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Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama by Local Operator

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Tomodachi Tours
Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama by Local Operator
Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama by Local Operator 2
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Half-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama. Run by Tomodachi Tours, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Train
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Arashiyama
  • Runs 4.5 hours
  • English-speaking guide

Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama by Local Operator: Key Facts

PriceFrom $122 per person
Duration4.5 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 4.5-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Train, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It is run by Tomodachi 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.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari, the deity of rice and business, and its thousand-plus vermilion torii gates, each donated by a company or family, run in tunnels up the 233-metre Mount Inari behind the main hall. The full loop to the summit is about four kilometres and two hours; most visitors turn back at the Yotsutsuji viewpoint halfway. It is open 24 hours and free, which makes it the one big Kyoto sight you can do at dawn or after dark, when the gates are empty and lit. By nine in the morning the lower tunnels are a slow queue. The fox statues carry keys to the rice granary in their mouths.

The price covers guide and Admission to Tenryu-ji Temple. It does not cover Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation fee 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.

セブン-イレブン ハートインJR京都駅中央改札口店. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Tomodachi 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.

Starting location

セブン-イレブン ハートインJR京都駅中央改札口店

Train

(15 minutes)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Train

(30 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama

Break time, Free time, Shopping (20 minutes)

Kimono Forest

Guided tour, Pass by (5 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge

Photo stop, Guided tour, Pass by (5 minutes)

Tenryuji Temple

Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Finish at

日本、〒616-8385 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場町６８ 南芳院

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: セブン-イレブン ハートインJR京都駅中央改札口店

Train: (15 minutes)

Fushimi Inari Taisha: Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Train: (30 minutes)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Photo stop, Guided tour, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama: Break time, Free time, Shopping (20 minutes)

Kimono Forest: Guided tour, Pass by (5 minutes)

Togetsukyo Bridge: Photo stop, Guided tour, Pass by (5 minutes)

Includes

  • English-speaking guide
  • Admission to Tenryu-ji Temple

Excludes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation fee (approximately 630 yen)
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

セブン-イレブン ハートインJR京都駅中央改札口店

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

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $122
$122
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 59 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.7/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
G
Georg
July 28, 2026

My tour was incredible! I got to see so many beautiful places with a rich history, and learn about drawings and symbols and the many poetic meanings behind them. The guide (Beck) was friendly, informative, and easy to understand. Overall this was definitely worth it!

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
L
Linda
March 25, 2026

Outstanding. So much information. There was no way we would have gotten this much info if we did this independently. Fantastic guides who truly want their clients to have an enjoyable day.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
K
Karla
January 23, 2026

We had a great time as a family. My daughter enjoyed the tour.

Review photo 1
5
M
Matthew
September 7, 2026

We had a fantastic time on the Kyoto Early Bird English Tour, visiting Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama. The tour was very well organised, informative, and a great way to experience two of Kyoto’s most beautiful and famous locations. Our tour guide, Vincent, was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and was able to answer every question we asked with great detail. He made the history and culture really interesting while also keeping the atmosphere fun and enjoyable throughout the trip. Vincent’s enthusiasm and friendly personality really made the experience special. We learned a lot, had plent

5
H
Husayn
September 1, 2026

Vincent was a fantastic host, very knowledgeable, patient and kind. The tour was well paced and took us through parts of Kyoto I hadn't visited before, like Tenryu-ji temple. Highly recommend.

5
G
Gabriela
July 22, 2026

This experience was incredible and so immersive! Beck was a fantastic guide—so knowledgeable, a great photographer, and wonderfully patient and kind with our 4-year-old. Arashiyama is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited, and this tour made it even more special. I would highly recommend it!

5
J
Jean
June 14, 2026

Beck was a fantastic tour guide! He was patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable. His insights into the landmarks we visited were impressive, and he struck the perfect balance between sharing historical information and adding humor along the way. Beck was engaging, personable, and made everyone feel comfortable, which made the day both enjoyable and memorable. We highly recommend this tour, especially if you have the opportunity to tour with Beck!

5
S
Sean
June 13, 2026

The tour was fantastic It was going to be a spiritual day with those sites and my guide Beck was the perfect fit He was so warm and knowlegeable and just made the sites come alive Thank you Beck for an incredible day Highly recommend this tour

5
C
Christelle
May 13, 2026

Beck did an excellent job on the tour. He knew the history of the places he showed us very well, and responded to random questions we had throughout the tour. He also helped and guided us towards where we needed to go next, after the tour. Super nice and funny to boot, we recommend!

5
S
Susan
March 31, 2026

Caleb was a very friendly guide and very informative - we enjoyed his company and tour very much and would highly recommend.

5
R
Roberto
March 11, 2026

Excellent. Hiro was very kind and attentive. We really enjoyed his conversation and hospitality.

5
J
Jutta
December 23, 2025

Very nice guide, he was able to answer whatever question we had 😀 and there were many 😆

Frequently Asked Questions

セブン-イレブン ハートインJR京都駅中央改札口店
The price does not cover hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation fee (approximately 630 yen) 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.
English-speaking guide, Admission to Tenryu-ji Temple
The duration of the Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama by Local Operator is typically 4.5 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$122