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Best of Osaka and Kyoto, Cruise Excursion
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
Kobe or Osaka port (This itinerary is when you start from Osaka port)
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.
Sky Building
This is a unique observatory located on the top of the twin buildings. You can enjoy a panoramic view of downtown Osaka and Osaka Bay. It's located in the middle of northern Osaka, which has a smart, elegant feel different from the southern part of Osaka.
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.
Kobe or Osaka Port
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
“Shuji-san's way is the right way!”
First off I wanted to thank Shuji-san for a wonderful experience in Kyoto with my family and friends. We live in Tokyo and decided to take a 1.5 day trip down to Kyoto with out of town guests from the US. Shuji-san was extremely accommodating and was able to help adjust his suggested itinerary with a customized agenda to help ensure that we could see some of the primary sites that were more crowded in addition to the lesser known shrines and areas that across Kyoto. We traveled also with our 2 x boys aged 13 & 10 years old and Shuji-san was also connecting with them to make sure that they were also having a great experience as well. We trusted Shuji-san to help us deliver an experience for our friends and he was able to surpass our expectations. His knowledge and experience was super helpful and our Kyoto visit would not have been the same if it wasn't for him. Even though we have been to Kyoto several times ourselves, this added experience and help navigating the locations was a great way to compliment our exploration. Highlights included an appreciation of the beauty of temples, the fall foliage as noted by the agenda, spontaneous photos and a less traveled aqueduct bridge through one of the temples. Thank you Shuji-san. It was a pleasure meeting you and we hope to cross paths again. ありがとうございました。お時間を割いていただき、会話も楽しめ、素晴らしい経験ができました。どうぞ良いお年をお迎えください。
Shuji O.
Hi Richard, Thank you for a very thorough review. I'm happy I got it. I called this tour 'Less Crowded, Stunning Fall Foliage - Kyoto'. But since you were with your friends who were visiting Kyoto for the first time, I changed it on the spot. But the most exciting thing was that you and your kids chose 'Adventure' from my last suggestions. It was already a little dark, but we enjoyed the last place. You made our tour very great. Yes, I enjoyed it a lot too. Even though you live in Japan, guides can make your trip to Japan different. See you again in the near future again. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
“Shuji is one of a kind!”
I had a wonderful time exploring with Shuji, an exceptional guide. The temples and gardens were stunning and captivating. The experience of walking around the small streets was fantastic. Shuji was eager to share his knowledge, which was both interesting and informative. His expertise and support were beyond my expectations, and I will always be thankful. You are truly the best!
Shuji O.
Thank you for your wonderful words, which seem too good for me! I'm so glad you enjoyed the places and our experiences. Yes, we had an extraordinary time in Kyoto, avoiding the crowds. We rarely have such a special moment. You were so interested in Japanese nature, culture, and heritage. I hope you can visit Japan again and add more Goshuins. See you again!
Alyssa A.
Deep in Nara from Osaka by car ~ Off the beaten track ~
“Enjoy a Historical Tour in Nara!”
Traveling with Shuji felt like going on a field trip, especially with his background as a history teacher. He took the time to explain several major cultural locations, including the art displayed in museums, but also adjusted the tour to include a trip to Nara Park based on my request for my daughter. If you're looking for something different, highly recommend talking to Shuji to personalize your trip!
Shuji O.
Thanks for the great review. We enjoyed the beautiful and historic temples, Hasedera and Horyuji, avoiding the crowds as much as possible. We also enjoyed playing with the deer in the popular Nara Deer Park. We enjoyed wonderful places in the best season of fall foliage. I hope this will be a good memory for your family.
$325/ per group
More tours by Shuji O.
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!
Half-day eastern Kyoto must-sees and a hidden gem
There are so many beautiful places for visitors in Kyoto. If you don't have enough time or don't want to be bothered with a lot of research, I will show you how to travel more comfortably by taking the non-standard route. This is an example of a half-day trip to Kyoto in the fall. You can easily visit hidden gems and must-see places when you book my tour.
The best of Kyoto in any season
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for more than 1,200 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.
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.
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