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Arashiyama Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys and Temple Tour in Kyoto

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Traveling Tokyo
Arashiyama Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys and Temple Tour
Arashiyama Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys and Temple Tour 2
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Half-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Run by Traveling Tokyo, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Tenryuji Temple
  • Arashiyama
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Nonomiya Shrine
  • Runs 4 hours
  • English speaking guide

Arashiyama Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys and Temple Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $83.5 per person
Duration4 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 4-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It is run by Traveling Tokyo, 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 guide, Entry fee to Tenryu-ji Temple, 1 Uji matcha drink and Entrance fee to Monkey Park. It does not cover Tips, 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.

TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Traveling Tokyo before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Starting location

TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop

Tenryuji Temple

Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Arashiyama

Visit, Guided tour (20 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (45 minutes)

Nonomiya Shrine

Visit, Guided tour (15 minutes)

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Arrive back at

TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop

Tenryuji Temple: Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Arashiyama: Visit, Guided tour (20 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (45 minutes)

Nonomiya Shrine: Visit, Guided tour (15 minutes)

Iwatayama Monkey Park: Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Arrive back at: TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop

Includes

  • English speaking guide
  • Entry fee to Tenryu-ji Temple
  • 1 Uji matcha drink
  • Entrance fee to Monkey Park

Excludes

  • Tips (optional)

Important information

Meeting point

TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop

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 4 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $83.5
$83.5
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

4.9/5
based on 659 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
J
Josh
September 10, 2026

Khan was amazing super nice informative and helpful throughout experience! Even offered up great tips for Kyoto in general!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
C
Catherine
September 9, 2026

Our guide Angelia was great. She was super helpful and friendly and included great stories along the way. The monkey park is a bit of a hike but well worth it. A great way to spend a morning.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
M
Mariya
September 2, 2026

Great experience with the monkey park and bamboo park. We learned really interesting things about them both as well as the Japanese people and culture. I recommend Gabri as a tour guide. He was really kind and helpful.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
B
Balatincz
September 11, 2026

Really fun! Recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a local person’s wisdom on the area! Love from Hungary

5
S
Selene
September 7, 2026

Amelie was an incredible guide, she explained us a lot of interesting things of Japanese Culture

5
M
Margaret
September 2, 2026

Khan was our guide and was incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much as we explored the temple and bamboo forest, and getting the opportunity to feed the monkeys was absolutely amazing! The pace was easy and enjoyable, and we were able to stop and cool off a few times along the way. We had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend this tour!

5
k
karl
September 1, 2026

Katherine was amazing came all the way from mexico and had a great time

5
B
Beata
August 31, 2026

Katherine was absolutely amazing. She has lots of knowledge and made this tour very fun and interesting.I had a blast!

5
A
Andrew
August 20, 2026

We really enjoyed this tour which was at a gentle pace as it was a hot day. Sai wan very kind to our whole family and took the time to learn our names and check we were all having a good time. Thank you Sai!

5
V
Valentina
August 26, 2026

Thunder is a very competent and nice guide she delivered a lot of information and we had a beautiful tour in an amazing place!

5
A
Anna
August 25, 2026

I highly recommend Dustin! He was extremely professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. He gave us lots of interesting information and made the whole tour really engaging and enjoyable. I learned so much and had a great time. The tour was truly fascinating, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting!

5
A
Alec
August 23, 2026

It was really great, Min was great he had great knowledge and was explaining things well and it was well worth it

Frequently Asked Questions

TULLY’S COFFEE Randen Arashiyama Station Shop
The price does not cover tips (optional). Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Shoes off at every hall, quiet voices, and no photographs inside the halls unless a sign allows it. At a shrine, rinse hands and mouth at the basin, then bow twice, clap twice and bow once; at a temple, hands together without clapping. Dress is relaxed, but shoulders and knees covered is the courteous choice.
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.
English speaking guide, Entry fee to Tenryu-ji Temple, 1 Uji matcha drink, Entrance fee to Monkey Park
The duration of the Arashiyama Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys and Temple Tour is typically 4 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$83.5