Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
As two of Kyoto's most-popular and most-photographed spots, Fushimi Inari shrine and the Arashiyama bamboo forest are typically heaving with tourists during the day. Avoid the crowds with this early-morning small-group tour that also takes you to the temple of Tenryu-ji Temple and Togetsu-kyo Bridge.
- Avoid the crowds of Kyoto by exploring in the early morning
- Enjoy the intimacy of a small-group tour (maximum nine)
- Learn about Kyoto's culture and history from your guide
- Get great photos of normally crowded attractions
What's Included
- English-Speaking Guide
- Fushimi-Inari Shrine
- Bamboo Forest
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- Togetsu-kyo Bridge
- Admission Fee-Tenryu-ji Temple
- Transportation Fee¥390.00 per person
- Food and Drink
- Hotel Pick-Up or Drop-Off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 7-Eleven Heart-In - JR Kyoto Station Central Entrance Store烏丸通塩小路下ル Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan
The meeting point is in front of 711 inside Kyoto Station Central Ticket Gate. The guide assigned for the day will provide detailed information via WhatsApp or SMS. If neither is available or you haven't received any communication by 12 hours before, kindly contact us.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Bamboo Forest Street
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Tenryu-ji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Togetsukyo Bridge
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 240 reviews
Nunzi_R, May 2026
We took the English tour with Beck. Beck was extremely personable, helpful and informative. He was knowledgeable about each of our stops and related the history of Kyoto and Japan very well. The tour was fun and educational- I would highly recommend yo anyone.
Janell_R, Apr 2026
This was a great tour with a very pleasant guide. We covered a lot of ground and learned so much! Arisa was fun to be with and extremely knowledgeable. She took us to many highlights and going early allowed us to avoid many of the crowds. This was a wonderful way to see the beautiful Kyoto attractions.
Monica_D, Apr 2026
Arisa, our tour guide, was amazing! She was knowledgable without overwhelming us with information. She was also a lovely person to talk to on the short commutes between areas. She even worked in a brief coffee break to let us rest. The tour itself was absolutely worthwhile, but definitely take the earliest slot you can. Both areas become overrun with tourists very quickly. 5 stars for Arisa and for this tour overall!
susan_s, Apr 2026
This tour is well worth going on. Caleb is a very knowledgeable and helpful guide. I would recommend him as a guide.
Anita_G, Apr 2026
Early start meant less crowd and being able to enjoy the sights and take better photos between the gaps ( flow of people). The tour covers interesting places and doesn't feel rushed. One could head back to Kyoto after the tour finishes around noon or enjoy lunch and go later (on their own). Alternatively, one can take the Sagano Romantic Train on their own in the afternoon. We're glad we decided to do this tour. Brilliant use of our morning. Highly recommend.
SUSAN_E, Apr 2026
Caleb was great - he was so knowledgeable about the places we visited and Japanese history. We learned a lot!
Carol_G, Apr 2026
Vincent is a wonderful tour guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We had some trouble finding the meeting location but Vincent was so quick to respond to our text and even met us where we were. He also gave excellent recommendations for food. We had a delicious ramen lunch at the Kyoto station. I highly recommend Vincent and this morning tour. Best time to visit with fewer crowds.
Casey_S, Mar 2026
Our guides were friendly and helpful. We learned a lot about each shrine and attraction we visited and about Japanese culture overall. We were very happy with the overall experience!
Tom_M, Mar 2026
Hiro was our guide. He did an amazing job. He was very knowledgeable. I had a great sense of humor. It was an overall great experience.
Charles_R, Mar 2026
Excellent knowledge of everything from the guide. Answered every question we had ablut places we passed.
Karan_N, Mar 2026
The tour was amazing with great historical context and explanations. Highly recommended! My guide Hiro was perfect!
