Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park tour highlights

Bamboo stalks, temple gardens, wild monkeys, and mountain views in one morning

This guided tour covers the highlights of Saga-Arashiyama, the western part of Kyoto, starting from Kyoto Station with a less-than-20-minute train ride. You walk through the Bamboo Forest, explore Tenryuji Temple's pond gardens, trek the hillside villa of Okochi Sanso, stroll the Kimono Forest's 600 textile pillars, cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, and hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park to observe and feed over 120 wild Japanese macaques. The tour includes entry to Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, and the Monkey Park, plus a guide and a lunch break with local Japanese foods. Children from age 5 are welcome. The hike to the monkey park takes 20 to 30 minutes uphill.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tenryu-ji Temple30m · entry included
2. Togetsukyo Bridge15m

Explore Arashiyama and Surroundings

• Meet at Kyoto Station
• Board train to Saga-Arashiyama
• Walk through Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Visit Nonomiya Shrine
• Walk through Tenryu-ji Temple gardens
• Explore Okochi Sanso hillside villa and gardens
• Stroll through Kimono Forest walkway
• Cross Togetsukyo Bridge
• Hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park
• Observe and feed snow monkeys
• Enjoy panoramic mountain views of Kyoto

The experience

The day starts at Kyoto Station and moves quickly: you board a train together and travel less than 20 minutes into Arashiyama. From there, the guide leads you on foot through a series of stops that shift between dense forest, manicured gardens, and open mountain views. The Bamboo Forest comes first: towering stalks create a quiet, enclosed space where the path narrows and the light filters green overhead. Your guide explains the cultural weight of the place as you walk through it.

Next is Nonomiya Shrine, a small Shinto shrine tucked into the bamboo grove itself, followed by Tenryuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk the pond gardens and see the Arashiyama mountains framed across the water. Okochi Sanso, a hillside villa built over 30 years by actor Denjiro Okochi, sits higher up. You trek the hill gardens and reach the summit for panoramic views of Kyoto, Mount Hiei, and the Hozu River gorge. The Kimono Forest, a walkway of 600 glowing pillars wrapped in traditional textiles, offers a different kind of stop: color and stillness in one. You cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, where the Katsura River flows beneath and the mountains rise beyond, then break for lunch with local Japanese foods and sweets before the final push.

The hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park takes 20 to 30 minutes uphill on a well-maintained trail. At the summit, over 120 wild Japanese macaques roam freely. You can observe them and feed them in their natural forest habitat while taking in panoramic views of Kyoto city and the surrounding mountains. The whole tour runs about 5.5 hours. You'll need to bring your own train ticket or pass (Icoca, Suica, or Pasmo) to cover the initial journey from Kyoto Station into Arashiyama.

What’s included

• Entry to Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, and Iwatayama Monkey Park.
• a local guide throughout the day.
• lunch with local Japanese foods and sweets.
• unlimited green tea at Okochi Sanso.
• the ability to feed and observe wild Japanese macaques in their natural habitat.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:50

AgesAdult (16 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

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.

Paid on siteJP¥ 244

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ME Kyoto Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're starting from Kyoto Station and want a guided morning covering Arashiyama's forest, temples, and monkey park in one loop: the 20-to-30-minute hill trek to the monkey park is the main physical demand, so come ready to climb.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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's the hike like to reach the monkey park?

The trail to Iwatayama Monkey Park takes 20 to 30 minutes to ascend on a well-maintained path. You'll spot monkeys along the way and reach a forest summit where over 120 wild Japanese macaques live freely. The panoramic views of Kyoto city and the mountains open up once you arrive at the top.

Do I need to arrange my own train ticket to get to Arashiyama?

Yes, you bring your own train ticket or pass (Icoca, Suica, or Pasmo). The tour meets at Kyoto Station, and you board the train together with the group for a less-than-20-minute ride into the Arashiyama district.

What is Tenryuji Temple like?

Tenryuji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk through Zen-designed gardens centered on a tranquil pond, with artfully placed stones and seasonal plants set against the backdrop of the Arashiyama mountains. The path winds peacefully through the grounds, and entry is included in the tour.

Is there time for lunch, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, the tour includes a lunch break where you can indulge in local Japanese foods and sweets. The break happens midway through the day, after the Kimono Forest and before the hike to the monkey park.

What makes Okochi Sanso special?

Okochi Sanso is a hillside villa and garden built over 30 years by famed actor Denjiro Okochi. You trek the hill gardens and reach the summit for sweeping panoramic views of Kyoto, Mount Hiei, and the Hozu River gorge. Entry is included in the tour.