Private Tour
Private Car Tour to KYOTO, OSAKA or NARA | KOBE Shore Excursion
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
The best way to enjoy a private day by vehicle, exploring from Kobe to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, or nearby destinations — selecting places that fit your available time.
This tour is ideal not only for cruise passengers arriving at Kobe Port, but also for travelers staying in Kobe for leisure, business, or MICE events.
Your itinerary is fully customized to match your schedule, interests, travel style, and season. With local insight, we design the best routes and stops for a smooth, enjoyable experience—whether you prefer famous landmarks, local culture, or quiet countryside scenery.
This tour is available in two options.
① "The driver-guide option" is led by a licensed guide who also drives a private vehicle. It is more cost-effective, uses a standard passenger car, and some walking may be required. (max. 4 people)
② "The separate driver & guide option" includes a dedicated driver and guide, offering smoother, more comfortable transportation for larger groups. (max. 8 people)
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kobe
Kobe is a scenic port city surrounded by mountains and sea, known for its rich international history and elegant atmosphere. "The Kitano Ijinkan district" features Western-style houses from the 19th century, while "Harborland" offers waterfront views and shopping. "Ikuta Shrine", one of Japan’s oldest, stands in the city center. "The Nada district" is home to many sake breweries, offering insight into traditional brewing culture. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from "Mount Rokko". Kobe is also famous for its refined "Kobe beef" and a blend of Japanese and Western influences throughout the city.
Osaka
【45min from Kobe】Osaka is a vibrant city known for its energetic street life, modern architecture, and rich food culture. Landmarks like Osaka Castle and Dotonbori are iconic, but they’re often crowded with visitors. With a private vehicle, you can venture beyond the busy city center to explore quieter, lesser-known areas with local charm. Historical neighborhoods, peaceful riverside parks, and cultural sites such as hidden temples or retro shopping arcades reveal a different side of Osaka. Traveling by car offers flexibility and comfort, making it easier to experience both the city’s lively heart and its more relaxed, authentic surroundings.
What‘s Included
English-speaking guide
Parking fees, fuel, and highway tolls are included in the tour price.
The vehicle type and grade vary depending on the option and group size.
Meals are not included, but your guide will do their best to find and take you to a restaurant that suits your taste.
If you choose to enter any facilities during the tour, please pay the entrance fee on site. If you would like your guide to accompany you inside, kindly cover the admission fee for the guide as well.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Separate Driver & Guide Option
Private Vehicle & Guide
Pickup included
Driver-Guide Option
The guide drives the vehicle
Pickup included
Reviews
10 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An all-round successful excursion with many unique experiences
Global38855197705,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip was the best we did in Japan. Zack is a great guide and has passed on his knowledge to us with great pleasure. He immediately responded to our request for a small change to the tour and incorporated it into the original plan. Zack showed us a tea house with a 500-year tradition and we could taste original Japanese sweets. His tips have taken us to places that the big tour groups can't visit at all.
Best experience in Japan
925daanv,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our excursion with Yamazaki Takahisa was fantastic! He prepared magnifiscent with a printed program, traditional japanese sweets. drinks and fruit. He was very polite, friendly and knows a lot about Kyoto. It was the best experience we had with a guide in Japan. He also took pictures and showed us places we never would've found ourselves. If we'd ever come back to Japan, we would ask him to guide us the entire trip! He's that good. Thanks again Takahisa, you're the best.
A must do day trip for cruisers
I8624TYpeterj,,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great tour. We visited the Deers at Nara, Osaka Castle, The Markets for shopping. The street food was amazing.All so well organised by Zack in a spacious car. A day trip off a cruise boat with a no hassle pickup and drop off. Thank you Zack.
Zack is the best!
robert d,,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zack showed us a wonderful time in Kobe. Very informative. We had lost our luggage an he stayed with us at the end to help with getting the luggage.
Amazing time in Kyoto
Vera G,,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Zack was very helpful and punctual. He arranged the schedule according to our wishes and was very sensitive to our interests and time constraints. He took us to secret streets of Kyoto that were beautiful and uncrowded. He even gave us excellent recommendations where to go during our subsequent weekend in the mountains on Kumano trail. We highly recommend Zack
Flexible tour of Kyoto with excellent young guide
Steve M,,Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Full day flexible tour of Kyoto highlights with excellent guide. (Yamazaki Takahisa or "Zack"). Couldn't have been happier- excellent value.
A WONDERFUL family experience with Zack, a personable and knowledgeable tour guide. Highly recommend!
pamsP1155IQ,,Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent a fantastic day with Zack, our driver from Kobe, Japan. He worked with us in advance to make a custom itinerary to accommodate the short time we had during our cruise stop in the port of Kobe. The entire experience was wonderful, from the welcome sign held for us at the port, to his amazingly clean and spacious vehicle. Zack was very personable and professional throughout the day, and is very knowledgeable about his region of Japan. Highlights included feeding the adorable deer in Nara, visits to beautiful temples and shrines, and a tour of a famous Sake Brewery (including samples!) in Kobe. We had lunch with Zack in a sushi restaurant, and he made the experience fun and not at all intimidating. Zack provided many special touches throughout the day (ice cold bottles of water in HOT Japan, umbrellas to keep out the sun, to name only two). As an added bonus, Zack took some fantastic photos of our family throughout the experience which he sent to us at the end of the day. We would 100% book with Zack again, and highly recommend him. What a wonderful experience!
A fantastic family experience with a WONDERFUL guide. Recommend 100%
Pamela Z,,Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our driver and guide, Zack, was an absolute gem. Everything about our day with Zack was exceptional - from the welcome with our name on a sign, to the many thoughtful touches (for example the bottles of cold water on a scorching hot day in Japan). Zack's vehicle was spotless, spacious and cool in the blazing sun. He is very knowledgeable about, and proud of, his region of Japan and easily answered our questions. He shared many interesting snippets of Japanese history and explained the significance of things in an engaging manner. Our lunch with him in a local sushi restaurant was very fun and not at all intimidating - he made ordering effortless! And to top it all off, he took some amazing photos of our family throughout the day which he sent to us for free after the excursion ended. We highly recommend Zack for anyone visiting the beautiful Kobe area of Japan, and we would 100% book with him again in future.
Osaka Expo 2025
Kenneth L,,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Well organized. Great communication after booking. Great guide! He kept us informed during the booking process/trying to plan excursion of all our options. Seiho san was awesome!
Best experience ever ever ever
SabbaghELMO,,Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing day, our guide was a blast! We can’t even find the words to describe how professional kind and beyond expectations he was ! Never dreamed of such greatness and kindness! Billion thanks are not even enough! Keep doing your magic !
Related Experiences
Operated by KDMC