Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour - Bamboo, Monkeys, Temple & Secrets
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Join our tour and uncover the essence of Arashiyama on foot, exploring hidden gems with our local guide. This walking tour perfectly blends natural beauty, cultural heritage, and interactive experiences.
Wander through the serene Bamboo Grove, visit the historic Tenryuji Gardens, admire the vibrant Kimono Forest, cross the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, and meet the monkeys at the park. This tour offers a complete Arashiyama experience in a short time—just be prepared for a brief hike to the Monkey Park!
Places you will visit:
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Monkey Park (20 min hike to hilltop)
- Tenryuji Garden
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- and hidden paths
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tours are in English only. Want a different language like German or Italian? Please ask us before booking.
There is a 20-25 minutes hike to the monkey park hilltop and the path is a bit steep.
Solo travelers can book this tour, but please note there is a “2 guests minimum” requirement for the tour to proceed. If only one guest is booked, the tour may be canceled. In such cases, you will be notified promptly, with options for rescheduling or a full refund.
For the privacy and comfort of all guests, smart glasses with recording capabilities (such as Ray-Ban Meta glasses) are not allowed during the tour.
Be able to hike up to the hilltop of the monkey park (20-25 minutes)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Okochi Sanso (admission paid)
Tenryuji Temple (admission paid)
Bamboo Forest
Matcha Green Tea (paid)
Knowledgeable & Bilingual Tour Guide
Togetsukyo Bridge
Cultural and historical Insights
Monkey Park (20-25 hike)
Tips (accepted & welcomed)
Lunch & Dinner
Pick up not available
What To Expect
Arashiyama
Saga-Arashiyama Station: Meet at the Saga-Arashiyama Station, where you can take a few minutes to explore the surrounding area and get acquainted with your group.
Nonomiya Shrine
Nonomiya Shrine is a small but historically significant Shinto shrine in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It was traditionally used for purification rituals by unmarried imperial princesses before they served as priestesses at Ise Shrine. Surrounded by a lush bamboo grove, the shrine is known for its connections to love, marriage, and academic success. It is also mentioned in The Tale of Genji, adding to its cultural and literary significance.
Options
Lite Tour (3.5h excl. Monkeys)
Duration: 3 hours: Approximately 3½ hours, covering the Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji and Zen Garden.
Monkey Park is not included: 3 ½ h tour visiting Ōkōchi Sanso, Tenryū-ji & the Bamboo Forest — Monkey Park admission not included (no visit).
End Point on the Main Street: This tour ends on Arashiyama’s main street so you can explore local shops and cafés
Group Tour
Private (Prize per Group Size)
Reviews
837 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful walking tour of...
Michelle D,
Jul 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00Wonderful walking tour of the bamboo forest and monkey park. Our guide Mari was expert at getting us great photos so it looked like we were the only ones there! She was also very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Great time!
Our guide was funny and...
Tracy K,
Jun 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00Our guide was funny and full of information! She was a great photographer and was happy to take our pictures! I highly recommend this tour.
Well organized and manageable
Jennifer S,
Jun 26, 2025
- Viator
5.00Max was an exceptional tour guide. He was fun, knowledgeable, and you can tell the locals love him. He’s got a great story to tell! I was a little worried about all of the walking for the length of the tour, but Max was great at bringing us to spots where we could sit and relax and catch our breath before we headed to the next stop. It was a great way to see parts of Kyoto. We would not have known about otherwise. If asked if I wanted to do this tour again, I would say, “me too!”
We had a great time on...
Ali R,
Jun 25, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had a great time on the tour! It was pretty rainy so we ended up cutting it short, but our guide was fantastic!
This was a really fun...
jessica c,
Jun 24, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was a really fun tour!! Max was such a great tour guide. He brought everyone out of their shell and clearly loves his job. This tour is definitely worth it.
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Operated by Japanify Tours