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Katsuoji and Arashiyama and Kinkakuji Day Tour in Kyoto

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: Japan Vision Tour
Katsuoji and Arashiyama and Kinkakuji Day Tour
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Full-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Katsuo-ji, Arashiyama and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Run by Japan Vision Tour, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Katsuo-ji
  • Arashiyama
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Nonomiya Shrine
  • Runs 9 hours
  • Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese)

Katsuoji and Arashiyama and Kinkakuji Day Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $65.5 per person
Duration9 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 9-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Katsuo-ji, Arashiyama and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It is run by Japan Vision Tour, 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 bilingual guide, Comfortable vehicle with A/C, Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location and All taxes. It does not cover Admission to Katsuo-ji Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple, Meals and beverages and Other 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.

Japan Vision Tour 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 Japan Vision Tour 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

Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Katsuo-ji

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2.5 hours)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Nonomiya Shrine

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Togetsukyo Bridge

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kimono Forest

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kinkaku-ji

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (45 minutes)

2 drop-off locations

Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Detailed Itinerary

2 starting location options: Harimaya Nippombashi 1-chome, Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance Square Sunken Garden

Katsuo-ji: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2.5 hours)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Nonomiya Shrine: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Togetsukyo Bridge: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kimono Forest: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kinkaku-ji: Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (45 minutes)

Includes

  • Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese)
  • Comfortable vehicle with A/C
  • Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location
  • All taxes, parking fees, toll fees, gas fees, environmental fees

Excludes

  • Admission to Katsuo-ji Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • Meals and beverages
  • Other personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

Japan Vision Tour 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 9 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $65.5
$65.5
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

4.8/5
based on 152 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
Z
Zena
September 16, 2026

Our guide Sarah was very helpful in to understand the culture and what each attraction stood for. She was very available throughout the trip to enhance our visit to each place.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
J
Jessica
August 24, 2026

we enjoyed the trip thanks to Apple, she is very kind and knowledgeable. She always informed us about meeting places and times to be back. She also shared places to eat and shop at during the 2.5 hour trip to Arashiyama. Additionally, towards the end of the trip, it began to rain and she helped three families in the group get back to the tour bus!! So lovely, highly recommend this tour!!!

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
B
Brenda
August 18, 2026

Apple was an amazing guide, she explained everything well and nicely. Also the driver was super kind and friendly. The tour is amazing we got the chance to see everything.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
K
Karen
September 17, 2026

Beautifull Temples and a very Knowledgeable guide who explained the history of each of them.

5
L
Leilani
August 21, 2026

It was such a wonderful moment. Our tourist guide was the best. Thank you

5
m
melysa
August 16, 2026

Fantastic day tour around Kyoto. Nox was our guide and did a great job keeping the day organized and fun while giving us good historical and cultural context at each stop. We covered Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nonomiji Shrine, Togetsukyo Bridge, Kimono Forest, and Kinkaku-ji, a lot packed into one day but it never felt rushed. Kinkaku-ji was a definite highlight. Nox even sang for us at the end of the tour, such a sweet and memorable way to close out the day. Great pacing, great guide, would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see the best of Kyoto in a single day.

5
N
Nelly
August 7, 2026

It was a great excursion with Chris. Very well organised . very good communication. We appreciate the stories and the comments of Chris about the different places. We have a better understanding of the culture and the history. We had enough time at each site to discover everything. All the family enjoyed the day. Thank you Chris ! Nelly & Family from France.

5
K
Klaus
August 1, 2026

Apple was a really kind guide who always looked out for our wellbeing, gave personalized recommendations and made the tour very enjoyable. With this tour you see many major sightseeing musts in the area, while always being back in a climatized bus. In the summertime this was a gamechanger for us! thank you, apple!

5
N
Nathaniel
July 31, 2026

Done 3 tours with the same company. Always perfect. They speak perfect English & are always happy to help or give tips. Thank you Cali, Noah & Matsubayashi.

5
A
Ayelen
July 30, 2026

It was amazing! Andre is super friendly and will make you feel comfortable right away, he truly loves the ocean and that is contagious! Habla muy español e ingles, super recommend!

5
M
Mary
July 24, 2026

The tour is well-organized, especially our tour guide Apple, who is also very knowledgeable of the history of the sites we visited today. We are given enough time to explore the 3 historic places. The driver is also good and we're always on time. For the price, the tour is totally worth it. Me and my friend had a nice time!

5
T
The
August 11, 2026

Cool guide Steve made everything so easy! :) A wonderful day trip!

Frequently Asked Questions

Japan Vision Tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover admission to katsuo-ji temple & kinkaku-ji temple, meals and beverages and other 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.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
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.
Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese), Comfortable vehicle with A/C, Round-trip transfers to and from the meet up location, All taxes, parking fees, toll fees, gas fees, environmental fees
The duration of the Katsuoji and Arashiyama and Kinkakuji Day Tour is typically 9 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$65.5