Explore more curated experiences in Kyoto

View all Kyoto tours

Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour in Kyoto

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: Japan Vision Tour
Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour
Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour 2
Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour 3
+2
more

Full-day tour in Kyoto, taking in Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Run by Japan Vision Tour, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Nijo Castle
  • Arashiyama
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Nonomiya Shrine
  • Runs 10 hours
  • Professional bilingual guide (English and Chinese)

Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $65.5 per person
Duration10 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 10-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Nijo Castle, 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 Nijo Castle & 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

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

Nijo Castle

Break time, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2 hours)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Nonomiya Shrine

Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Togetsukyo Bridge

Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kimono Forest

Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing

Kinkaku-ji

Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing (40 minutes)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (70 minutes)

2 drop-off locations

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

Detailed Itinerary

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

Nijo Castle: Break time, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (1 hour)

Arashiyama: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (2 hours)

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

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

Togetsukyo Bridge: Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

Kimono Forest: Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing

Kinkaku-ji: Photo stop, Free time, Sightseeing (40 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 Nijo Castle & 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 10 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
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 53 reviews
Guide
4.8/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
E
Erica
August 17, 2026

This was an absolute beautiful and amazing experience. Chris was our tour guide and he is excellent, very knowledgeable with a great personality and sense of humor. He explained everything in detail about what our schedule was going to look like. He also took our amazing photos with our phones of all of the beautiful sightseeing locations we experienced along with him. I highly recommend this tour and Chris the tour guide!

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
T
Tom
July 2, 2026

Hanson was an excellent guide who provided a lot of information on the sides and general japanese context. The tour packs a lot in a day which requires one to manage time well to maximize visits of each site. All in all a great experience for a one day visit of the main Kyoto sites.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
L
Lily
July 1, 2026

Our day ftom Osaka to Kyoto was very well planned. Our tour guide, Anson was excellent! So competent and very knowledgeable about the history of Kyoto. We enjoyed this tour very much. Our driver was very nice too, the ride throughout the day was smooth. Thank you Ansen

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
S
Sneha
July 3, 2026

Everything was good. The guide was great. Highly recommended

5
M
Mona
May 19, 2026

Well planned and organized. Scarlett was great and informative. Good communication and enthusiasm. Like the small group size.

5
R
Rosalind
May 17, 2026

The trip was fantastic and Chris was a fantastic guide. I’ve travelled around the world many times and have had other guides but Chris was the best. I’ve even learnt so much more of history from Chris that I didn’t know. He went above and beyond to make our day great. Nothing was a problem for him to help us make our day special. Thank you Chris for an amazing day. Rosalind 🌸

5
J
Jessica
May 10, 2026

Very good tour. Was able to see some of the main sites in Kyoto without having to worry for transportation. Good amount of time for every site.

5
L
Larry
May 9, 2026

VERY INTERESTING. WALKING WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME, WOULD LIKE A WHEELCHAIR PROVIDED BY THE BUS COMPANY OR GUIDE COMPANY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND A CHAIR AT VENUES.

5
R
Renee
March 11, 2026

I absolutely loved all the Temples & learning all about them What is the difference between a Shrine & Temple never knew until now

5
L
Liam
March 8, 2026

this tour is absolutely worth it! you get to visit so many places and eat lots of street food at a reasonable price! this is the best way to spend your day in Kyoto; highly recommend this service!

5
C
Carrie
February 13, 2026

Fiona, our guide, explained very well the sites we visited, and her sunny personality really made everyone feel comfortable. The time to explore was good amount, and she kept the tour running smooth. The plan was well laid out for a rest between sites with a bit of walking. Very good tour

5
D
Daisy
June 5, 2026

It was a beautiful day trip and our family wish we had more time to spend together in Kyoto. Thank you, Onsen for being a great tour guide.

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 nijo castle & 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 Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji Day Tour is typically 10 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