Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Monkeys

Ride past the tourist rush to Kyoto's quieter temples and forest soundscapes

An afternoon bicycle tour of Arashiyama, Kyoto, that covers the Sagano bamboo forest, Tenryuji Temple gardens, Togetsukyo Bridge and a 20-minute walk up Iwatayama Mountain to the monkey park and a panoramic view of the city. A native English-speaking guide leads the four-hour route, which includes bike rental, helmet, admission fees and bottled water. Children must be at least 10 years old.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon tour of Arashiyama highlights

• Walk 20 minutes up Iwata mountain
• Visit Iwatayama Monkey Park
• Explore bamboo forest
• Stroll Tenryuji Temple garden
• View Togetsukyo Bridge and landscape

The Experience

The tour starts in the afternoon, which means you avoid the peak hours when tour groups crowd the bamboo forest and temple grounds. You'll ride through Arashiyama on roads that once connected sub-temples of the World Heritage Tenryuji Zen Temple, then lock the bike and walk up Iwatayama Mountain for 20 minutes to reach the monkey park at the summit. On a clear day the view of Kyoto spreads below you; the park itself sits quiet enough that monkey sightings are possible without the chaos of a midday arrival.

The bamboo section of Sagano is the heart of the afternoon. The forest's soundscape—the way the stalks move and creak in wind—is counted among Japan's top acoustic experiences, and the guide will walk you through it at a pace that lets you actually hear it instead of rushing through for photos. Afterward you'll stroll the gardens at Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto's most celebrated, and finish at Togetsukyo Bridge, the arched wooden span that frames Arashiyama's mountain backdrop and sits at the center of every postcard of the region.

The bike is a standard Cannondale city model with a helmet and water bottle included; e-bikes and youth bikes are available if you request them when you book, though an additional fee applies. Your guide speaks English natively and handles all admission fees, so you move between stops without stopping to buy tickets. The route covers roughly four hours total, though the pace is moderate—this is sightseeing on two wheels, not a fitness test.

What’s included

• Bicycle and helmet.
• bottled water.
• admission to Tenryuji Temple, Iwatayama Monkey Park and all stops.
• native English-speaking guide for the full four hours.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Kyoto Bike Tour

Is this one for you?Book this for a free afternoon in Kyoto when you want to see the major Arashiyama sights without fighting the morning crowds—the late start and bike pace mean you move through the bamboo forest and temples when they're actually quiet.

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Top questions

What's the Sagano bamboo forest actually like when you're riding through it?

Sagano is a grove of tall bamboo stalks that creates one of Japan's most distinctive soundscapes—the creaking and rustling as the stalks move in the wind is what makes it memorable, not just the look of it. The guide walks you through at a pace where you can actually listen instead of rushing past.

Do I need to be fit to do this bike tour, or is it casual?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness; it includes a 20-minute uphill walk to Iwatayama Mountain on top of the cycling. The bike itself is a standard city model, not a mountain bike, so the riding is flat and easy—the climb is the main physical demand.

What happens at Iwatayama Mountain and the monkey park?

You walk 20 minutes uphill to reach the Iwatayama Monkey Park at the summit, where you'll have a panoramic view of Kyoto City spread below. Monkey sightings are possible, especially in the afternoon when the crowds have thinned, and the view alone makes the climb worthwhile on a clear day.

Is the afternoon start time really that much quieter than a morning tour?

Yes—the bamboo forest and major temples see their heaviest foot traffic in the morning and early afternoon. Starting in the late afternoon means you're moving through these spaces when most tour groups have already left, which changes the experience significantly.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes the bike, helmet, bottled water, a native English-speaking guide and all admission fees to the temples and monkey park. You just show up; the guide handles the tickets. Bring comfortable clothes and shoes you can walk in, since there's a 20-minute uphill section.

Can children go on this tour?

Children must be at least 10 years old to participate. Youth bikes are available upon request if you're bringing a younger teenager, though an additional fee may apply.