Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkey or Local Mountain Brewery
Description
Experience the timeless charm of Arashiyama on this immersive journey through nature, culture, and tradition. BAMBOO GROVE Walk beneath the soaring bamboo of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and visit the sacred Nonomiya Shrine OKOCHI SANSO GARDEN Explore the elegant Okochi Sanso Garden, where matcha and other drinks are served, hot or cold, in its former tea house. The drinks are included in the tour. TENRYUJI TEMPLE Discover the Zen beauty of Tenryu-ji, Breathtaking zen buddhist temple that belongs to the branch of Rinzai. Then, choose between OPTION A and OPTION B OPTION A Stroll along Arashiyama Shopping Street, grab a snack, admire the colorful Kimono Forest, cross the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, and enjoy panoramic views at Iwatayama Monkey Park. OPTION B Go back to the train station for a short ride through the mountain, and go for a lovely lunch among locals with zero tourists. Visit the prestigious Tanzan Brewery, with sake tasting included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the bamboo grove and reach the top of Arashiyama park
Take your time to enjoy the private Okochi Sanso garden, sit and take a deep breath, with a beverage served in a former tea house turned into a rest area.
Explore one of the most famous temples in the city, indoors and outdoors, and admire the Koi fish in the pond. Enjoy nature around you and learn more about the place you are visiting.
OPTION A Stop at every single shop you want to discover that amazing shopping street in Arashiyama, and ask your guide to assist you with anything.
OPTION A Besides the bamboo grove, this is probably the second most popular spot for a picture with the Katsura river, and the Majestic view of this iconic bridge.
OPTION A After the tour ends, and leaving your guide with happy memories full of bamboo and wonderful stories, hike up the hill and explore the monkey park. That place is especially thrilling for families and kids.
OPTION B Leave the tourists behind you, and go back to the train station with your guide to Kameoka, an area located on the other side of the mountain. After arriving at Kameoka, take a well-deserved rest with a local lunch (budget not included, around ¥1,500).
OPTION B Our journey culminates at the prestigious Tanzan Sake Brewery, renowned for its craftsmanship and dedication to traditional brewing methods. Here, you will learn about the delicate process of sake production — from rice polishing and fermentation to maturation. Please note: some sections of the brewery may not be accessible depending on the brewing season and production schedule. This ensures both quality control and safety during active brewing periods. The experience concludes with a guided sake tasting, where you will savor different varieties and discover the subtle aromas, textures, and flavors that make premium Japanese sake so distinctive. Non-alcohol alternative possible, but limited to one or two types of drinks.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- ⚠️PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY⚠️
- OTHER LANGUAGES (FRENCH / GERMAN / SPANISH) Some guides from our team can speak more than English and Japanese, but we cannot guarantee a specific language other than English on a shared tour. To confirm the availability of your preferred language on the date you wish to book our tour, Please contact us prior to your booking. Thank you.
- While single travelers can book this tour directly, there is a "2 guests minimum" rule to give the tour a GO. in case of a single guest, the session might be cancelled and the guest will be notify as soon as possible, offering a rescheduling, or a full-refund.
- This is NOT a private tour. It's a group tour that can have up to 12 people.
- Please note that this is a WALKING TOUR, not a bus tour.
- Please note, this tour is APPROXIMATELY 5 hours, meaning it can differ by around 30 minutes before or after the estimated time.
- The access to the top of the Monkey Park consists of a short hike (15-20 minutes) through a steep path. Please get comfortable shoes and make sure you are in a reasonable physical condition to do it. Thank you.
- Please get to the meeting location 15 minutes before the departure time. As we have other groups in the tour, we cannot accept any late guests. If you are late to the tour, YOU CANNOT JOIN the tour and will not be given a refund.
- Our Hotline will reach out to you through what's app on departure time if you have not arrived, so please download WhatsApp prior to this tour. This will make any last minute communication easier between the guide and the guests.
Reviews(268)
Toru is a great guide and is very knowledgeable about and conveys a genuine appreciation for the history of the area. He’s got a great personality and made walking through the bamboo much more interesting than it would have been without a guide, even showing us often missed sections with great views.
Excellent tour with a well-read and truly knowledgeable tour guide in German. It was really relaxed and incredibly informative compared to our previous tours. All questions were not only answered but also placed in the context of history. Highly recommended!! Ulli & Katrin
Vielen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Fünf-Sterne-Bewertung! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Tour so gut gefallen hat und dass Sie die Geschichte und Kultur Japans auf eine entspannte und informative Weise erleben konnten. Tom wird sich bestimmt sehr über Ihre freundlichen Worte freuen. Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre Erfahrungen mit uns zu teilen. Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich für Japan Tour Adventure entschieden haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder in Japan begrüßen zu dürfen! Mit herzlichen Grüßen ⛩️ Ayumi / JTA Team
Agustin was a great guide through Arashiyama. We were picked up at the train station in a small group of 7 people as described, and everyone could ask questions individually. On-site, we also had opportunities to go exploring on our own, and he captured the most beautiful photo opportunities for us. Completely satisfied!
