The 15 Best Arashiyama & Bamboo Grove Tours in Kyoto

1.Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove 1 Day Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,316 reviews · 510 minutes - 9 hours · from $122Our pick

You’ll visit Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do, Arashiyama, the Sagano Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari in about nine hours. An English-speaking guide such as Den, At-Chan, or Sakura may lead your group, with multilingual audio support, Wi-Fi, temple admissions, and an optional Japanese buffet lunch.

“the day trip was amazing, and our guide (At-Chan) made everything feels much more incredible! she was always smiling and being receptive, she also offered to take pictures of me and I appreciate that because I'm solo traveling. At-Chan is wonderful, she gave us many recommendations for the city and also taught us some useful japanese words and phrases; this is what make a day tour fascinating, these little things are awesome.”

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2.Osaka/Kyoto:Kinkakuji,Arashiyama,FushimiInariShrine,NaraPark

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,596 reviews · from $66

Visit four major sights across Kyoto and Nara by air-conditioned bus, with an English or Chinese-speaking guide. Meet guides such as Harry, Gary, Mike, or Tracy, then see Todai-ji, Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari. Choose free time for lunch or add Kobe Beef Shabu-Shabu from Osaka.

“Nice trip and we had a funny guide Harry. We had beautiful day. Thank you”

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3.Kyoto/Osaka: Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,275 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $52

Spend 9 to 10 hours traveling by air-conditioned bus from Osaka or Kyoto to Nara Park, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Arashiyama. You’ll feed sacred deer, walk beneath vermilion torii gates, and explore bamboo paths, temples, bridges, and Kyoto’s Kimono Forest. English and Chinese guides, including Amy, Willa, Christine, and Fiona, lead the day.

“It was a comfortable way of going around Kyoto and Nara. It saves you from the hassle of navigating by yourself.”

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4.Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Gardens & Secrets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,216 reviews · from $65Top rated

Walk Arashiyama with an English-speaking guide such as Teri, Mari, or Marie, visiting Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, the Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Monkey Park. Expect a full day of walking, a steep 20 to 25 minute climb, small groups of up to 12, and time for a quick lunch.

“Such a fun bamboo forest tour with Marie! 🎋🎍☺️ Her energy and knowledge made the whole day fly by. She also took awesome photos and knew all the best spots. We saw beautiful shrines, a Japanese garden, and had amazing tempura fRead more”

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5.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 886 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $87

Spend five hours walking through Arashiyama with a bilingual guide such as Karim, Tom, Toru, or Francis. Visit the bamboo grove, Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Iwatayama Monkey Park. Choose street food and river views, or a local lunch and sake tasting.

“Our guide, Karim, has been perfect. Informative, friendly and fun! He kept a good pace during the tour and we never felt rushed, he gave us free time for pictures/eating/facilities. The tour covered some very famous sites but Karim has been also able to bring us “off the beaten path” letting us visit gardens and spots that we would have missed otherwise. The group was of just 5 people so we have been extremely lucky, usually it’s max 12 people but maybe off season helped! We highly recommend the tour and thank you again Karim!”

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6.Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Monkeys, Matcha & Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 759 reviews · from $53

Spend four to four and a half hours walking through Arashiyama with an English-speaking guide. Visit Tenryu-ji, Nonomiya Shrine, the Bamboo Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Monkey Park Iwatayama. Guides such as Tim, Amy, Nay, and Gabriele have been praised for clear explanations and friendly pacing. Expect plenty of walking and an uphill climb to the monkeys.

“Amy & Daniel were great providing lots of information and keeping us all on track. The temple and grove were fascinating and the guides very knowledgeable about it. The monkeys were cute as there were babies. It’s a bit of a hike up to them but the view was definitely worth it. Great experience.”

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7.Osaka/Kyoto: Arashiyama, Nara & Fushimi Inari Shrine w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 754 reviews · from $61

Travel from Osaka or Kyoto to Arashiyama, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine by air-conditioned bus. You’ll have free time at each stop, a Kyoto townhouse lunch with Kobe beef, pork, or vegetarian curry, and guidance in English or Chinese. Guides such as Gary, Nick, Eric, and Mike are praised for keeping the day organized and fun.

“Gary's kindness and attentiveness were highly appreciated. The itinerary was consistently adhered to, and the destinations were exceptional, with Gary's recommendations proving valuable.”

