Kyoto

Previously, when traveling from Osaka to Kyoto, my instinct was to take the train or JR. This time, with a 10-year-old child, the subway and train journeys alone were exhausting. Trying a private car arrangement proved to be very advantageous: Time-saving: Directly getting from our accommodation to our destination saved a significant amount of time. Effortless: Luggage was handled, avoiding long walks and waiting times. Worry-free: The itinerary was pre-arranged, ensuring we arrived on time without worrying about missing our trains; boarding and alighting times were flexible. Cost-saving: Compared to day tour groups, our private car day trip was cheaper when split among the passengers. On the day of the trip, Kyoto was hot. We didn't have to endure the heat at the station. When we arrived, we found it too hot outside, so we boarded the car early after visiting the sights. We quickly discussed it with the driver, and they quickly adjusted the itinerary to indoor activities, avoiding a forced outdoor activity in the sun. We finished shopping and returned to the hotel satisfied within the allotted time. This experience was very satisfying. Driver Chen was a friendly and polite person, and our conversation in the car was pleasant.

It was easy to arrange for the pickup and drop off. Driver was on time as well, and the car was clean and spacious.

I used Kkday's Kansai Enjoy Pass to experience the Kyoto Railway Museum and Kōtei Onsen, and also redeemed Nana's Green Tea matcha ice cream, matcha milk tea, latte, and other treats – it was excellent value for money. The entire redemption process was simple and quick; just show the QR code to use it. It's very convenient, and I highly recommend buying it when traveling to Kansai!

The guided tour was detailed and catered to the needs of tourists from different language backgrounds. The service was attentive, the matcha experience was memorable, the tour bus was comfortable, and the itinerary connected many distant attractions smoothly!

The advantage is that it saves on travel expenses and you can easily swipe your card to enter the subway station. Otherwise, it costs at least 190 NTD per stop. You can easily break even by taking a 3 or 4-stop round trip. The disadvantage is that it is inconvenient if your network is unstable and you have to wait for the QR code to come out.

The tour guide was friendly and provided detailed explanations. The driver drove smoothly and comfortably. If a larger vehicle were available with more legroom and space between seats, long journeys would be even more comfortable.