Linda_F, Feb 2026
Spending time with Caleb was an absolute highlight of our trip. Caleb was extremely knowleageable,thorough & passionate about Japan & it’s amazing history,intricancies & layers. Ee felt well cared for & he educated us about so many aspects of Japanese life & culture in a manner that was interesting & fun. Caleb is a very gifted musician,historian & artist that you will feel gifted to have spent time with. Thank you Caleb for sharing your wisdom & your passion. It was a pure treat to be in your company. You’re an asset to your tour company
Ashley_A, Feb 2026
The tour with Caleb was a wonderful experience. He was extremely knowledgeable in connecting Japanese history, Japanese language, and the physical sites we visited to allow me to appreciate the significance of each place, and the people who spent time there. I really appreciate how he was receptive to all of my questions, and I feel like I truly gained an insight that would otherwise be hard to obtain. Thank you so much, and I recommend this tour strongly for its breathtaking sights as well!
Alex_T, Jan 2026
Excellent Tour! Hiro was very knowledgeable of all sites we went to and offered very accommodation possible for us an our baby. Extremely recommend him!
Bentley_a, Jan 2026
Our guide Jem was diligent, delightful and informative. She engaged our family of four including our 6 year old son across a 5 hour experience that we will always remember. We would highly recommend this experience to other families.
Mike_S, Jan 2026
Eri was a fun and knowledgeable tour guide. We loved the different shrines and garden covered in this tour. Exceeded our expectations.
Brenda_W, Nov 2025
Vincent was a fabulous young man with so much knowledge. We had a wonderful morning. Very well done.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your positive feedback. We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful morning and found Vincent to be a fabulous young man with so much knowledge.
We appreciate your kind words recognizing his efforts. Providing knowledgeable and engaging experiences for our guests is our top priority, and we are glad we achieved that with your tour.
Maria_H, Nov 2025
We had a great time with Caleb. He was very knowledgeable about the places we went to and more. I would do this tour again with family next time we are back in Kyoto. Early morning is the way to go to visit these sites as they get filled up with so many people later in the day. Definitely recommend!
Martin_S, Oct 2025
This tour is about a sightseeing adventure with a little shopping time. We revisited two sights the next day, in order to do more hiking and shopping.
Adriana_G, Oct 2025
Excellent tour , should not miss this tour
Both places were beautiful and our guide Caleb was very nice with lots of knowledge
MariaFe_W, Oct 2025
Our guide Vincent was amazing and very knowledgeable. He was accompanied by Eri, who was equally amazing. Vincent definitely knows his “craft”. We would highly recommend Vincent and Eri to other travelers.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Vincent and Eri. They’re both incredibly passionate about sharing Kyoto’s history and culture, and we’re so glad their knowledge and hospitality made a lasting impression on your tour.
We truly appreciate your recommendation — it means a lot to us and to our guides.
Wishing you many more wonderful adventures, and we hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again someday!
Stefanie_R, Oct 2025
I had a great experience with Caleb! He was on time, gave clear instructions on the meeting location, provided really fun and informative details on each location, plus he was funny. We had a small group (just 3 of us + the guide.) Nothing feels better than having someone guide you through the train systems so you just have to follow along and let them lead the way. Since it's the "Early Bird" time it's nice because you do beat a lot the crowds. We visited Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Tenryu-ji temple, Arashiyama Bamboo forest, picked up some snacks + photos along the way, and then returned back to our meeting location. As a solo traveler this was possibly one of the best decisions I made. 10/10 would recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
I had a great experience with Caleb! He was on time, gave clear instructions on the meeting location, provided really fun and informative details on each location, plus he was funny. We had a small group (just 3 of us + the guide.) Nothing feels better than having someone guide you through the train systems so you just have to follow along and let them lead the way. Since it's the "Early Bird" time it's nice because you do beat a lot the crowds. We visited Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Tenryu-ji temple, Arashiyama Bamboo forest, picked up some snacks + photos along the way, and then returned back to our meeting location. As a solo traveler this was possibly one of the best decisions I made. 10/10 would recommend.
Samantha_V, Sep 2025
Caleb was very knowledgeable on historical, cultural and political issues, which made the tour even more interesting. We had a great experience and even made a new friend!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad to hear that Caleb’s deep knowledge of history, culture, and even political context helped make the tour more engaging and memorable for you.
