Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour（Hidden Temples）

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Kyoto, Japan

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

5.0

(233)

Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama

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Overview

Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of the city’s most photogenic nature spots, and with this tour you can explore its highlights with ease. Don’t worry about following a map, as a guide leads the way, as you explore trails and mountain scenery. Along the way, look out for wild monkeys, discover lesser-known paths, and access spectacular panoramic views of Kyoto.

Get a shortcut to the highlights of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Hike up the mountain for outstanding views many tourists miss
No losing the guide: Enjoy the intimacy of a small-group tour
Soak up the views while someone else navigates

What's Included

English-Speaking Tour Guide
Hiking Trail Tour

Admission Fee for Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple (500 yen)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Saga-Arashiyama Station
11-1 Sagatenryūji Kurumamichichō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8373, Japan
We will meet guests at Saga-Arashiyama Station. Our guide will be holding a board that says "GuideMe Japan" in front of the train ticket exit. There is only 1 exit for Saga-Arashiyama Station so it should be easy to meet up.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Arashiyama

3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 32 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Fresh Air and Nature Experience in Kyoto

Christina_L, Mar 2026

Genki led us on a beautiful and refreshing hike through the mountains near the bamboo forest, beginning in the bamboo forest and with a stop at the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple. Genki was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure to help us navigate the terrain safely. The hike is definitely not for the inexperienced; it was tough but doable, about 5k with climbing and descending. I recommend wearing shoes with traction and bringing plenty of water. This was a unique way to see the mountains and nature surrounding Kyoto!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you very much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the refreshing hike through the mountains around Arashiyama and the visit to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple. It’s a beautiful area that offers a completely different side of Kyoto beyond the usual sightseeing spots. We’re also very happy to hear your kind words about Genki. He takes great pride in making sure guests have a safe and memorable experience while sharing the history and nature of the area. Thank you as well for mentioning the hiking difficulty and helpful tips for future guests — that will definitely help others prepare for the adventure. We truly appreciate you joining our tour and hope to welcome you again on another experience in Japan! Warm regards, GuideMe Japan Team

Great hiking tour with a...

Richard_B, Oct 2025

Great hiking tour with a knowledgeable guide for the entire experience. It was great to see both bamboo Forrest and climb the hills.

Perfect morning out! Bamboo forest, hiking, temple and village

SungIn_M, May 2025

This was such a great tour, it was like 3 different activities in one! We started at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Walk and because it was not the main path and still early we avoided the crowds and still enjoyed the bamboo views. The hiking part is definitely a hike with some steep parts but enjoyable all around and provided good views and a peaceful walk in the hills. The hiking trail ended in a traditional village and we visited Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple which was a very unique temple with different aspects to learn about, all very well explained by my guide Soichiro (Sam). I was lucky in that this ended up being a private tour as I was the only guest, which was great as Soichiro (Sam) answered all my questions and we had a great time chatting. I’d recommend this for anyone who wants to avoid the crowds in the main area of Arashiyama and see a different side of the area.

Excellent tour. Guide...

Lance_R, May 2025

Excellent tour. Guide was very knowledgable and moved at our pace. I would recommend that you suggest taking g water for the hike. Overall a fantastic experience.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Peggy_A, Apr 2025

Fantastic experience. A proper ‘hike’ and an amazing way to experience the bamboo forest and climbing the hills to see the view. Taira was a really friendly and engaging guide with excellent English. It was like going hiking with a new friend. Parts of the trail were very steep but Taira went slowly and made sure we were safe at all times. One of the best parts of our holiday - truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Unforgettable experience in Arashiyama with an Incredible Guide.

Santiago_S, Apr 2025

We had an amazing tour of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and surrounding mountains with our guide, Daizen. From the moment he met us at the train station, we felt welcomed and in great hands. He walked us to the bamboo forest, sharing fascinating facts about the bamboo itself and how it grows—insights we never would’ve gotten on our own. After the forest, Daizen led us on a scenic hike up the mountain. It was a manageable challenge and absolutely worth the effort. The views of Kyoto from the lookout points were breathtaking—places you’d never find without a local guide. Along the way, we visited the beautiful Nenbutsu-ji Temple. Daizen’s knowledge of its history and cultural significance was superb. He brought the site to life with stories and context that gave us a deeper appreciation for its spiritual importance. Another highlight of the day was the incredible tofu meal Daizen introduced us to. It’s something we never would’ve discovered without him, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals in Japan. Daizen's expertise, thoughtful pacing, and passion for the region made this an unforgettable experience. Highly, highly recommend booking this tour if you're in Kyoto!

3 Tours in 1

Tracey_A, Mar 2025

This is a great tour to give you a little bit of everything...bamboo forest, a beautiful hike and a temple experience. Be aware, the hike is the largest part of the experience and is a real hike...good shoes and water are needed. The views on the hike are beautiful. And you even end up is a really cute little village. Our guide Tang was excellent and very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. And bonus points because he was patient and kind with our 10 year old when his energy started dropping toward the end.