Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Sagano tour with licensed guide

Walk the bamboo groves and choose your temples

A six-hour customizable walking tour of Arashiyama and Sagano in Kyoto, led by a government-licensed English-speaking guide who covers entry fees for your chosen sites. You select 3 to 4 attractions from a list that includes the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, Jojakko-ji Temple with its moss gardens, and the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge, then walk them with your guide learning about Japanese culture and history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Togetsukyo Bridge
2. Sagano
3. Tenryu-ji Temple20m
4. Jojakko-ji Temple20m

Explore Arashiyama and Sagano highlights

• Visit Togetsukyo Bridge
• Walk through Arashiyama Park
• Explore Tenryu-ji Temple and gardens
• Stroll the Bamboo Grove paths
• See Jojakko-ji Temple and moss
• Visit secret local spots

The experience

The tour starts on foot in Kyoto, and you decide which sites matter most before you begin. A government-licensed guide meets you and leads the walk through Arashiyama and Sagano, the countryside district where aristocrats built villas over a thousand years ago. The guide speaks English and Japanese, knows the hidden spots tourists usually miss, and pays the entry fees for every site you've chosen. You cover only your own lunch and transport to the meeting point.

The list includes Tenryu-ji Temple, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples with walking paths through its gardens; the Bamboo Grove, where paths cut through tall stalks that sway in the wind; Jojakko-ji Temple on a mountainside with maple trees and moss; the Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama's central landmark built in the Heian Period and rebuilt in the 1930s; and Katsura Imperial Villa, where you follow a circular garden trail around a central pond and view palace buildings from the outside. Other options include Daikakuji, the former emperor's palace turned temple, and smaller hillside temples like Gioji, known for its moss garden and thatched-roof main hall with a round window into the gardens.

You walk the whole route, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The six hours includes walking time, time at each site, and conversation with your guide about what you're seeing. Lunch is on you, and you'll find restaurants and small shops throughout Arashiyama. Public transport runs nearby if you need it, and the tour is accessible to all fitness levels and wheelchair users.

What’s included

• Customizable walking tour of 3 to 4 sites you choose from temples, bamboo groves and imperial villas.
• licensed local English-speaking guide.
• entry fees for your selected attractions.
• meeting with your guide in Kyoto.

Information

Lasts 6h, runs every day, 10 start times, from JP¥ 22,000 per person, with a live guide in English and Japanese, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 and 13:001 earlier ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Guide Agency

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to build your own itinerary around Arashiyama's main sites rather than follow a fixed schedule: the guide adjusts the walk to the temples and landmarks that matter most to you.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 6): free.

What is the Bamboo Grove actually like to walk through?

The Sagano bamboo groves have walking paths that cut through tall stalks. They're most striking when there's a light wind and the bamboo sways. The bamboo has been used for centuries at local workshops to make baskets, cups, boxes and mats.

Can I really choose which temples and sites to visit?

Yes. You select 3 to 4 attractions from the list before the tour starts: Tenryu-ji, Jojakko-ji, Katsura Imperial Villa, the Togetsukyo Bridge, Daikakuji, Gioji and others are all options. Your guide's entry fees cover only the sites you choose.

What makes Tenryu-ji Temple stand out from other temples in Kyoto?

Tenryu-ji is ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples and is the largest and most impressive in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with temple buildings and attractive gardens with walking paths.

Does the guide explain the history while we walk?

Yes. Your guide is government-licensed and experienced in Japanese culture and history. You'll learn about the area's significance: Arashiyama was a popular destination since the Heian Period when nobles came to enjoy its natural setting.

What do I need to pay for myself on this tour?

You pay for your own lunch and any personal transport to the meeting point in Kyoto. The guide covers entry fees for the 3 to 4 sites you've selected. Transportation during the tour is on foot.