The 10 Best Train Journeys in Kyoto

1.Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour by Bullet Train from Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 120 reviews · from $399Our pick

Travel from Kyoto to Miyajima and Hiroshima by bullet train, with Itsukushima Shrine, Peace Park, museum, and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

“Hearing stories of Hiroshima City, Miyajima and the Peace Memorial Park were priceless. You can’t get that kind of detail from reading the signs and looking things up online. Takeshi was friendly, knowledgeable, organized, and an excellent guide. Seeing the dome and being at ground zero for the atomic bomb strike was emotionally powerful. I recommend this tour for adults and families alike although some younger children may find the museum photos of injuries and the dead disturbing. We only gave 4 stars because we could have used another 30 minutes of time on Miyajima to shop and eat and another hour in the museum. I know it’s a tight…”

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3.Kyoto Railway Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Explore 53 Japanese trains, drive simulators, a working steam locomotive, and Kyoto Railway Museum’s historic roundhouse for $9.

“Really good. Quiet. Cool inside. A lot to see and interact with.”

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5.Arashiyama Tour with optional Sagano Romantic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 18 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $105

Review of Kyoto’s Arashiyama tour with bamboo forest, Tenryu Temple, street food, Togetsukyo Bridge, and optional scenic train ride.

“We were not able to get the train we booked too late. The communication was great and they outlined all our options. We went with just the tour and Shingo was a great guide. He took very good care of us stopping to rest when we needed a break and setting up the best photo moments. He was extremely knowledgeable about the tour sights and helped us with some restaurant recommendations which is always helpful from a local! We had a wonderful day with Shingo I highly recommend this tour.”

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6.Kyoto Hozugawa River Boat Sagano Romantic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 8 reviews · 5 hours · from $116

Ride Kyoto’s Sagano Romantic Train, float through Hozu Gorge, and finish in Arashiyama on this scenic five-hour guided tour.

“Badly organised with a ‘guide’ who was hardly visible or audible I was told expecting a guide who shared interesting facts about the whole outing but he said nothing and was not a natural-born organiser. The meeting point was a mess. The ‘romantic’ train boarding was less than efficient and worst of all not at all romantic. Seats very uncomfortable and in spite of lovely toute along the river which you can hardly see as one has to remain seated. The best part was the river rapids ride (simple boat and not RAFT!) and the boat crew were entertaining and a breath of fresh air. Fun! Then we had a…”

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7.Arashiyama Walking Tour with Optional Sagano Romantic Train Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $115Top rated

Explore Arashiyama’s bamboo forest, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge, and optional Sagano train ride with a private English-speaking guide.

“Maru-san was amazing! He heard we are traveling to Osaka afterward, he sent us restaurant recommendations, provided sightseeing tips! He went above and beyond to help us!”

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8.Kyoto Sagano Romantic Train in Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 6 reviews · from $156

Ride Kyoto’s Sagano train, drift down the Hozu River, visit Arashiyama, and enjoy lunch on this full-day guided tour.

“Experience with our guide was terrible, we had been on a tour with this company before and were very satisfied, but this time it was terrible, our guide didn't speak even average English, it seemed like it was his first time because he didn't knoRead more”

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9.Hiroshima and Miyajima Full-Day Tour from Kyoto by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $119

See Miyajima’s floating torii and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park on a 12-hour Kyoto day trip by bullet train and ferry.

“The guide was great (Astrid) both English and Spanish were great! Completely understandable. She speaks Japanese as well. All instructions were clear the shrines were beautiful, the deer were docile. It was a good day”

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10.Train Katana with Real Dojo Students in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $195

Train in Kyoto with real dojo students, learn iai and kenjutsu, and watch a master perform with two katana in a small authentic session.

“I can highly recommend this for anyone who has previous experience with martial arts. I have experience with different styles of martial arts, but limited experience with a katana and I had a great time! Everything was professionally arranged, Read more”

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