Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Hidden Garden Walking Tour
Description
Winner of TripAdvisor's "Best of the Best 2025" (Top 1% Worldwide). The ultimate Arashiyama half-day experience. Combine the must-see highlights with hidden gems and a world-class dining experience. 1. Hidden Temples & Bamboo Grove: We take you to the iconic Bamboo Forest for the perfect photo, but also escape to a "Secret Temple" with stunning moss gardens and a hillside villa with panoramic views of Kyoto, far from the tourist crowds. 2. Guaranteed Michelin-Rated Lunch: Enjoy a premium lunch at a restaurant inside the Tenryu-ji Temple gardens (World Heritage). We serve authentic Zen vegetarian cuisine recognized by the Michelin Guide—a healthy and unforgettable cultural experience. 3. Don't just look at the gardens; understand them. Your guide will teach you how to "read" and enjoy the philosophy of Japanese gardens, comparing Western symmetry with Japanese "Natural Asymmetry," turning the scenery into a deeper cultural lesson.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First, we escape the tourist trail to visit a hidden temple known only to locals. Enclosed by mud walls and vibrant maple trees, this temple offers a perfect example of a "Moss Garden." Unlike the grand, open temples, this intimate sanctuary allows you to experience true "Wabi-Sabi"—the beauty of imperfection and tranquility.
hidden gems
Walk through the towering bamboo stalks that seem to reach the sky and take memorable photos.
Next, we ascend to a private mountain villa and garden that feels like a hidden fortress. This spot offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Kyoto City and the Arashiyama mountains, yet it remains surprisingly quiet. As you stroll through its winding paths, you will see many Japanese garden's design, which harmonizes with nature. It is a masterpiece that blends art with wild nature.
At Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site, you can enjoy Japanese gardens and Zen paintings with a guide's commentary.
End the tour at the souvenir street or Togetsu-kyo bridge
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten-free are limited. ※Please request as soon ss possible. We'll make out best to accommodate
- As we will visit Buddhist and Shintoism facilities, please make sure to wear respectful clothing.
- People of all ages can join this tour.
- This tour is not recommended for people with mobility issues. If you have difficulty walking, we recommend booking a private tour.
- Please inform us at least one day before the tour if you have any dietary requests or allergies to mention.※ Requests made on the tour day cannot be accommodated. Please kindly understand that we are unable to guarantee allergy-free meals, accommodation of dietary restrictions or the substitutions, as the food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to us.
- Japan's climate has become more extreme, with summer highs reaching 40°C (104°F) and winter lows dropping to -5°C (23°F). Please prepare accordingly for the tour. The tour may be canceled in the event of unsuitable weather for safety reasons.
- As this is a walking tour, please make sure you wear shoes with which you feel comfortable walking long distance
- Alternative: In the rare case that Sho-jin ryori restaurant inside Tenryu-ji temple is fully booked, we will guide you to another historic restaurant (est. 1965) famous for Kyoto's iconic Tofu cuisine, offering a beautiful Japanese room in Sukiya-style architecture.
- End of Tour: The tour ends at Tenryu-ji Temple, the heart of Arashiyama. You are perfectly positioned to continue your day by visiting the Monkey Park, relaxing at a nearby Onsen (hot spring), or shopping for souvenirs.
Reviews(467)
Tea was our guide. The tour was amazing. He was there on time, was extremily polite and kind. Explained about the neighbourhood and the tamples, making us to understand a little bit more about Japanese culture. He was really helpfull and patient, both in our ritm and with our questions. The lunch was amazing, it was also explained for us how to eat and each plate. In the end he guided us to the right train and indicated us on how to arrive at the hotel. P.s. he helped us with the pictures, and they were amazing.
It's a wonderful tour to discover the wonders of Arashiyama and the bamboo forest. Our guide, Hide, illustrated and explained everything to us with patience and dedication. He is also a very good person who immediately made us feel at ease. Highly recommended!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the beauty of Arashiyama and the bamboo forest with Hide. It’s great to know that his patience, dedication, and friendly personality helped you feel comfortable throughout the tour. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Japan again!
The tour was pleasant, the time flew by with a competent and very good person like Hide.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a pleasant time exploring with Hide and that his knowledge and friendly personality made the tour enjoyable. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future!
Absolutely wonderful tour, we really enjoyed our day. Our tour guide, Taisei, was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and we immediately felt comfortable with him. He offered to take pictures for us and he did a wonderful job - he also had some excellent ideas of picture placements and poses. He consistently checked in with us to make sure we were having a great experience and was flexible to things we wanted to take more time with. The food on the tour was also excellent and really added to the experience. It was a wonderful and enriching day for us because Taisei was such a fantastic guide. Thank you Taisei for such an amazing experience and a day we will always treasure! Amy
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great day with Taisei. It’s wonderful to know that his friendly attitude, knowledge, and thoughtful support made your experience special. We’re also glad you enjoyed the food and the tour! We hope to see you on one of our tours again in the future!
Very beautiful spot. Many people.
Thank you for your review! We're glad you enjoyed the spot. We hope to welcome you on another MagicalTrip tour in the future!
Akira-san was amazing! He is incredibly patient and knowledgeable about Kyoto and the rich history of its temples.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience with Akira. It's wonderful to know that you appreciated his patience and knowledge of Kyoto and its rich temple history. Thank you again for joining our tour, and we hope to welcome you on another experience in the future!
We explored the temples and the bamboo forest with Akira. He is an incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely friendly guide. We learned so much about Japanese religion and the country’s feudal history. I highly recommend this tour, especially if you choose the option that includes lunch. Akira took us to a wonderful restaurant with breathtaking views, where we had the chance to try authentic Japanese specialties that, as tourists, we would never have known to order on our own. Thank you, Akira. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and may life always smile upon you! Stefano
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Stefano! We're delighted to hear that you had such a memorable experience with Akira. It's great to know you enjoyed learning about Japanese history and religion, as well as the delicious lunch with its beautiful view. We'll be sure to share your kind words and heartfelt message with Akira. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future!
If I could give 10 stars, I absolutely would! Josh was an incredible tour guide who made the entire experience unforgettable. His knowledge, passion, and friendly personality brought every stop to life. The Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Garden Walking Tour was so well organised that it genuinely left us speechless. The highlight was finishing the tour at a traditional Japanese restaurant, where we experienced authentic Japanese dining the proper way. It was the perfect ending to an amazing day. I can't recommend this tour—and especially Josh—highly enough. A must-do if you're visiting Kyoto!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that Josh made your experience so memorable. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the Arashiyama tour, from the beautiful bamboo forest and hidden garden to the authentic Japanese meal at the end. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Josh. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on another MagicalTrip tour in the future!
Great guided tour, very knowledgeable guides
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found our guides knowledgeable. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another great experience in the future!
We had a wonderful tour with the best guides. Totally recommend the experience to all!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great tour and enjoyed the company of our guide. Your recommendation means a lot to us. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in the future!