It’s always our goal to offer more than just sightseeing — we want every guest to leave with a deeper understanding and maybe even a new friend or two along the way 😊
We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again in the future!
PAT_O, Sep 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience on this tour. It was a very small group and as such we were able to interact with one another and got to make new friends 😊. Our tour guide, Caleb, was great, he was very knowledgeable of the Japanese culture and made the tour very interesting.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time on the tour and that the small group setting made it even more special — making new friends along the way is one of the best parts of traveling!
Caleb will be so happy to hear your kind words. His passion for Japanese culture and talent for connecting with guests truly shines through, and we’re glad you felt that during the tour.
We hope to welcome you back again on another adventure soon!
Paul_L, Sep 2025
A great tour taking in some of Kyoto's more famous attractions. Our guide Vincent was fabulous, nothing was any trouble. The early start was well worth it, as the crowds were swarming in as we were leaving. A terrific tour which we both highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and that the early start helped you beat the crowds — that’s one of the best ways to experience Kyoto’s iconic sights. Vincent will be happy to hear your feedback — he always strives to make each tour smooth and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again in Kyoto!
laurie_c, Aug 2025
Haruka was an amazing tour guide and she took great pictures for us. 715 tour beat the crowds and the heat
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour with Haruka and that you were able to beat the heat and the crowds with the early start. Haruka takes great pride in capturing memorable moments and making each tour special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Kyoto in the future!
Lucinda_F, Aug 2025
We went super early in the morning specifically so that we could get good pictures without a lot of people being there. We beat the crowds, but I like to collect the stamps at each temple or shrine that we go to and wish I had known that the temple is not actually open this early because I couldn’t get my stamp and had to come back again after the tour in order to get one. Our tour guide was nice but had body odor I know can’t always be helped in hot and humid summer, but this was evident first thing in the morning when we met him at the meeting point, so I don’t think it had anything to do with the heat at that point. We were also not well informed when booking the tour that it did not include our train tickets to each place we visited. For the price of this tour, it should include the transportation. Overall, I would not recommend this as we would have had a better time just simply going on our own.
Jordan_S, Jul 2025
I’ve visited several countries and use these reviews as a trusted guide, so to pay it forward I’m leaving a review. With only one day in Kyoto our guide was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and brought us to great sights, highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review — especially with such a thoughtful reason behind it! We’re honored to have been part of your one day in Kyoto and are so glad to hear the guide helped make it worthwhile. Safe travels on your future adventures, and we hope to welcome you back to Japan someday!
Catherine_G, Jul 2025
Super friendly and highly knowledgeable guide. I highly recommend booking a tour with Vincent. He is amazing
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great experience with Vincent—he truly is a fantastic guide. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another tour soon!
BRETT_F, Jul 2025
Caleb was a great tour guide. Perfect English speaker and provided a lot of information about the shrine and the forest. Was able to work with our schedule as well and kept things moving on a very hot day. Would recommend this tour. Nicely covers two sites in Kyoto that are both must see places.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the kind feedback! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed your tour with Caleb. He takes pride in making the experience smooth, informative, and enjoyable—even on those hot Kyoto days! We’re happy the timing and content worked well for you. Hope to see you again on another tour soon!
From $94.61
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama
240
5 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$94.61
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Kyoto, Japan
- Kennin-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Himeji Castle (Himeji-Jo) Tours & Tickets
- Nishiki Market Tours & Tickets
- Kamigamo Shrine Tours & Tickets
- Shoren-in Temple Tours & Tickets
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple Tours & Tickets
- Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Tours & Tickets
- Tenryu-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- Heian Shrine (Heian Jingu) Tours & Tickets
- Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail Tours & Tickets
- Amanohashidate Tours & Tickets
- Ryoan-ji Temple & Garden Tours & Tickets
- Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) Tours & Tickets
- Myoshin-ji Temple Tours & Tickets
- The Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku-no-michi) Tours & Tickets