Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Katsuo-ji Temple and Nara Park day tour
Overview
Available languages
11 hours
Mobile ticket
Arashiyama Forest, Katsuo-ji and Nara Park all season itinerary:
7:50 Meet at Hilton Plaza West Shopping Mall - Exit 4B
8:00 Departure
9:00 Katsuo-ji Temple
11:00 Minoh Waterfall
13:00 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
15:30 Nara Todaiji Temple
18:30 Drop-off in Osaka
Experience the best day trip from Osaka to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Katsuo-ji Temple and Nara Park, where Japan’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and unique local experiences come together.
● Visit Katsuo-ji Temple, famous for its lucky Daruma dolls, peaceful mountain scenery and fortune-telling experience.
● Walk through the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto’s most famous sightseeing spots surrounded by towering bamboo trees.
● Meet the friendly deer of Nara Park and explore one of Japan’s most historic cultural destinations.
● June to October Seasonal Attraction:
Enjoy a visit to Minoh Waterfall, a beautiful 33-meter waterfall surrounded by lush greenery and refreshing summer landscapes.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A minimum of 8 people are required for this tour. If the minimum group size is not met, you will be notified by email 3 days before departure with a full refund. For specific departure date requirements, we recommend confirming group status with customer service in advance.
Notice: Due to the rainy season and the characteristics of the mountain trails in the scenic area, Minoh Waterfall may be canceled if extreme weather poses a risk to visitor safety. We appreciate your understanding.
What To Expect
Katsuo-ji Temple
This Buddhist temple is among the most popular in Osaka and is known for its thousands of Daruma dolls and its fortune readouts.
Arashiyama
Visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto’s most famous sightseeing spots, located in the scenic Arashiyama district. Known for its towering bamboo forest and peaceful atmosphere, the grove offers a relaxing walking path surrounded by tall green bamboo stalks. Visitors can enjoy the natural sounds of rustling bamboo while exploring the area near Tenryuji Temple and other popular Kyoto attractions. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a must-visit destination for nature lovers, photographers, and travelers exploring Kyoto, Japan.
Options
Depart fr Hilton Plaza 800AM
Depart fr Hilton Plaza: Please arrive at Hilton Plaza West Shopping Mall - Exit 4B before 8.00AM 〒530-0001 大阪府大阪市北区梅田２丁目２ ウエスト
What‘s Included
Nara Park
Driver / guide tip
Toudai-ji
Katsuo-ji Temple
Air-conditioned vehicle
Round-trip traffic
Personal Consumption
Meals & Beverages
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
37 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Awesome!
KaHei L,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It's a full day of tour. Wish we had more time in each stop, but understand that in order to go to all the spots, it has to be done this way. Alex, our tour guide was awesome. Very attentive, helpful, friendly, and also humorous. Tour bus was big and roomy. If you do not like to hike steep roads, don't go to the waterfall, it was a 10 minute viewing allotment and it's ju alright in terms of bei spectacular. Overall I enjoyed the tour.
Great day out
Matt G,Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Was a great day out, the highlight is definitely Nara park and seeing all the amazing deer. Our tour guide Marco was fantastic, he was very informative and made everyone had a good time and was looked after
Arashiyam and Nara are worth a visit.
AliinAus,Jun 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00This was our first choice of tour which we were notified was cancelled due to insufficient numbers - we got offered an alternative which still included Arashiyama Forest and Nara (for which this is the review). Our party was very small in only being 6 people. Both Arashiyam and Nara are both worth the visit and we found that we were given plenty of time to explore both. Four of the group got the time wrong to return to the bus and were left behind after 20min with our tour guide making lots of effort to contact them (they later re-joined at Nara), so for part of the day it was a private tour. Our tour guide Nancy provided lots of information and was very friendly. The tour we took also included Yasaka shine and it was a very enjoyable day.
Poor tour guide and cramped minibus. The deer were great though
Christine B,May 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We had a small minibus instead of a coach which was full and cramped. We had a flat tyre on the way and spent an hour waiting for a replacement. The tour guide just slept through it! Waterfall was a bit underwhelming but Nara park was great, the deer were adorable.
It is just a transportation not a guided tour
Dario R,May 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00They basically just provided a transportation to several places. The “tour guide” did not describe the background of any of these places; she just told us where we are going and what time we should meet.
Not recommended
doan p,Mar 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00The guide did not go with us. Nancy our tour guide just tell us a little bit about the place and sit in the car. I feel like we just pay for transit which is expensive. Not recommended
Breathtaking Todaji
RahulKumar S,Oct 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Very nice day spent. Arashiyama bamboo forest, Yasaka jinja Shrine, Nara deers... Lovely experience. But we were blown away by the Todaji Buddha... A must for every Indian or any Buddhist. What an impressive place. So heavenly. The trip hosts, the bus and the drivers were very helpful and understanding. If we come back here, will go to Todaji again 5 stars from us.
They dropped you off at 3 place and the guide who came with us was extremely difficult to understand his English..
Ted M,Oct 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00This was more a drop you off and you figure yourself type of tour. The van they rented was probably the most uncomfortable thing ever for the 6+ hours sitting in there.
Self-Guided Tour
Aileen F,Oct 16, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00This is a great tour if you like to explore by yourself. You get dropped off at the sites advertised and are given between 1 - 2 hours to roam freely. It’s best to research the sites beforehand so you know exactly what to look for, otherwise you’ll waste time figuring out where to go or what to do. You could spend hours exploring at some of the sites, so having good time management is essential. If you’re looking for a guided tour, this is not the tour for you.
average guided tour not too engaging
Cristina P,Aug 26, 2024
- Review from Viator
3.00it s an average lef tour not too much information provided about the places visited. Can recommend only if general style is more to visit independently than with a guide.
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Operated by S.A. Tour