Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Fushimi-Inari and Arashiyama
Description
Early morning is the key to avoid the crowds during peak tourist seasons! Hit three of the top historical attractions, Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Bamboo Grove, and Tenryu-ji Temple with our English speaking tour guide! ⚠️ Prior to the tour, please ensure that WhatsApp or SMS is available for easy communication. Our tour guide will use these platforms to contact you. ⚠️ Please note: The earlier the start time, the fewer crowds we will encounter—if you value a peaceful, uncrowded experience, we recommend booking the earliest time slots available. ✅ This is an English Guided Walking Tour which requires about 9,000 steps. We will use public transportation to visit each location(transportation fee NOT included). ✅ Visit Three Highlights, Fushimi-Inari-Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Groove, Tenryu-ji Zen-Buddhism Temple. ✅ Learn about the rich history of each location with our friendly and knowledgeable guide. ✅ Receive travel tips and good restaurant recommendations from our guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the spiritual heart of Kyoto at Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates. Hike through the enchanting paths that lead up Mount Inari, surrounded by a deep sense of history, spirituality and nature. This iconic Shinto shrine is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, agriculture, and business. Visitors come to pray for success, health, and happiness while exploring smaller shrines, stone fox statues, and scenic viewpoints.
Step into a world of tranquility and natural beauty at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto. Wander through towering bamboo groves that stretch towards the sky, creating a serene and otherworldly atmosphere. As sunlight filters through the dense canopy, the soft rustle of bamboo leaves and the gentle sway of the tall stalks will transport you to a place of peace and reflection.
Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the heart of Kyoto's Arashiyama district. Renowned for its exquisite Zen garden and stunning views of the surrounding mountains, Tenryu-ji offers a serene escape into Japan's rich cultural heritage. Stroll through the beautifully landscaped Sogenchi Teien, a pond garden designed to evoke the natural beauty of the region. The harmonious blend of water, rocks, and meticulously pruned trees creates a peaceful ambiance perfect for reflection and relaxation.
Togetsu Bridge, meaning “Moon Crossing Bridge,” is a historic wooden bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto, spanning the Katsura River. Originally built during the Heian Period, the current structure dates back to 1934. The bridge is renowned for its scenic beauty, especially during cherry blossom season in spring and the vibrant autumn foliage. It offers stunning views of the Katsura River and surrounding hills, making it a popular spot for visitors. Nearby attractions include bamboo groves and temples, adding to the area’s charm and cultural significance.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(259)
A great day in the pleasant Company of our kind guide, Beck!
The tour was great! Beck showed us around Kyoto and its temples. We had an in depth explanation about culture, history and customs on every stop. I would definitely recommend the experience to anyone!
We had a wonderful time on this excursion with our guide, Hiro! We did the 7:15am start time, which was perfect (less crowded), but it started getting pretty hot & humid by the end of our trip. Nara Deer Park was a hit with our group & Hiro gave us clear instructions regarding how to bow & feed the deer, along with what not to do (run) when the deer started to get aggressive about getting crackers. Hiro showed us his favorite spots for pictures & was patient while we snapped away. He was a wealth of knowledge throughout the tour! All in all, we agreed that Hiro made this an AMAZING excursion!
This was a great tour lead by our tour guide Beck. He was so informative, very kind, patient with all our questions and very accepting of our autistic son who quite happily talked to Beck almost the entire tour. Highly recommend this tour and if you can have Beck as your guide, you will not be disappointed.
Hiro was an excellent tour guide! As a Kyoto native, he offered unique insights and personal experiences on Japanese history, culture, and contemporary lifestyle. He shared a wide variety of fun facts and stories ranging from traditions to must-have foods, all complemented by his humor and easygoing personality. Hiro led us through the Kyoto railway system seamlessly from point-to-point. We enjoyed the route we took through the Fushimi-Inari Shrine, and he encouraged us to explore without having to climb excessive stairs. At the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Hiro helped us to navigate the busy tourist area, allowing time for us to experience the beauty of the forest. A 30-minute coffee break is slotted in to get refreshments and rest, before heading to the peaceful Togetsukyo Bridge and the Tenryu-Ji Temple. The tour was an incredible experience, and Hiro was very hospitable in offering to take each group’s pictures at the best spots. We walked away with so much more knowledge and appreciation for Kyoto’s rich history and culture, and would recommend it anyone and everyone!
We enjoyed our tour with guide Beck - he was very friendly, honest, provided a lot of new information about Kyoto and Japanese culture.
Beck is an amazing tour guide. He is very knowledgeable about Japan and all the sites we visited. He is also very personable and friendly. He ask our family questions to get to know us better. He is also an awesome photographer! He knew the best spots at each location to take the best photos of our family and was very skillful with the phone camera to capture the best images. Overall, I would highly recommend Beck as a tour guide as he was very helpful and friendly.
Our tour guide, Beck, was excellent! He was prompt and clear about where to meet at Kyoto station. He was very knowledgeable when explaining about the culture and religion in Japan, especially the difference between Buddhism and Shintoism. He brought us to the best spots for taking pictures which I would have never found on my own. Thank you, Beck!!
Beck was a fantastic tour guide! He was patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable. His insights into the landmarks we visited were impressive, and he struck the perfect balance between sharing historical information and adding humor along the way. Beck was engaging, personable, and made everyone feel comfortable, which made the day both enjoyable and memorable. We highly recommend this tour, especially if you have the opportunity to tour with Beck!
What a wonderful tour this was, our guide Beck was so informative. The pick up spot was easy to find, Beck sent through easy to follow instructions. We started spot on time and luckily only 3 of us on the tour. Beck helped us easily navigate the train to our first stop the Fushimi Inari Shrine, being their at 6.45am was fabulous as it was quiet, peaceful and only a few people around, magical! Beck explained it all to us. Great photo opportunities at every turn! Our next stop was the bamboo forest which again because we were there early was spectacular as no one was there, just us, Beck taught us how to take wonderful pics here as well. Our last stop was Tenryu -ji temple and magnificent gardens. Beck had all the information about all the places we visited and spending the morning with him was fantastic. It was lots of walking and better to go early this time of year as it did get very warm towards the end. Thank you Beck you are a wonderful guide
