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
Why travelers loved this
·
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 270 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Excellent tour covering Inari Shrine , Temple and Bamboo forest. Guide very knowledgeable. Time for some lunch and not too taxing
Beck was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and personable. He was patient and caring toward each member of the small group. I would recommend him to friends.
Ben was really knowledgeable. A good pace. Covered a lot of sites in a short period of time. Wear comfortable walking shoes!
Absolutely loved this tour! Beck was an amazing guide—knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and genuinely made the experience fun. The early start was completely worth it because we got to experience Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama before the crowds really picked up, making everything feel so much more peaceful and enjoyable.
Beck shared so much interesting history and context along the way without making it feel like a lecture. He also knows exactly where to take you for the best pictures and is an excellent photographer! 📸 He made sure we got the perfect angles and spots, and I never had to worry about missing those memorable shots.
If you’re visiting Kyoto and considering this tour, BOOK IT! Beck made the experience even better, and I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We had a wonderful time on this excursion with our guide, Hiro! We did the 7:15am start time, which was perfect (less crowded), but it started getting pretty hot & humid by the end of our trip. Nara Deer Park was a hit with our group & Hiro gave us clear instructions regarding how to bow & feed the deer, along with what not to do (run) when the deer started to get aggressive about getting crackers. Hiro showed us his favorite spots for pictures & was patient while we snapped away. He was a wealth of knowledge throughout the tour! All in all, we agreed that Hiro made this an AMAZING excursion!
This was a great tour lead by our tour guide Beck. He was so informative, very kind, patient with all our questions and very accepting of our autistic son who quite happily talked to Beck almost the entire tour. Highly recommend this tour and if you can have Beck as your guide, you will not be disappointed.
Hiro was an excellent tour guide! As a Kyoto native, he offered unique insights and personal experiences on Japanese history, culture, and contemporary lifestyle. He shared a wide variety of fun facts and stories ranging from traditions to must-have foods, all complemented by his humor and easygoing personality.
Hiro led us through the Kyoto railway system seamlessly from point-to-point. We enjoyed the route we took through the Fushimi-Inari Shrine, and he encouraged us to explore without having to climb excessive stairs. At the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Hiro helped us to navigate the busy tourist area, allowing time for us to experience the beauty of the forest. A 30-minute coffee break is slotted in to get refreshments and rest, before heading to the peaceful Togetsukyo Bridge and the Tenryu-Ji Temple.
The tour was an incredible experience, and Hiro was very hospitable in offering to take each group’s pictures at the best spots. We walked away with so much more knowledge and appreciation for Kyoto’s rich history and culture, and would recommend it anyone and everyone!
A bit of travel involved. Lots of walking. Our day was very hot. Our guide was new but very informative!
Caleb was the perfect tour guide for this experience. He was knowledgeable, smart and patient with our group, was able to answer any questions about Japanese culture (and the trains)! He is passionate about what he does and makes it fun to learn about the history of the sites.
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.
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.
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!
This tour is well worth going on. Caleb is a very knowledgeable and helpful guide. I would recommend him as a guide.
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.
Caleb was great - he was so knowledgeable about the places we visited and Japanese history. We learned a lot!
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.
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!
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.
Excellent knowledge of everything from the guide. Answered every question we had ablut places we passed.
The tour was amazing with great historical context and explanations. Highly recommended! My guide Hiro was perfect!
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
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!
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!
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.
Eri was a fun and knowledgeable tour guide. We loved the different shrines and garden covered in this tour. Exceeded our expectations.
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.
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!
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.
Excellent tour , should not miss this tour
Both places were beautiful and our guide Caleb was very nice with lots of knowledge
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!
Member Pricing
From
$90.40
per personWas $95.16(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Member Pricing
Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama
269
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$95.16
$90.40
5% savings
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
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