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8.Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 699 reviews · from $51

This 10-hour-45-minute bus tour links Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, and Fushimi Inari. You leave Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande at 7:00 a.m. with an English and Spanish guide, then explore key sites with a mix of commentary and free time. Guides such as Paula, Cesar, and Ángeles have led recent departures.

“It was a full day, starting early and finishing late. The organisation was super, and commentary great. Plus time to explore by yourself. All sights visited were fantastic. Highly recommend this tour. Hats off to the guides and driver for keeping high energy all day.”

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9.Kyoto Ghost Tour: Dark Tales, Urban Legends, Bamboo Forest Night

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 625 reviews · from $43Best value

Meet at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a drink, then follow your guide through Arashiyama after dark. You’ll hear local ghost stories, urban legends, true crime tales, and a Japanese curse before taking a brief solo walk in the bamboo forest. Guides have included Aron, Aaron, Zowee, Kalle, Santiago, and Caleb. The tour lasts about two and a half hours and suits adults and older teens who enjoy spooky storytelling.

“We love a good ghost story and horror film so this seemed right up our street - lots of spooky tales and urban legends for us to hear! Aron was super knowledgeable and it was great to have the forest to ourselves especially seeing how crowded it can get during the day. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Kyoto!”

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10.Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Gems Bike Tour (Early Bird)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $106

Start at 8:00 am near Saga-Arashiyama Station for a private 3 to 4-hour ride with guides such as Rob, Yuki, Ray, Milo, or Cass. You’ll use standard Cannondale city bikes, walk through the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji’s garden, then pedal quiet lanes, rice fields, temples, shrines, and Togetsukyo Bridge. The route is family-friendly for ages 10 and up.

“Ideal way to see Kyoto … cover a lot of locations in between fun bike rides. Highlight of our time in Kyoto.”

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11.Arashiyama Customized Rickshaw Tour & Bamboo Forest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 432 reviews · 45 - 190 minutes · from $51

Meet your local English- or Japanese-speaking guide at Togetsu-kyo Bridge for a private rickshaw ride through Arashiyama. Choose 45 minutes or up to 3 hours 10 minutes, with bamboo paths, Nonomiya Shrine, temples, gardens, quiet lanes, and photo stops. Guides such as Aki, Koki, Shin, and Lucas are known for friendly conversation and excellent pictures.

“This was an excellent tour. Our Rickshaw guide was great and explained a lot of history to us. The bamboo forest was beautiful. We also saw the backstreet of the area, and a beautiful temple. Finished with a lovely ice cream. I very much recommend this riskshaw tour.”

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12.Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 413 reviews · from $129

Walk through Arashiyama with a guide and no more than six other people. You’ll visit Hokyoin, Tenryuji, Okochi Sanso Garden, the bamboo forest, and Togetsukyo Bridge, with temple admissions, matcha, photos, and a Kyoto-style lunch included. Guides such as Josh, Yuki, Ayuri, and Hiroko are known for clear cultural explanations and personal attention.

“Our guide Masa was awesome. Very knowledgeable. The lunch was amazing and the location was so serene.”

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13.Kyoto Arashiyama Rickshaw Tour with Bamboo Forest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 354 reviews · from $86

You’ll ride a private rickshaw through Arashiyama with an English-speaking guide such as Ocean, Yoshi, or Hikaru, then walk into the most famous bamboo grove. Choose a 1 or 2-hour route, stop at Nonomiya Shrine and quiet temple areas, and have your guide take photos. The rickshaw offers shade, but you still walk up and down a steep slope.

“Amazing trip and guide!! Totally excellent!! Would definitely do it again the next time we visit here!!!”

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14.Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $106

Meet your English-speaking guide at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a four-hour ride through Arashiyama. You’ll cycle standard Cannondale city bikes to Iwatayama Monkey Park, the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji’s Sogenchi Garden, and Togetsukyo Bridge. Guides such as Yuki, Rob, Peter, and Ray add local history, culture, photos, and practical help along the way.

“This tour is unique and fun yet gives insight into Japanese culture and their way of life. Highly recommend doing this tour.”

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15.Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 265 reviews · from $69

This roughly nine-hour English-guided trip links Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Kinkaku-ji, and Nara Park by coach from Kyoto or Osaka. Expect a traditional lunch if selected, entry options for Kinkaku-ji and Todai-ji, and guides such as Eiko, Yuki, Jewel, or Maki depending on the date. The schedule is full, so bring good walking shoes.

“I enjoyed all the spots. The guide was very kind and informative on where I could find things. She told us even about the local stories about some sacred sites.”

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