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Best of Osaka and Kyoto, Cruise Excursion
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Joined 2023
Since there are so many beautiful places in Kyoto, please choose one or two places to visit. I can recommend some places depending on the season or situation.
And on the way to Kyoto, you can visit Osaka Castle and the Sky Building or Dotonbori in Osaka.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Osaka port or somewhere in Osaka
Osaka Castle
The symbol of Osaka, towering in the sky. Built in 1583, it has a dramatic history. Many kinds of trees bloom in season in the large park, especially we can enjoy a lot of cherry blossoms in full bloom at the end of March or the beginning of April.
Dotonbori
If you start from Kobe port, you have to skip it.
Dotonbori is one of the largest and most popular food districts in Osaka. Bori" means canal, in which three-dimensional neon signs are reflected. You will see many casual stalls selling famous local foods such as takoyaki.
Tenryuji Temple/ Banboo
You will see the beautiful garden with beautiful Arashiyama and Kameyama in the backdrop.
You must feel it's exotic in Bamboo Grove.
Enjoy the panoramic views from the Kameyama Park.
Kinkakuji Temple
If you start from Kobe port, you have to skip it.
And even if you start from Osaka port without a vehicle, you have to skip it too.
Golden Temple. Top of the must-see list in Japan.
Visit at the best time of the day.
Osaka Port or somewhere in Osaka
The schedule will be a little tighter if you depart from Kobe Port.
Ending Point
Kobe or Osaka Port
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Port pick-up
Chartered taxi (8 hours): GoWithGuide has car services separately.
Highway fee: several thousand yen
Lunch (you and guide)
Admission fees (about 2000 yen/person, no guide needed)
Tour Important Information
We will walk on the paved road. But we go up and down stairs. So, please put on easy walking shoes. Please take water with you. Please walk with your speed. There are so many photo spots.
We can also use the public transportation. It will cost much less, but visiting places will be limited. For example, you can visit only the Arashiyama area (Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Grove, Togetsukyo Bridge).
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport.
I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan.
If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Reviews
Luis felipe G.
“Kyoto in a Rush”
With so much to see in beautiful Kyoto we were left with a desire to come back. Shuji, a former History teacher, made our tour memorable. He was very accomodating on our needs and showed us what we were most interested. We were lucky to be in Kyoto at the peak of the fall and had opprtunity to see the autum colors in full blown. Shuji took us to the mecca of the fall where we were amazed at the sights. Thank you for such a memorable tour
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Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, Kyoto has many wonderful places. I'm so sorry there were no time to going to the Kinkakuji Temple. We had to go back to the ship in time. I was very happy to talk about history. I was surprised to see how much you know about Japan. We also enjoyed talking about Ken Follett's novels. If we had more time, I could show you more places. Yes, please come back to Japan again. Thank you so much for the fun time!
Shannon L.
“Excellent guide and experience”
Shuji took my group on two day trips for Osaka: Nara and Himeji Castle. They absolutely loved Shuji and I appreciated his quick replies to messages; it was very easy to work with him. Highly recommend, and I'll be using Shuji again for other trips in that area.
Shuji O.
Thank you so much for kind words. I thought we would miss the best time to see the fall leaves, but we still enjoyed them. In Nara, deer greeted us as if they were old friends. We went to a lot of really pretty places, like the Isuien Garden. It was so comfortable there. Himeji Castle was also stunning, and we were able to visit and relax there. We were lucky because there weren't many visitors. We could also use the nice restaurant. Thank you for the nice gifts. Yes, I want to travel with you all again!
David B.
“A Wonderful Autumn Day in Kyoto”
My wife and our friend spent a wonderful day with Shuji walking throughout eastern Kyoto. He patiently worked with me ahead of time to tweak his standard Eastern Kyoto walking tour itinerary, responding promptly to all messages and making helpful suggestions. On the day of the tour, he arrived promptly at our hotel and ably led us on our adventure. Highlights (for me) included the off-the-beaten-path Komyo-in Temple, with its lovely dry landscape garden and its stunning art exhibit upstairs, as well as a visit to the Sanjūsangen-dō Temple with its 1001 Kannon sculptures (plus another one, that Shuji will show you) and 28 incredible guardian deity sculptures. Throughout the day, Shuji provided background information, patiently answered questions, took pictures, and was always ready to make adjustments as needed. All in all, a delightful experience!
Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, it was a really wonderful day. I hadn't expected to see fall foliage, thinking it would be a little early. But we could enjoy them very much already. We could choose a secret route to avoid the crowd, for the sake of your agreement. The tour was comfortable, and the weather was nice. We don't often have such a nice day. Thank you so much!
$319/ per group
More tours by Shuji O.
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Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
Arashiyama is the hottest tourist destination. It is incredibly beautiful in spring and fall because of its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn brown or red! In the outstanding Tenryuji, you will see a beautiful garden with beautiful mountains in the background. There are many other beautiful places with touching stories in this area. On the way back to downtown, we can visit two world heritage sites, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji. What a wonderful route!
Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
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The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years! There are so many historic sites and beautiful places that you will be at a loss for what to choose. Please tell me about your favorite. Considering the access, the season, and the time, I will make a suitable plan. I recommend some hidden gems if you like going off the beaten track. And also the charming famous popular tourist spots worth visiting when it is so busy. I will tell you stories to help you appreciate the place.
The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.
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Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
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Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Since there are so many beautiful places densely in eastern Kyoto, we can take a walking tour there. Please add or skip some. This is an example of a walking tour in eastern Kyoto, emphasizing history and culture. We will use the train only once or twice.
Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Other Popular Shore Excursion Tours in Osaka
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Cruise ship excursion to Osaka 6 hours
Join a memorable Osaka tour starting from Osaka Port. First we will visit Osaka Castle, a symbol of the city with a rich history and seasonal blooms. Then explore the Grand Front to Sky Building, enjoy window shopping, and admire the stunning views from the observatory. For a pace change, relax at Nakanoshima Park with its beautiful buildings and rose garden. Next let's experience the foodie haven of Dotonbori, famous for its neon signs and local delicacies. We return to Osaka Port by 3:00 PM.
Cruise ship excursion to Osaka 6 hours
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Cruise ship excursion to Kyoto 8 hours
Kyoto tour starting from Osaka Port. We will visit nice spots according to the season. For example, in the fall, we visit Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, the bamboo forest, Jojakkoji Temple (a mecca for fall foliage), Tenryuji (a World Heritage site), and Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Temple). We return to Osaka Port by 5:00 PM.
Cruise ship excursion to Kyoto 8 hours