We booked a one-day bus tour through Tripadvisor that hit several of the region’s most famous points of interest—and it ended up being one of the easiest ways to see a lot in a single day. No worrying about transportation or logistics, just hopping on and off the bus and taking it all in. It was a full schedule, but perfect for maximizing our time.
First stop: Nara Park.
Of course, we had to buy the famous deer crackers (shika senbei) to feed them. Some were calm and even bowed politely, but others… let’s just say they were a little more aggressive.
At one point, we even got nipped in the butt—definitely not something we expected, but we couldn’t stop laughing. It made for a pretty unforgettable start to the day.
At one point, we also came across someone quietly chanting with a bowl in front of him, his face completely hidden beneath a hat. My son felt compelled to give him some money, and when he placed it in the bowl, the man gently bowed in return while still chanting—but we never actually saw his face. It was brief, a little mysterious, and oddly meaningful.
Before heading back to the bus, we grabbed some strawberry soft serve from Park Kitchen—a perfect little treat to hold us over until lunch.
Lunch was at Kyoto Wasabi Arashiyama, and it ended up being such a smooth, enjoyable break in the middle of a packed day.
One of the big perks of traveling with a tour group is that everything is already taken care of—and this was a perfect example. When we walked into the restaurant, our tables were already set, each with its own individual hot pot stove and all the ingredients laid out and ready to go.
All we had to do was fire up the stove and start cooking.
This restaurant proudly displayed the bronze statute signaling that the beef they serve is authentic and real Kobe Beef.
After lunch we hopped back on the bus to our next destination ...
...the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. To get to the Grove, we took a short walk from the Nonomiya Shrine.
The bamboo forest is just as beautiful as the pictures I've seen on the internet.
On the way back to the bus, we spotted a line (always a good sign in Japan) at the Rilakkuma Honey Stand for the cutest bear-shaped treats. Totally worth it… even if it meant hustling back to the bus right after.
We then visited the stunning Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This place is just as breathtaking in person as it is in photos. The top floors of the temple are completely covered in gold leaf, and when it reflects off the surrounding pond, it almost doesn’t look real.
Our final stop was Fushimi Inari Taisha.
The bus dropped us off a couple of blocks from the base of the trail, and our guide walked us to the entrance, sharing a few helpful tips along the way. After that, we were free to explore on our own.
After that, we were free to explore on our own.
We made our way up the path, aiming to get far enough where the crowds started to thin out so we could get some photos with less people in the background.
We made it up to one of the smaller subsidiary shrines before realizing we needed to turn back in order to make it to the bus on time.
By the end of the day, we were completely exhausted. The bus ride back to our original pickup spot was noticeably quiet—everyone winding down after a full day of nonstop sightseeing.
These kinds of day tours are great if you want to check off multiple iconic spots in a short amount of time. But if you’re someone who likes to linger, explore deeper, or move at your own pace, visiting these places on your own might be the better way to go.
