Arashiyama Walking Tour with Optional Sagano Romantic Train

Bamboo groves and temple gardens without the crowds of central Kyoto

This four-hour walking tour of Arashiyama combines Kyoto's most recognizable natural and cultural sites in a single morning or afternoon. An English-speaking guide leads you through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the UNESCO-listed Tenryu Temple, stops at Togetsukyo Bridge for photographs, and includes a street food walk sampling local specialties. The optional Sagano Romantic Train adds a 25-minute scenic ride through maple season landscapes, bookable at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Arashiyama Park50m
2. Tenryu-ji Temple30m · entry included
3. Togetsukyo Bridge30m

Explore Arashiyama and Kyoto highlights

• Ride Sagano Romantic Train
• Visit Hair God Shrine
• Walk through Bamboo Forest
• Explore Tenryu-ji Temple
• View Togetsukyo Bridge
• Relax at Arashiyama Park

The experience

The tour starts in Arashiyama, the district west of central Kyoto where the Katsura River cuts through forested hillsides and the bamboo groves rise tall enough to block the sky. You walk through the towering stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (the narrow paths keep groups moving at a steady pace), then move into the quieter grounds of Tenryu Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 14th century with Zen gardens that shift with the seasons. Entrance to the temple is included. Your guide explains the layout and the history without rushing you through.

Between the major stops, you'll wander down the side streets where vendors sell takoyaki, dango, and other Kyoto street foods, so you can taste what locals eat rather than sit down for a formal meal. Togetsukyo Bridge comes next: a wooden arch that frames the river and the wooded banks, and the spot where most photographs of Arashiyama get taken. The tour ends in Arashiyama Park, where the pace slows and you have time to absorb the landscape before heading back.

If you book the train option, the Sagano Romantic Train ride slots into the itinerary as a 25-minute journey through the river valley, particularly striking in maple season when the hillsides turn red and gold. The train itself is the draw (an open-air observation car with large windows) rather than a separate destination, so the ride functions as both transport and a moment to sit and look. Without the train, you'll walk the same sites and return by local transit. Both versions include the guide, the temple entry, and the street food stops.

What’s included

• English-speaking tour guide.
• entrance fees to Tenryu Temple.
• access to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama Park.
• street food sampling along the walking route.
• the Sagano Romantic Train ride (if you select the train option at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Private TourGuide in English · 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00Meeting point: Torokko Arashiyama Station, 4-2 Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamachō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8394, Japan

Private tour including a train rideGuide in English · 12:00Includes a Sagano train ride. Departure point: Umahori Station, Rokunotsubo-29 Shinochōumahori, Kameoka, Kyoto 621-0823, Japan

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TripGuru

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour without the train if you want to move at your own pace through the sites and sample street food without the time commitment of a scenic ride. Add the train option if you want a moment to sit and take in the maple season scenery from the observation car, particularly if you're visiting in autumn.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest actually like to walk through?

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a narrow grove of tall stalks that create a tunnel effect overhead, with the paths packed enough that you move steadily but not rushed. The bamboo is dense and uniform, so the light filters through in a way that photographs often capture better than the eye does in person, but the scale (the height and the density) is real and stays with you.

How much of the tour is walking versus sitting or standing still?

Most of the four hours involves walking at a moderate pace through the forest, temple grounds, and side streets. You'll pause at Togetsukyo Bridge for photographs and at Tenryu Temple to look at the gardens, and if you book the train option, you sit for the 25-minute ride. The pace is steady but not strenuous.

Can I do this tour if I'm not interested in the Sagano Romantic Train?

Yes. The private tour without the train includes all the same sites (the bamboo forest, Tenryu Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, the street food walk, and Arashiyama Park), and uses local transportation instead. You choose which option at checkout.

Is Tenryu Temple included in the price, or do I pay separately?

Tenryu Temple entrance is included in the tour price. No additional ticket purchase is needed at the gate.

What should I bring for a four-hour walking tour in Arashiyama?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as you'll be on your feet most of the time on temple grounds and forest paths. Bring water, sunscreen, and a light layer if the weather is cool. The bamboo forest stays shaded and can feel cooler than the open areas. A camera or phone is useful for Togetsukyo Bridge, though the guide will point out the best angles.