Osaka Katsuo-ji & Byodo-in Full-Day Guided Tour
- Chinese/English/Japanese/Korean tour guides, with rich experience, will take you on a journey through Uji and the suburbs of Osaka, allowing you to deeply experience the dual charm of ancient capitals and nature!
- Visit Byodo-in Temple and the Senbon Torii of Fushimi Inari Shrine to feel the profound heritage of Japanese history and faith.
- Uji is Japan's most famous tea region, gathering many historic old tea shops, offering a complete range from sencha, bancha, genmaicha to hojicha. The streets are filled with the intoxicating aroma of freshly roasted hojicha. There is also a diverse and rich selection of matcha desserts, such as parfaits, puddings, soft-serve ice cream, and tea dango, which will surely make you linger.
- Katsuoji Temple’s “Daruma Stamp Rally” is a cultural activity exclusive to this area. Mini Daruma dolls contain fortunes, each with a different expression, making them both commemorative and fun. Moreover, this itinerary allows you to reach Katsuoji Temple directly without needing to transfer from train to bus, making it easy and convenient.
What to expect
Byodo-in Phoenix Hall A World Heritage Site and the image on the 10-yen coin. Built in 1052, the Phoenix Hall appears even more solemn when reflected in the pond. We recommend taking a commemorative photo with a 10-yen coin!
Uji Matcha Sweets Uji is Japan’s most famous tea-producing region, and the streets are filled with a rich tea aroma. Whether it’s matcha ice cream, daifuku, warabi mochi, or tea soba noodles, you can taste the unique bitterness and sweetness of tea. Strolling through the old streets, enjoying the food, and feeling the charm of the tea region is the most pleasant experience.
Fushimi Inari Shrine A popular Kyoto shrine famous for its spectacular “Thousand Torii Gates.” The bright red torii gates extend all the way into the depths of the mountains, as if stepping into the realm of the gods. The fox messenger statues along the way symbolize protection and prosperity and are also an important place of faith for praying for business and family safety.
Katsuo-ji Temple (Temple of Victory Luck) One of the most popular temples in the suburbs of Osaka, known for the Daruma that symbolizes the “spirit of never giving up.” Daruma of various sizes and expressions are distributed throughout the temple, praying for success and good luck. The unique “Daruma stamp rally” symbolizes the step-by-step realization of wishes.
Reviews
Huahua was the absolute best tour guide! After two other tours had canceled on us because of the typhoon we were lucky to have been able to book this tour. It was actually a blessing because this was one of the best tours we’ve been on! HuaHua was an excellent tour guide and made sure we knew details and history about every stop we made. He even let us to know where we could get the best matcha in Uji! The tour included Uji , Byodo , Kiffune Shrine , and Katsuo-ji Temple. We were able to go to every stop with an ample amount of time to roam around and shop! Thank you to HuaHua and his beautiful singing voice for giving us the best tour in Osaka!
The trip was very well-planned. We had enough time at every stop to look around. Also, the view was very beautiful. We saw many cherry blossoms. It was worth going. However, the tour guide (Nina Zhang) mostly spoke Chinese. We booked an English tour, but she did not give much explanations in English.
I really enjoyed this day trip. Locke was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable, friendly, and great at keeping the group organized. He shared clear explanations in both English and Chinese and always made sure everyone knew where to go next. He also helped take photos at each spot, which was a nice bonus. Overall, a great experience, and I’d happily recommend him to anyone visiting Kyoto.
A very memorable trip packed with different cultural spots in Kansai. We are so happy to have found this itinerary to enjoy Uji, Fushimi Inari and Katsuoji Temple in 1 day. Our tour guide was also very helpful and accommodating. Our group were the only English-speaking ones in the tour and our guide did his beat to guide us along the way through app translations albeit the only way to contact him was via wechat. Definitely a worthwhile tour!!
I had a wonderful experience on this Kyoto Trip! Our guide, Huahua, was incredibly friendly and shared great information at every destination in both English and Chinese. He was very organized throughout the tour—providing his contact number, clearly explaining where and when to meet, and doing a headcount each time we moved to a new location. Huahua also offered to take photos for us at each stop, which was a nice touch. At the end of the tour, he shared a warm and heartfelt message thanking everyone for joining. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and I would highly recommend Huahua as a tour guide.
its a value for money day tour. I only wanted to go to Katsuoji Temple and Minoh Falls as I had went to the other 2 attractions before. The coach ride will bring you to all places indicated saving you the hassle of finding your way around.
Amazing trip and so worth the money!! firstly I booked the trip because it’s great that you can visit four different places in one day and for such a good price. but was super impressed by the great tour guide who was very funny, patient and kind. Big thanks to HuaHua for making it such a fun and great day 🤩
We had an amazing day tour exploring Uji and Kyoto, and it was truly a memorable experience! Our tour took us to the stunning Byodo-in Temple, the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the peaceful Katsuo-ji Temple—each place offering a unique glimpse into Japan’s rich history and culture. What made the trip even more special was our tour guide, 花花 (Huā Huā). He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the journey. His storytelling brought each location to life, and he made sure everyone was comfortable and engaged from start to finish. You can really see his passion for guiding and sharing the beauty of Japan. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience Kyoto and Uji more deeply. With 花花 leading the way, you’re in for a meaningful and enjoyable adventure. Thank you for an unforgettable day!
This was our first trip to Japan (a bus tour), and our guide, Mr. Xie, was incredibly patient. He provided detailed explanations of the itinerary and scenic photo spots, and reminded us of the boarding times. Since it was a family trip with members ranging from elementary school to high school students and adults, he was very attentive to everyone's needs. He also patiently helped us take group photos, allowing us to create wonderful memories. Although it started to drizzle at Katsuoji Temple and we couldn't reach the highest point, we still had a great time. We look forward to our next trip to Japan. We also appreciate Mr. Xie sharing local food recommendations with us.
Hua hua was our guide on this awesome mix of sights throughout the Kansai region. Hua hua was a very enthusiastic host and you could tell he really cared about the people joining the tour and took time to get to know us while on the tour in addition to explaining the various places. Highly recommend this for families who have a mix of English and Chinese speakers.
Contact us
You might also like...
[Nara and Uji Day Trip] Byodoin Temple, The Tale of Genji Museum, Uji Natural Hot Spring Genji no Yu, Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Artistic and In-depth Tour: One-Day Trip to Nara, Uji, and Hot Springs
Uji 2-Day Private Guesthouse Kyotoujigawa Historical Tour
Authentic tea ceremony experience by a renowned tea master near a famous temple in Kyoto
Nakamura Tokichi - Tea Ceremony Experience and Matcha Dessert Tasting in Kyoto, Uji
Kyoto Uji Half Day Matcha Green Tea Tour
Kyoto Uji Half Day Walking Tour with Tea Ceremony Experience
Uji Tea Ceremony and UNESCO Heritage Walking Tour
Osaka Amazing Pass
