Begin your day with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Kyoto, Osaka, or Nara by your English-speaking driver-guide. Head straight to Kyoto's tranquil outskirts for a walk through Arashiyama's Bamboo Grove, where kids can spot monkeys and explore scenic riverside paths.

Continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its iconic red gates winding up the forested hills. Enjoy a casual local sweets tasting at a lesser-known Kyoto shop loved by families. For travelers who choose the lunch option, savor a delicious meal at “Kyoto Wasabi,” a historic Kyoto townhouse with a rich legacy of over 120 years. Delight in an exquisite Kyoto traditional meal set featuring Kyoto pork and tofu shabu-shabu, a classic Japanese hot pot dish with thinly sliced pork cooked in a flavorful broth.

For travelers who choose the no-meal option, you will have a total of 120 minutes in Arashiyama to explore local dining options and enjoy the picturesque surroundings at your own pace.

After lunch, journey to Nara, where you can see the free-roaming deer of Nara Park. Visit the Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originated from Kinshozan-ji Temple, which was built in 728 (the 5th year of the Jinki era) to mourn the death of Emperor Shomu's crown prince, Imperial Prince Motoi. Although the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two-thirds of the original temple hall's size, Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), Todaiji's main hall, is one of the biggest wooden structures in the world. The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas, is residing in this temple.

Make a stop at Tenryu-ji Temple, a sprawling Zen temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates from the 14th century, to experience its traditional Japanese landscape garden. Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its dazzling golden exterior and serene gardens.