Rakutour Kyoto Day Trip 2026: Itinerary, Prices & Booking
Dreaming of a Kyoto day trip from Osaka but dreading public transport? Our Rakutour Kyoto Day Bus Tour review covers prices, itinerary, and how to save money!
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Dreaming of a Kyoto day trip from Osaka but dreading public transport? Our Rakutour Kyoto Day Bus Tour review covers prices, itinerary, and how to save money!
When you're planning a trip to Osaka, it's a thought many of us have had: should I visit Kyoto for a day?
I also tried to plan a day tour to Kyoto and create an itinerary, but it wasn't easy.
There were so many places I wanted to visit, but trying to get around by public transport...
it just didn't add up.
So after much deliberation, I decided to go with a Kyoto one-day bus tour, and I was really satisfied because I could comfortably visit all the sights I wanted to see.
Today, based on my personal experience with Raku Tour Kyoto,
I'll cover everything from the Kyoto one-day bus tour price, duration, and itinerary,
to how to get discounts, all in one place! :)
Japan After Work
Text & Photos by Gyonipic
1. Raku Tour Kyoto One-Day Bus Tour at a Glance
First, let's look at the key information you'll want to know:
- Meeting Time: 07:40 AM
- Departure Time: 07:50 AM
- Estimated Arrival: 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM
✅ Itinerary:
Starting from Tsurutontan Soemoncho in front of Osaka's Nippombashi Station, you'll explore Kyoto in the following order: Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera Temple → Kinkaku-ji Temple → Arashiyama, before returning to Nippombashi Station.
From departure to arrival, you can expect a full day tour lasting approximately 10 hours and 10 minutes to 10 hours and 40 minutes.
This itinerary is perfectly suited for those who want to visit Kyoto for a day without changing their accommodation in Osaka!
2. Why I Chose Raku Tour for My Kyoto Bus Tour ⭐️
To be honest, most Kyoto bus tours
don't have drastically different itineraries across companies.
That's because many of them bundle Kyoto's representative attractions like Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Arashiyama.
That's why for me, it's more about when you visit, rather than just where you visit.
I always make sure to check the schedule carefully.
Raku Tour stands out with these features:
✅ Early Departure at 07:50 AM
✅ Kiyomizu-dera Temple as the Second Stop
✅ 2 Hours of Free Time at Arashiyama
Especially when there are many tours covering similar routes,
just by departing 10 minutes earlier,
you can get a head start at each location.
It can make all the difference between waiting in a long line or not,
and entering before or after the crowds arrive!
And during seasons when Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a main highlight, like autumn, visiting it during a slightly less crowded time is definitely a big advantage, I think! :)
3. Raku Tour Kyoto Itinerary
📍 Fushimi Inari｜1 Hour
This is where endless orange torii gates stretch out, making it a representative and highly sought-after attraction for first-time visitors to Kyoto.
You'll have approximately 1 hour to freely explore.
Since this tour departs about 10 minutes earlier than the average tour, we were able to arrive before the main crowds of tourists.
It felt vaguely familiar, and it turns out this is where some scenes from the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' were filmed!
If you want to take photos with the torii gates as your backdrop, it's best to walk further in, as the entrance tends to be very crowded.
📍 Kiyomizu-dera Temple + Ninen-zaka & Sannen-zaka Slopes｜2 Hours
Next up is Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
You'll have about 2 hours to explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple and
the charming Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka slopes.
This is also your free time to grab lunch.
While many Kyoto one-day tours place Kiyomizu-dera Temple
as their final stop,
Raku Tour visits Kiyomizu-dera Temple as the second stop.
Since most Kyoto bus tours visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple last, Raku Tour's decision to make it the second stop meant we were able to avoid the peak crowds.
Even so, you should still expect Kiyomizu-dera Temple to be busy... unless you plan to arrive at dawn...
What I mean is, it was *relatively* less crowded! Haha.
This is especially important if you're visiting Kyoto in autumn!
Kiyomizu-dera is incredibly famous as a spot for autumn foliage,
so it gets even more crowded than usual during fall.
Once you arrive, you'll need to decide whether or not to go up to the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera.
If you plan to visit the main hall, it might be challenging to have a leisurely lunch with only two hours.
So, I went straight to the main hall, then explored Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka on my way down, grabbing some quick street food for lunch.
*Main Hall admission fee: ~$3 per adult
However, if you're not going up to the main hall, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy lunch and explore at a relaxed pace.
📍Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)｜50 minutes
Third on the list is Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion).
We spent about 50 minutes exploring it.
*Admission fee: ~$3 per person
The golden building was quite beautiful and great for photos, but whether it was worth the admission fee...? Haha!
Still, if it's your first time, it's probably worth going for a stroll around it.
