Japan · ARASHIYAMA AND THE BAMBOO GROVE
16 reviewed
Japan runs on reservations, so start here: the 15 arashiyama & bamboo grove tours worth your dates, with what each one costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Read the top three, then book whichever fits your calendar.
Kyoto by coach in 9 hours, hitting Fushimi Inari torii tunnel, Kinkakuji, bamboo grove, and World Heritage temples with an English guide.
“Den is an amazing guide, she truly made our day special. We really enjoyed the tour today, learning new historical information on Japanese history in Kyoto. Thank you so much for an amazing day.”
Osaka or Kyoto day trip hitting Nara deer, Todai-ji, Arashiyama bamboo, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari, with optional Kobe lunch.
“Nice trip and we had a funny guide Harry. We had beautiful day. Thank you”
A smooth bus day from Osaka to Kyoto, with Nara deer, the Fushimi Inari torii tunnel, and Arashiyama bamboo plus optional Tenryuji.
“amazing bus tour with the guide Christine 🤗The places we visited were interesting and Christine is very nice (she even helped me pick my own kimono ☺️) and a good guide!! I recommend it, we had so much fun and going by bus makes it comfortable.”
Arashiyama bamboo and monkey hike with included tickets to Tenryu-ji, Okochi Sanso, and Togetsukyo bridge, in a small group.
“I am glad we booked this because it was easier to be guided in a place as big as this where you don't know where to go or what to see first.”
Kyoto’s Arashiyama highlights in one guided walking loop: bamboo grove, private Okochi Sanso garden, Tenryuji, monkeys, and big river views.
“Best tour ive been on so far. Interesting and stunning scenery. Would highly reccomend. Guide was interesting and instructions were easy.”
Walk Arashiyama highlights in a 4 to 4.5 hour loop: Tenryu-ji, bamboo forest, matcha, Togetsu-kyo Bridge, and Monkey Park views.
“The bamboo forest felt so peaceful, and we couldn’t stop laughing at those silly monkeys at the park.”
Spend a full day seeing Arashiyama bamboo, Nara deer and Todaiji, then Fushimi Inari torii, with a Kobe shabu-shabu lunch included.
“Gary's kindness and attentiveness were highly appreciated. The itinerary was consistently adhered to, and the destinations were exceptional, with Gary's recommendations proving valuable.”
One day Kyoto highlights by bus, with a bilingual guide, early Arashiyama bamboo access, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu, Fushimi Inari.
“We had a wonderful (and sweaty!) time on this all day tour with Paula and her driver, Nishimura-san. She was a great tour guide and balanced out giving good information with allowing us to explore on our own. I highly recommend going on thiRead more”
Kyoto at night turns the bamboo sinister. A small-group ghost walk with a drink, urban legends, and a solo dark stroll.
“Great experience! Aron really sets the mood of a frightening night going and you get to experience the forest in a different light”
Early Kyoto cycling in Arashiyama, with a private guide, Bamboo Forest Street, Tenryu-ji Zen garden, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
“This is a nice way to get to see the area. We learned a lot from our guide. The gardens at the temple by the bamboo forest were amazing. You cover way more area on the bike versus walking. Communication was excellent, the company was very organized.”
Private customizable rickshaw through Arashiyama, bamboo forest access, temples and quiet backstreets. From 45 to 190 minutes.
“I liked the facts/info our guide offered us along the ride. He was very friendly, very careful & very respectful.”
Small-group Arashiyama walk with bamboo forest, Hokyoin and Tenryu-ji, included entrance fees, Kyoto lunch, matcha snack, and guide photos.
“This was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we learned a lot about Japanese religion and history. She took us to off-the-beaten-path locations, including a temple with the most beautiful, serene garden, and a garden with amazing views of the city and mountains. We also visited a famous shrine. And of course, the bamboo forest, which is really something to see. We went early enough that it wasn't too crowded. The tour included a delicious vegetarian kaiseki lunch, and our guide explained what everything was and how to eat it. The pace of the tour was perfect for the very hot weather,…”
A private Kyoto Arashiyama rickshaw through bamboo, plus a short walk to the best photo spots, shrine stops, and guide-led picture help.
“Aki was a wonderful tour guide. He happily shared information about Arashiyama and the Bamboo Forest and took fantastic photos for us. We would recommend this tour, it is a unique way to experience this magical location.”
A 4-hour Kyoto bike tour in Arashiyama with Japanese macaques, the bamboo forest, and quieter temple stops for great photos.
“Our guide Yuki was outstanding, he was very knowledgeable and made the whole tour interesting and more importantly fun. We got to see and learn so much about Kyoto, the Monkeys, the Bamboo forest and the Gardens are a must see.”
Kyoto and Nara in one day, with Sagano bamboo, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, and Todaiji Great Buddha, plus deer-feeding in Nara Park.
“Good example of a perfect guided day trip. Entertaining, informative, beautiful scenery, not too packed schedule. Eiko is an amazing and very knowledgeable guide, she provided us with background information on all the sites while traveling + a detailed plan in case anyone got lost and needed to find their way back. On top of that, she was able to get the whole group deer crackers in Nara at 4pm when all the stores had already been sold out. Thanks so much for the unforgettable experience!”