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie Ihre Zeit in Arashiyama mit Augustin so genossen haben. Er wird sich sehr über Ihre netten Worte freuen. Besonders schön ist zu hören, dass Ihnen die kleine Gruppengröße, die entspannte Atmosphäre sowie die Möglichkeit, den Ort auch auf eigene Faust zu erkunden, gefallen haben. Dass Augustin zudem die schönsten Erinnerungsfotos für Sie festgehalten hat, macht uns besonders glücklich. Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich für Japan Tour Adventure entschieden haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bei Ihrem nächsten Japanbesuch wieder begrüßen zu dürfen! Mit herzlichen Grüßen ⛩️ Ayumi JTA Team
Our guide Karim made this worth its money. He knew all the best picture spot. We had a great time, thank you so much
Thank you so much for your wonderful 10/10 review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great time exploring Arashiyama with Karim. He will be very happy to know that his guidance and knowledge of the best photo spots made the tour such a worthwhile experience for you. Thank you for choosing Japan Tour Adventure. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan! Warmest regards ⛩️ JTA Team
Super tour guide, with a lot of knowledge (even off the tour) and was able to manage the tour perfectly in German - engages with all individuals including children and is highly recommended!
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre großartige Bewertung! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Tour so gut gefallen hat und dass Ihr Guide Sie mit seinem umfangreichen Wissen – auch über die eigentliche Tour hinaus – begeistern konnte. Besonders schön ist es zu hören, dass die Tour auf Deutsch hervorragend organisiert war und auf alle Teilnehmer, einschließlich der Kinder, individuell eingegangen wurde. Vielen Dank für Ihre Empfehlung! Wir hoffen, Sie bei einer weiteren Tour in Japan wieder begrüßen zu dürfen. Mit herzlichen Grüßen ⛩️ Ayumi JTA Team
What an incredible experience! Toro was an absolutely amazing guide! He took us through the breathtaking Arashiyama Forest, a beautiful temple, and a stunning Japanese garden in Kyoto. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he kept everyone laughing throughout the tour. He even amazed us with a fun magic trick, which was such a unique touch! Toro is knowledgeable, friendly, and truly passionate about what he does. He made every stop interesting and memorable. If you're visiting Kyoto, I can't recommend this tour—and especially Toro as your guide—highly enough. Thank you for an unforgettable day!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a memorable experience exploring Arashiyama with Toro. He will be thrilled to know that his enthusiasm, knowledge, and sense of humor made the tour so enjoyable for you. We're especially happy that his little magic trick added an extra touch of fun and made your day even more unforgettable! Thank you for your wonderful recommendation. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on another Japan Tour Adventure in the future! Warmest regards, Ayumi JTA Team ⛩️
Our guide Raphael welcomed us very kindly and provided us with a wealth of knowledge about the culture/religion, the sights, and the growth of bamboo throughout the tour. He also gave us great recommendations for local dishes and snacks along the way. There was also plenty of time to collect stamps :) The stop at the tea house with various types of tea to try was also great. Thank you very much for the informative morning with great views over Kyoto.
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie den Vormittag mit Raphael genossen haben. Er wird sich sehr darüber freuen, dass Sie seine Erklärungen zur japanischen Kultur, Religion und den Sehenswürdigkeiten sowie seine Informationen über den Bambus so interessant fanden. Auch Ihre netten Worte zu seinen Empfehlungen für lokale Speisen und Snacks sowie zum Besuch des Teehauses werden ihm viel bedeuten. Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich für Japan Tour Adventure entschieden haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bei Ihrem nächsten Besuch in Japan wieder auf einer Tour begrüßen zu dürfen! Mit herzlichen Grüßen ⛩️ Ayumi JTA Team
This was a great sample of Kyoto and a great way to get out of the city. Our multigenerational family of 10 enjoyed learning about the history of the places we visited, having some leisure in addition to the guided parts, and Tom, our guide, was incredibly patient, kind, and spoke terrific English! Highly recommend this tour, especially with Tom. Be advised the monkey park, which was so neat to see, is about a 15-20 minute walk up a steep hill. However, if monkeys aren’t your thing, the views alone are worthwhile.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your multigenerational family of 10 had such a great time exploring Arashiyama together. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the mix of guided sightseeing and free time, and that learning about Kyoto's history made the experience even more meaningful. Tom will be especially happy to hear your kind words. His patience, kindness, and excellent English are qualities we're very proud of, and we're glad they helped make your day so enjoyable. We also appreciate you mentioning the walk to the Monkey Park—it will certainly help future travelers prepare while reassuring them that the incredible views are well worth the climb. Thank you for your high recommendation and for choosing Japan Tour Adventure. We hope to welcome your family back for another unforgettable experience in Japan! Warmest regards, Ayumi JTA Team ⛩️
We got lucky the bamboo forest was super empty, but we were through there and the temple park pretty fast. In the Zen Garden we spend a litte more time. Raphael was a super informative guide with great English. He also took really nice pictures of us and was overall fun to be around. We ended up being a small group of four people. The organisation and visit of the monkey park were really good. Our guide Raphael also gave us great recommendations for the rest of the day and where the food was good. Definitely recommended for it's price.
We had a great time in the bamboo forest and the monkey park. The tour guide (Matheus) was patient and friendly. My husband has a bad back and had to stop frequently. It was a very rainy day to boot. The monkey park was worth climbing for!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Bamboo Forest and found the climb to the Monkey Park worthwhile, even on such a rainy day 🌿🐒 We especially appreciate your kind words about Matheus. He will be very happy to hear that his friendliness and support helped make the experience enjoyable for both of you. We hope your husband’s back is feeling better, and we wish you many more wonderful adventures in Japan! Warmest regards ⛩️ Ayumi, JTA Team
