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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour in Kyoto

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: GuideMe Japan
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour 2
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour 3
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3-hour tour in Kyoto, including Exclusive early access to the Bamboo Forest and Guided hiking tour in Arashiyama. Run by GuideMe Japan, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Runs 3 hours
  • Exclusive early access to the Bamboo Forest
  • Guided hiking tour in Arashiyama
  • Accident and Mountain Rescue Insurance
  • Stunning views and hidden paths exploration

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $90.5 per person
Duration3 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 3-hour experience in Kyoto. It is run by GuideMe Japan, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Arashiyama, on Kyoto's western edge, is the bamboo grove, the Togetsukyo bridge over the Katsura river, the gardens of Tenryu-ji and the monkey park on the hill above. The bamboo path is about 500 metres and is photographed empty in every guidebook because those photographs are taken before 7:30; by mid-morning it is a procession. Rickshaw runs, the Sagano scenic railway along the gorge, and boat rides down the Hozu rapids all start here. Autumn colour peaks in the second half of November and cherry blossom around the first week of April.

The price covers Exclusive early access to the Bamboo Forest, Guided hiking tour in Arashiyama, Accident and Mountain Rescue Insurance and Stunning views and hidden paths exploration. It does not cover Meals and drinks, Transportation to meeting point and Personal expenses, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

GuideMe Japan sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with GuideMe Japan before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Includes

  • Exclusive early access to the Bamboo Forest
  • Guided hiking tour in Arashiyama
  • Accident and Mountain Rescue Insurance
  • Stunning views and hidden paths exploration

Excludes

  • Meals and drinks
  • Transportation to meeting point
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

GuideMe Japan sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $90.5
$90.5
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 6 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
J
Jiten
November 7, 2025

This was one of the best tours we experienced in Japan - Our guide Soichiro was very knowledgeable about the local history but also guided us through the Arashiyama forest on a very enjoyable hike! We were able to take some great photos away from the crowds - Soichiro is also a great photographer too, as he was able to capture some great memories for us on the trip. I would strongly recommend this tour to anyone who is visiting the Arashiyama bamboo forest - the hike itself was approximately 1.5 hours and did require some degree of physical fitness as there were some steep ascents and descents

Review photo 1
5
A
Ankita
November 19, 2025

What a wonderful hike!!! I dont know why it isn't popular enough!! beautiful Forests surrounded by autumn leaves, classy view points and nice shrines along the way. Tang was a great kid!!! Here was friendly and quite knowledgeable. he infact came with ppts to explain the history!!! He guided me across the whole hike....I highly recommend this tour

5
B
Bina
October 23, 2025

Firstly, our guide Soichiro, was very patient with us, as we were lost initially, our driver dropped us off at the Bamboo forest entrance and not at the Arashiyama Station, which we did not know about, as I only seen the WhatsApp from Soichiro just prior to meeting with him. Soichiro, however contacted us and we found each other after +- 20mins. Whilst Soichiro was very patient and kind to us, he is also learning about some of the info with regard to the trip. It was a good hike but you need to be prepared for a hike of this nature, which took us up and down some steep areas. Soichiro, once ag

5
M
Madeleine
September 28, 2025

This was such a great experience and everyone should do this! You get to see Arashima Bamboo forest plus some stunning views as you hike up a mountainous trail. Rin is an amazing guide and we had a wonderful time.

5
E
Emilie
April 14, 2025

We had such a wonderful time with Tang. The hike is beautiful and very quiet away from the busy spots. I highly recommend it.

5
D
David
April 10, 2025

Excellent hike and Taira was such a friendly and knowledgeable guide. Taking us a bit off the beaten track, great views over Kyoto and explanation of the shrines and temples enroute. Thoroughly recommend

Frequently Asked Questions

GuideMe Japan sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover meals and drinks, transportation to meeting point and personal expenses. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
The listing gives the distance and the terrain; most walking tours are flat and paced for average fitness, and cycling tours use river paths and back streets with e-bikes available on request. Summer in the cities is hot and humid from July to September, so early starts and water matter more than fitness.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Exclusive early access to the Bamboo Forest, Guided hiking tour in Arashiyama, Accident and Mountain Rescue Insurance, Stunning views and hidden paths exploration
The duration of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour is typically 3 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$90.5