Day Trip by Bus to Kyoto from Osaka/Kyoto
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8 hours (approx.)
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Offered in: English and 4 more
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Overview
Enrich yourself with the fascinating history of Kyoto’s numerous UNESCO-listed temples and shrines during this day trip from Osaka. Explore the seemingly endless ‘torii’ gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, visit Kiyomizu-dera temple, and explore Kinkaku-ji temple. Customize your trip by adding on a deluxe or standard Japanese style lunch, and select from four pickup points.
- Discover the UNESCO-listed temples and shrines of Kyoto, round-trip from Osaka
- Walk among thousands of bright-red 'torii' gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
- Admire the views from Kiyomizu-dera and the elegant architecture of Kinkaku-ji
- Optional lunch choices include Deluxe or Standard Japanese Style Lunch
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Pick an Osaka departure point that works for you, choosing a morning departure location from among Kyoto Station, Umeda’s Nishi-Umeda Hearton Hotel, Nippombashi, or the JR Namba “OCAT.”
Begin your first Kyoto visit by heading to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. Wander through this religious site’s collection of more than 1,000 brilliant-red “torii” gates and learn about its connection to the Japanese deities of agriculture, business, traffic safety, and a bountiful harvest.
Continue to Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera temple. You’ll have one hour to enjoy the amazing city views from the temple’s viewing platform, and to learn about the temple’s construction with 139 pillars and not a single nail. Following your Kiyomizu-dera visit, head to Shijo-karasuma to enjoy an optional deluxe or standard Japanese style lunch.
After your lunch break, head to Kinkaku-ji temple. Often referred to as “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion,” this elegant complex hosts a collection of peaceful gardens and traditional Japanese-style architecture. At the end of your visit you’ll be dropped off back in Osaka at Namba OCAT, Nippombashi, or Hearton Hotel Nishi-Umeda.
Begin your first Kyoto visit by heading to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. Wander through this religious site’s collection of more than 1,000 brilliant-red “torii” gates and learn about its connection to the Japanese deities of agriculture, business, traffic safety, and a bountiful harvest.
Continue to Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera temple. You’ll have one hour to enjoy the amazing city views from the temple’s viewing platform, and to learn about the temple’s construction with 139 pillars and not a single nail. Following your Kiyomizu-dera visit, head to Shijo-karasuma to enjoy an optional deluxe or standard Japanese style lunch.
After your lunch break, head to Kinkaku-ji temple. Often referred to as “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion,” this elegant complex hosts a collection of peaceful gardens and traditional Japanese-style architecture. At the end of your visit you’ll be dropped off back in Osaka at Namba OCAT, Nippombashi, or Hearton Hotel Nishi-Umeda.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at your first stop around 10:00am, the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, you will tour for about an hour. The Fushimi Inari Shrine is the head shrine for some 30,000 Inari shrines all across Japan. It is especially famous for its seemingly endless 1,000 vermilion shrine torii (gates). Fushimi Inari was dedicated to the Gods of agriculture. Afterward, you will head toward the Kiyomizu temple at 11:20.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
After lunch, you will tour the Kinkaku-ji temple from 2:10pm until 02:55 pm. Kinkaku, a pagoda made to house the sacred relics of the Buddha, has given this temple the popular name of Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). But the official name of this branch temple of the Rinzai sect Zen temple of Shokoku-ji is Rokuon-ji. The view of Kinkaku which is reflected in the Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond) is very beautiful. This was built by the third Ashikaga Shogun Yoshimitsu for his own villa but turned into a temple after his death. This temple was rebuilt in 1955.
Duration: 45 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
*You might transfer from Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizudera by taxi in the high season.*
There is a Japanese proverb regarding "jumping off of the stage at Kiyomizu." This is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge." Here in the Main Hall, there is a large wooden stage that juts out over the hillside. It was built without using a single nail and is supported by 139 pillars. The view of the city of Kyoto from this Kiyomizu Stage is magnificent. The Kiyomizu-dera (the temple of clear water) was named after the Otowa Waterfall which is said to be good for your longevity, health, and study if you drink from it. This temple is famous for the cherry blossoms in spring and the foliage in autumn.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
The final destination is Arashiyama district, located in the Western part of Kyoto. This area becomes most attractive around early April and late November when the cherry blossoms bloom and the colors of the fall seasons usually peak. During the summer months, traditional cormorant fishing is practiced on the Hozu River for tourists to watch. One highly recommended spot is the Sagano Bamboo Forest. It is a pleasantly cool 100 meter long walkway that begins from the side of the world heritage Tenryuji Temple. You'll spend time here from 03:30 pm - 04:50 pm, and then head back to Kyoto Station or Osaka.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
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Traveler Tips
- "This tour is highly recommended for those who wants to have convenience and have limited time to visit these attractions." See review
- "Lunch package could be skipped and taken on your own as there are several restaurants there." See review
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Day Trip by Bus to Kyoto from Osaka/Kyoto
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