📍Arashiyama｜2 hours
Personally, this is my absolute favorite spot!
I had visited Arashiyama once before on my own, and this was my second time – it was still wonderful! Haha!
Chikurin (Bamboo Grove), Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge,
and even Fufunoyu Onsen – there are so many places to explore.
I've visited everything except the onsen :)
While 2 hours might not sound like a lot of time, if you explore efficiently, you can definitely see all the key highlights!
Many tours also include lunch in Arashiyama,
but I found it better to visit as the last stop if you want to enjoy it more leisurely.
4. Handy Tips for Your Kyoto Day Tour
📍Important check when boarding the bus at Nippombashi Station!
The meeting point for Raku Tour is
in front of Tsurutontan Soemoncho branch, Osaka Nippombashi Station.
This is where many Kyoto day tour companies
gather, so it's quite crowded in the morning.
Especially on popular days,
even Raku Tour might have 2-3 buses departing.
So, just because you've arrived at Nippombashi,
don't just board any bus!
It's best to follow this order: Check for the Raku Tour sign → Confirm your booking → Verify your bus.
Also, boarding is on a first-come, first-served basis,
so it's a good idea to arrive a bit earlier than the meeting time.
If you're late, you might end up sitting separately from your group!
📍Guided, but with free exploration at each site
Raku Tour Kyoto is a guided tour, but
it's not a tour where you constantly follow the guide
and listen to explanations at each tourist spot.
You'll hear explanations about the main attractions while traveling by bus,
and then you're free to explore each location on your own
before regrouping at a set time.
I actually preferred this style.
We got the explanations, but then at the attractions, we could explore
like independent travelers, with the convenience of transportation taken care of.
Conversely, if you were expecting a tour where the guide accompanies you to each attraction
and explains everything in detail,
this might feel a bit different from what you had in mind.
5. Raku Tour Kyoto Price & Discounts
Platform | Price |
Klook | ~$32 |
kkday | ~$32 |
Prices can vary depending on the booking period or season, so it's recommended to compare the final price with any discounts applied before booking.
✅ Klook Discount Codes (Expires 9/30)
Discount Benefit | Usage Condition | Discount Code |
~$1 off | When purchasing ~$35 or more | 세시간전260001 |
~$2 off | When purchasing ~$69 or more | 세시간전260002 |
~$5 off | When purchasing ~$138 or more | 세시간전260003 |
✅ KKday Discount Codes (Expires 8/31)
Benefit | Usage Condition | Coupon Code |
~$2 off | When paying ~$35 or more | KKSUMMER3K |
~$4 off | When paying ~$69 or more | KKSUMMER6K |
👇 Check current prices by booking site
6. Kyoto Day Tour: Perfect for These Travelers⭐️
✔️ Anyone traveling in Osaka who wants to visit Kyoto for a day.
✔️ First-time visitors to Kyoto who find it challenging to plan their own itinerary.
✔️ Those who want to see as many major attractions as possible in one day.
✔️ Anyone who wants to minimize public transport transfers and travel time.
✔️ Travelers who find extensive walking itineraries burdensome.
✔️ Those who want to explore attractions freely once they arrive.
Conversely, if you prefer to linger longer at one spot and explore at a relaxed pace, independent travel might suit you better.
7. Rakutour Kyoto Bus Tour: My Recommendation?
If you're in Osaka and want to squeeze Kyoto into a day, I highly recommend a Kyoto day bus tour.
If you're planning to explore several places in a day, making travel easier will definitely make your trip smoother!
Among the options, Rakutour Kyoto stood out to me for its early departure time and its itinerary that visits Kiyomizu-dera Temple earlier in the day. Haha.
If your travel dates are set,
be sure to check current prices and discounts first▼
🔗Rakutour Kyoto Current Lowest Price Link
This tour departs from Osaka's Nippombashi Station at 07:50 and returns to Nippombashi Station around 18:00-18:30. The total duration from departure to arrival is approximately 10 hours and 10 minutes to 10 hours and 40 minutes.
The meeting point is in front of Tsurudontan Soemoncho branch near Osaka Nippombashi Station. Since many tour companies gather here, please make sure to confirm your bus with the Rakutour picket and your reservation details before boarding.
The entrance fee for Kiyomizu-dera Main Hall is 500 JPY per adult. A total of 2 hours of free time is given to explore Kiyomizu-dera, Ninen-zaka, and Sannen-zaka, during which you will also need to have lunch.
For the Arashiyama course, 2 hours of free time is given. During this time, you can explore major attractions such as the Bamboo Grove (Chikurin), Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
On this tour, you will hear explanations about major tourist attractions during bus transfers. At each attraction, you are free to explore on your own without a guide, and then you will gather again at a designated time.
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