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Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkey, Temple Garden by Local Operator

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: JAPANIFY TOURS
Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkey, Temple Garden by Local Operator
Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkey, Temple Garden by Local Operator 2
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Half-day tour in Kyoto, taking in On foot, Tenryuji Temple and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Run by JAPANIFY TOURS, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Tenryuji Temple
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Togetsukyo Bridge
  • Iwatayama Monkey Park
  • Runs 5 hours
  • Bamboo Forest

Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkey, Temple Garden by Local Operator: Key Facts

PriceFrom $75.5 per person
Duration5 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 5-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Togetsukyo Bridge. It is run by JAPANIFY TOURS, 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 Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park, Tenryuji Temple Garden, Fushimi Inari and Togetsukyo Bridge. It does not cover Food and drinks, Tips and Pickup and drop-off, 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.

JAPANIFY TOURS 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 JAPANIFY TOURS 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

Saga-Arashiyama Station, Inari Station

On foot

(10 minutes)

Tenryuji Temple

Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk, Scenic views on the way (30 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (30 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge

Photo stop, Sightseeing, Walk (30 minutes)

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Visit, Sightseeing, Walk, Wildlife viewing (1 hour)

Finish at

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

Detailed Itinerary

2 starting location options: Saga-Arashiyama Station, Inari Station

On foot: (10 minutes)

Tenryuji Temple: Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk, Scenic views on the way (30 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (30 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge: Photo stop, Sightseeing, Walk (30 minutes)

Iwatayama Monkey Park: Visit, Sightseeing, Walk, Wildlife viewing (1 hour)

Finish at: Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

Includes

  • Bamboo Forest
  • Monkey Park
  • Tenryuji Temple Garden
  • Fushimi Inari (Only Combo Tour)
  • Togetsukyo Bridge
  • Local Food Court
  • Knowledgeable & bilingual local guide
  • Intimate small-group experience
  • Fascinating stories & cultural insights
  • Capture unforgettable photos along the way

Excludes

  • Food and drinks
  • Tips (welcomed)
  • Pickup and drop-off

Important information

Meeting point

JAPANIFY TOURS 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 5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $75.5
$75.5
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 180 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
A
Alexandre
May 19, 2026

Awesome Day ,My guide Teri was very good. here explanations of the places we visit was really good. she was very helpful with advice and she took great pictures for us. Truly a beautiful excursion.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
A
Ashley
December 30, 2025

We loved this experience. Teri was knowledgeable and so personable with our family. It was an amazing day. Highly recommend! We actually walked around Fushimi Inari by ourselves before we met up with Teri. It was SOOO much better with a guide!

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
E
Elizabeth
November 13, 2025

What a wonderful day with Guide Teri! She was so good at organizing and explaining everything to us. Such a lovely personality, very attentive to all the guests! Nothing felt rushed, everything planned was delivered. Be prepared to do a full day of walking and know that it is quite steep to to temple overlook and again to the Monkey Forest mountain top area. Well worth it and a great workout!There was a good time for lunch break and shopping too. Highly recommend!!!

Review photo 1
5
S
Shawn
May 23, 2026

Janel was a fantastic guide, full of information! The tour was the perfect amount of time and took us through several different points of interest. Fun little “quizzes”, answers to every question and monkeys!! I highly recommend this tour especially if you get the best tour guide there ever was.

5
E
Emily
March 22, 2026

We loved this tour!! Saw the best of Fushimi- Arashiyama with the shrine, Tori gates, a delicious lunch, a Japanese garden, the moon crossing bridge, monkeys and more. Teri was the best tour guide - she gave us awesome insider tips and answered all our questions. She also took the best photos for us! Bring your walking shoes and come ready to have a good time!

5
V
Victor
October 28, 2025

Can’t say anything bad, the guide was Teri, she was a lovely young lady who made us feel at home, so kind, a ln awesome tour.

5
P
Paul
September 28, 2025

We were on our honeymoon and decided to book this trip quite early on. We had a fantastic tour and Terri our guide made our honeymoon feel even more special. Terri took time to spend with each of the members of our party and was very inclusive. Her explanations about everything was superb. She answered ours and also the groups questions. We walked at a very good pace and everyone looked like they were enjoying the tour. Terri also took photos of each of the party members. We would definitely recommend this tour to any future travellers and JAPANIFY was excellent in every way. Arigato 🙏🏻🏯😀🇯🇵

5
J
Jane
June 29, 2025

Amazing tour with Max. It was hot and he provided several chances to stop and cool off. This 60 year old appreciated this.

5
J
John
May 31, 2025

The tour took us to lots of places. The guide spoke good English.

5
k
kayleigh
May 12, 2025

our guide was great and we seen so many beautiful places

5
C
Crystal
June 30, 2025

Terri did amazing! Knowledgeable and showed personal interest with every person on the tour.

5
S
Sophie
May 10, 2025

I thought the tour was great. No need to for improvement!

Frequently Asked Questions

JAPANIFY TOURS sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover food and drinks, tips (welcomed) and pickup and drop-off. 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.
Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park, Tenryuji Temple Garden, Fushimi Inari (Only Combo Tour), Togetsukyo Bridge, Local Food Court, Knowledgeable & bilingual local guide, Intimate small-group experience, Fascinating stories & cultural insights, Capture unforgettable photos along the way
The duration of the Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkey, Temple Garden by Local Operator is typically 5 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$75.5