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Arashiyama Guided Tour, Bamboo, Monkey, Zen Temple in Kyoto

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: DeepExperience, Inc.
Arashiyama Guided Tour, Bamboo, Monkey, Zen Temple
Arashiyama Guided Tour, Bamboo, Monkey, Zen Temple 2
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Tour in Kyoto, taking in Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge. Run by DeepExperience, Inc., booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Tenryuji Temple
  • Togetsukyo Bridge
  • Runs 2 hours
  • Guided tour of Arashiyama
  • Visit to Tenryu-ji Temple

Arashiyama Guided Tour, Bamboo, Monkey, Zen Temple: Key Facts

PriceFrom $67 per person
Duration2 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 2-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge. It is run by DeepExperience, Inc., 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 Guided tour of Arashiyama, Visit to Tenryu-ji Temple, Walk through the Bamboo Forest and Visit to Iwatayama Monkey Park. It does not cover Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks 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.

DeepExperience, Inc. 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 DeepExperience, Inc. 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.

2 starting location options

嵯峨嵐山駅, 愛宕神社 一の鳥居

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Visit, Guided tour (40 minutes)

Tenryuji Temple

Visit (40 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge

Photo stop (20 minutes)

2 drop-off locations

嵐山公園 中之島地区, 渡月橋

Detailed Itinerary

2 starting location options: 嵯峨嵐山駅, 愛宕神社 一の鳥居

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Visit, Guided tour (40 minutes)

Tenryuji Temple: Visit (40 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge: Photo stop (20 minutes)

2 drop-off locations: 嵐山公園 中之島地区, 渡月橋

Includes

  • Guided tour of Arashiyama
  • Visit to Tenryu-ji Temple
  • Walk through the Bamboo Forest
  • Visit to Iwatayama Monkey Park

Excludes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

DeepExperience, Inc. 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 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $67
$67
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 40 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
K
Kellyn
July 3, 2026

Julien was a fantastic guide! We had the best time exploring the area, trekking through the bamboo forrest, and seeing the monkeys. We would HIGHLY recommend this tour if you are visiting for the first time or returning. We’ll definitely be back!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
B
Barbara
April 23, 2026

Great tour. We enjoyed our guide and she was very informative and helpful. The bamboo forest and monkeys were must see sites.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
I
Ingrid
April 2, 2026

We loved Julien's informative and exciting explanations along our visit. Julien is patient and knowledgeable about all things Japan.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
H
Harry
September 11, 2026

We had Yoshi, who was an amazing guide and went at a pace that we felt comfortable with. He also had bundles of information on not just the things we saw, but other parts of Japan that we were visiting.

5
M
Mary
July 27, 2026

Yoshi was helpful and informative. he is very knowledgeable about the Arashiyama area. He ent above and beyond to help. Arashiyama itself is beautiful!

5
J
Jack
June 14, 2026

We've taken private guides in cities all over the world, and this 3-hour walking tour in Kyoto was one of the best. Teppei read our pace perfectly, He was extremely passionate about Kyoto. He kept us a step ahead of the crowds the whole time, and shared real local knowledge as easy conversation rather than a scripted lecture. We never felt rushed and never stood in a line. If you want Kyoto done with taste and zero friction, ask for Teppei. Highlight of our trip and i would highly recommend!

5
D
Doreen
May 24, 2026

Takashi was an amazing guide. He shared many interesting stories and was very knowledgeable. He kept a good pace without ever making us feel rushed. His relaxed and friendly demeanour, along with his good sense of humour made for a fun experience. He also kindly offered to take photos for us and some videos for our memory keepsakes. The temple and gardens held a lot of cultural significance which he explained, the bamboo forest was incredible and the monkeys stole the show. We would highly recommend Takashi and this tour. You won’t be disappointed!

5
C
Christine
May 16, 2026

We had Teppei for our guide and he was fantastic. He is like a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, especially about Tenryu-ji Temple! He has other tours he is a guide for within his company, and we had him for our Arashiyama tour. He was accommodating and assisted me with various things throughout our tour, such as goshuin, communicating with others, and more. His communication was fantastic throughout the whole process as well (having WhatsApp in Japan has been a lifesaver and many of the guides we used utilized it). Additionally, he made sure we were well rested and went at a great pace while

5
S
Stephen
April 24, 2026

Our guide Julien was fantastic, very knowledgeable and helpful.

5
S
Shawn
April 8, 2026

The tour was amazing and Akino our tour guide is what made it so great!!! Thank you Akino for the informative and entertaining tour 🙏

5
H
Hasheme
October 17, 2025

Definitely knew the history of the bamboo forest, shrines, and temples. Monkey park at the end was a blast! No room for improvement. Excellent tour!!!

5
J
Jolan
September 1, 2025

Our guide Kanako was incredibly nice, helpful and knowledgeable. She was very flexible with our needs and made the tour so pleasurable for my kids and I. We learned so much, saw incredible sights and the kids got to feed the monkeys which they loved! The bamboo forest and temple were breathtaking! Highly recommend and please ask for Kanako!

Frequently Asked Questions

DeepExperience, Inc. sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover hotel pickup and drop-off, food and drinks 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.
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.
Guided tour of Arashiyama, Visit to Tenryu-ji Temple, Walk through the Bamboo Forest, Visit to Iwatayama Monkey Park
The duration of the Arashiyama Guided Tour, Bamboo, Monkey, Zen Temple is typically 2 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$67