants and shopping areas
- Kyoto Monterey Hotel - central location close to subway, shopping and restaurants, free wifi access
Reviewed by William B, April 2013
This was a great tour! We were picked up at our hotel, escorted to the bullet train (actually put us in our seats), picked up at the Kyoto station (a host was waiting on the platform) and taken to lunch. After lunch we started our Nara tour with a knowledgeable guide. We were returned to our Kyoto hotel by the tour bus.
The next morning, the bus picked us up at the hotel and we did the morning tour and afternoon tour of Kyoto. The bus took us to the Kyoto station and the host put us on the bullet train back to Tokyo. We arrived in Tokyo and we were met by another host at the platform. He escorted the group to cabs, which returned us to our hotel.
The only recommendation we have is that the lunch breaks should be a little shorter. This would have provided us more time at the Kyoto sights.
Everyone related to the tour company was friendly and extremely competent. We highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Reviewed by Felipe M, December 2012
I had a great experience during this three-day tour. Simply fantastic! Nice sightseeing in the first two days, and a very usefull day-off, allowing me to visit the very pleasent city of Osaka. No complains at all about the staff, who, like the Japanese population, was so kind and effective full time
