Kyoto Arashiyama: Bamboo Forest & Hidden Temple Walking Tour

Walk past the crowds to Kyoto's secret temples and eat inside a World Heritage site

You walk through the Bamboo Forest and two hidden temples, learn how to read Japanese gardens from a certified guide, and eat a Michelin-rated Zen lunch inside Tenryu-ji Temple's World Heritage grounds. The tour lasts a half-day, includes photos and guide commentary, and ends positioned to continue exploring Arashiyama on your own time.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the Arashiyama highlights — the Bamboo Forest, hidden temples, and a proper cultural meal — without arranging transport, temple entries, or timing yourself; the fixed itinerary and certified guide handle all three in a single half-day.

What’s included

Certified MagicalTrip guide, entry to two temples and one garden (including Tenryu-ji Temple World Heritage site), Michelin-rated Shojin Ryori lunch inside Tenryu-ji Temple gardens, guided commentary on Japanese garden philosophy, and photos throughout the tour. Public transportation is available nearby if needed.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore hidden temples and gardens

• Visit hidden moss garden temple
• Discover hidden gems
• Walk through bamboo forest
• Ascend to private mountain villa
• Tour Tenryu-ji Temple gardens
• Enjoy Michelin-rated Zen vegetarian lunch
• End at souvenir street or Togetsukyo Bridge

The Experience

By the time most visitors reach the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the path is already packed. This tour starts earlier and goes sideways — you'll walk through the towering stalks for photos, yes, but then your guide leads you away from the main trail to a hidden temple enclosed by mud walls and surrounded by maple trees. The moss garden there is the kind of place that makes you understand why Japanese gardens don't need symmetry. It's called Wabi-Sabi, the beauty of imperfection, and you'll see it in the soft green covering every stone.

After the temple, you climb to a private mountain villa and garden that sits like a fortress overlooking the whole Arashiyama valley and Kyoto City beyond. The paths wind through Japanese garden design that feels less built and more discovered — art blending into wild nature. Your guide explains how to read these gardens, how they work differently than Western ones, and why that matters. Then you descend to Tenryu-ji Temple, a World Heritage site, where lunch is waiting inside the temple gardens themselves. It's Shojin Ryori — traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, Michelin-rated — and it arrives as a multi-course experience, not just a meal. The restaurant is inside the temple grounds, so you're eating where monks have eaten for centuries.

The walk covers roughly four kilometers over a half-day, moving between these three spaces: the hidden temple with its moss garden, the mountain villa with the panoramic view, and Tenryu-ji Temple where you eat and see the World Heritage gardens with your guide's commentary. You finish at Togetsukyo Bridge, the heart of Arashiyama, which means you can keep going if you want — the Monkey Park is nearby, or an onsen if your legs need it. The tour won a TripAdvisor Best of the Best award in 2025, which matters less than the fact that it's built to skip the lines and the crowds without skipping the actual experience.

Top questions

How long is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Temple tour?

It's a half-day experience, roughly 4 kilometers of walking across the morning or afternoon.

What's included in the lunch?

Michelin-rated Shojin Ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) served inside Tenryu-ji Temple gardens. Vegan and gluten-free options available with at least one day's notice.

Is this tour suitable for beginners or people new to Kyoto?

Yes. The guide teaches you how to read Japanese gardens and explains the philosophy behind each space, so you don't need prior knowledge.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be arranged if you request at least one day before the tour. Requests made on the tour day cannot be guaranteed.

Where does the tour end?

At Tenryu-ji Temple in the heart of Arashiyama. From there you can visit the Monkey Park, relax at a nearby onsen, or shop for souvenirs.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes for long distances and respectful clothing suitable for Buddhist and Shinto temples (covered shoulders and knees).

Is there an alternative if the Michelin restaurant is fully booked?

Yes. If Shojin Ryori is unavailable, the tour includes lunch at another historic restaurant established in 1965, famous for Kyoto tofu cuisine in a traditional Sukiya-style room.

Can I take photos during the tour?

Yes. Photos are included as part of the experience, especially at the Bamboo Forest and the panoramic villa garden.