Top 10 Temple and Shrine Tours in Kyoto

1.Tea Ceremony Ju-An at Jotokuji Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,207 reviews · 1h 10m · from $29Our pick

Enter Jotokuji Temple, take part in a purification ritual, then learn the art of matcha in the Grand Tearoom. English-speaking hosts, including Kate and Taka, explain each step and guide you as you prepare your own tea. Expect a small group of up to 10, traditional sweets, floor seating, and a calm 70-minute workshop.

“The hosts of the tea ceremony were so very sweet, charming and kind. They took the time to explain every step of the matcha tea preparation carefully and then gave us the opportunity to prepare our own tea under their guidance. Very nice experience.”

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2.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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3.Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Monkeys, Matcha & Temple Tour

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

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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4.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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5.Ninnaji Temple Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 650 reviews · 1 day · from $5Best value

Spend a day exploring Ninnaji Temple, founded in 888 and known for late-blooming Omuro sakura, a five-story pagoda, Goten Palace gardens, and the two-hour Omuro Pilgrimage course. Optional tickets may include the Reihokan Museum, flower festival, or other special areas. A special guide inside Kannon-do may also be available.

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6.Kyoto Zen Meditation & Garden Tour at a Zen Temple with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 441 reviews · from $110

Spend four and a half hours exploring Kyoto’s Tofukuji area with a local guide such as Yutaka or Hikari. Visit Zen temples and a dry garden, learn zazen from a monk, and eat a traditional Buddhist lunch. The group is limited to seven people, with temple admissions included.

“The tour with yukasan and the group zen meditation, which was our first one, was an absolute highlight in Kyoto! We learned a lot about Shinto and Buddhism, enjoyed a very quiet temple and relaxed even more in a very authentic zen meRead more”

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7.Zen Experience in a Hidden Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 437 reviews · 2 hours · from $109

Meet at Myoshin-ji’s north gate for a short walk to Jusho-in, where Abbot Eitetsu Nishida leads two 20-minute zazen sessions. You’ll learn about Rinzai Zen, drink matcha, taste seasonal wagashi, and receive photos from the visit. English guidance, chairs, and small-group or private options are available.

“Wonderful experience in a lovely temple (and beautiful grounds). The two meditations were challenging in the best way, the tea experience was really unique and my husband and I loved telling everyone about it when we got back. the photos were a really nice touch and came out beautifully - they're such a special memory to take home with us.”

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8.KYOTO Tea Ceremony with kimono near by Imamiya Jinjya Shrine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 343 reviews · from $99

Choose a kimono from a Nishijin collection, have your hair styled, and learn tea ceremony customs from a tea master with 30 years of practice. This 90-minute Kyoto experience includes seasonal sweets, photos, commentary, and a chance to prepare your own tea near Daitokuji and Imamiya Shrine.

“If you have never done a formal tea tasting or dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, this is a must do experience!! Great photo ops, delicious matcha tea, great explanations of everything, overall a great experience! My only complaint wRead more”

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9.3-Hour Fushimi Inari Shrine Hidden Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 270 reviews · 3 hours · from $72

Start near Tofukuji Station and approach Fushimi Inari from the quiet back side of Mount Inari. Your English-speaking guide leads you through forest paths, bamboo groves, small shrines, and thousands of vermilion torii gates before finishing at the main shrine. Expect about 7 kilometers, steep steps, bugs, and a real hike rather than a casual stroll.

“My boyfriend and I enjoyed our with Nobu and Jimmy our tour guides. They were amazing people and made the journey around Fushimi Inari all the more enjoyable. Thank you!”

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10.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Matcha, Monkeys & secret spots

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $89

Spend about five hours exploring Arashiyama with a guide such as Toru, Karim, Tom, or Francis. Walk the bamboo grove, enter Okochi Sanso Garden for matcha, visit Tenryu-ji, cross Togetsukyo Bridge, and finish with a steep hike to Monkey Park Iwatayama. Expect a relaxed pace, local stories, shopping help, and plenty of walking.

“Our guide was excellent, set a good pace, very knowledgeable. The range of sites we visited was great. The monkey park was not our favorite and the hike up was something on a hot day, but the views of Kyoto from there were worth it.”

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