Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 120 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour worth booking?
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour is a 4-hour experience in Kyoto, Japan, from $3300 per person. It scores 79 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 120 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 79 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (120)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $3300 per person
Explore the cultural highlights and beautiful landscapes in two historically important districts in Kyoto on a walking tour of Arashiyama and Sagano. This 4-hour tour allows you to choose a few locations of your choice w
What you get
About this experience
Explore the cultural highlights and beautiful landscapes in two historically important districts in Kyoto on a walking tour of Arashiyama and Sagano. This 4-hour tour allows you to choose a few locations of your choice within the Arashiyama and Sagano areas. How about crossing the Togetsukyo bridge to enjoy the river view and visit a magnificent temple like Tenryu-ji or a serene temple like Jojakko-ji Temple, and stroll through a beautiful bamboo forest? Arashiyama/Sagano is a picturesque place where aristocrats have had their villas since ancient times. Whether you are a history and culture lovers who wants to visit temples, a nature lover or a shopper, there is always something for everyone in these areas. Please choose 2-3 places that you wish to visit.
What's included
Included
- Private customized walking tour. Public transportation or taxis maybe used.
- Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Not included
- Optional: Entrance Fees (for yourself and guide)
- Private Van
- Hotel Pick-up
What you'll see and do
Meet with your guide at JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (in front of a ticket gate). Based on your preferences, you will visit select sites in Arashiyama/Sagano area. We have listed popular/suggested spots for your reference. Please choose the ones that interest you from the list: On average, you can visit 2-3 spots in a half-day tour. If you don't find the spots you want to visit, please feel free to discuss your preferences with the guide. The guide will then customize the itinerary for you.
1 minutes here
Togetsukyo Bridge
Built over the Katsura River, this 155 meter long bridge is one of the iconic images of Arashiyama. It's a great spot to take in the surrounding scenery and Arashiyama mountains as the backdrop.
1 minutes here
Tenryu-ji Temple
This temple has a long history and is one of the most famous zen temples in all of Kyoto. Known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has a stunning garden where the plants and flowers make for a different feel every season.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Okochi Sanso Garden
Denjiro Okochi, a famous actor of Samurai film, spent about 30 years building this vast villa garden, which covers an area of 19800 square meters. The garden is surrounded by cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn, and offers beauty in every season. The view of the Hozu River flowing below and the city of Kyoto is also a highlight.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Jojakkoji Temple
Located on the hillside of Mt Ogura, which has been famous for its autumn foliage since the late Heian period (794-1185), Jōjakkoji Temple has about 200 old maple trees, which turn red, orange and yellow and combine with the green of the moss.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Nisonin
A quiet temple surrounded by beautiful landscapes that have survived the passage of 1200 years. The temple is famous for its autumn foliage. The temple is called 'Nison-in' because it enshrines the two principal Buddha images. The two principal images have faces and figures like twins, with their left and right hands raised and lowered symmetrically. The temple is located a short distance from central Arashiyama, so you can enjoy a moment of tranquillity.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
This temple is known as a ""temple of the tragic love"". It was the temple where a lady dancer who was favoured by the powers of the time lost his favour and spent time as a nun after a broken heart.The grounds of the temple are covered with beautiful green bamboo and green maples, with a moss-covered garden. The window in the antechamber of the hermitage is also worth seeing. It reflects a variety of colours depending on the way light enters the room.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Adashino Nembetsu-ji Temple
This area has been a place of burial since ancient times, first with wind burial, but later with earth burial, where people dedicated a stone Buddha and mourned for the eternal separation of the dead. The approximately 8,000 stone Buddhas and stupas enshrined in the grounds are the graves of people buried in the area.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
The origin of this temple can be traced back to 8th century but the temple became uninhabited during the WWII and was abandoned after a typhoon in 1950 caused extensive damage to the temple grounds, halls and Buddhist statues, but was rebuilt in 1955 when Buddhist sculptor Nishimura Kimitomo (1915-2003) was appointed abbot, and the reconstruction of the most run-down temple in Kyoto began. The temple is known as a ""temple of healing"", where visitors can relax and feel at ease with the expressive line-up of 1,200 statues of arhats carved by ordinary worshippers.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Saga Toriimoto Traditional Buildings Preservation Area
Toriimoto is a conservation area located at the far end of Sagano which is about 600 metres along Atago Highway leading to Atago Shrine.The area has a mix of farmhouse-style buildings with thatched roofs and machiya-style buildings with two floors and tiled roofs, and has a well-preserved character of a Japanese rural historical landscape.
1 minutes here
Monkey Park Iwatayama
If you are animal lovers, why not visiting here? Around 120 Japanese macaques currently live in the wild in this monkey park. The park is full of nature and the monkeys can be seen throughout the year.
1 minutes here · Admission not included
Bamboo Forest Street
This is one of the biggest attarctions in all of Kyoto, with thousands of tall bamboo towering in the area making for a beautiful forest. It's an amazing spot that makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale.
1 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Kyoto
JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (in front of a ticket gate)
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (in front of a ticket gate)
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ja, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Japan Wonder Travel
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A moderate amount of walking is included. Please wear comfortable walking shoes
- This is a walking tour. A private van is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between spots.
- The cost of transportation is not included in the price. Transportation fees will vary depending on the destinations you decide to visit.
- The tour will take place rain or shine.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 120 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
120 verified traveler reviews for Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Takashi is the best!!
I hope that everyone is lucky enough to get Takashi Okanuma as their tour guide. He was so friendly, informative, funny and told the best stories! He also makes sure everyone has a great time. We were really tired from the days before, and Takashi went out of his way to make sure we were doing the right activities. He even stayed a little longer than our time, because he wanted us to see the parade! He also takes pictures from his own phone, and will send it to you right after the tour. He’s an amazing photographer and knows all the right spots! Takashi really goes above and beyond, and made our day trip to Kyoto very memorable!
via Viator
Pleasant and insightful visit to Arashiyama
Yoshiko, our guide, met us at our hotel for our private morning tour exploring the historic Saga-Toriimoto neighborhood of Arashiyama. As our taxi headed towards our destination, surprise, surprise, the driver informed Yoshiko of the sudden closure that day (all Wednesdays thereafter) of our first stop – Otagi Nenbutsu-ji. Not a problem, a quick pivot, and Yoshiko led us to the hillside site of Adashino Nembutsu ji, a Buddhist memorial ground of 8000 ancient stone grave markers. We followed a bamboo path rising behind the 13-tier pagoda temple — a stunning, contemplative stretch that was blissfully removed from the crowds of the main Arashiyama grove. From there, Yoshiko led us to the tranquil Giōji Temple, guiding us through its serene moss garden while sharing the tragic but tender love story about a spurned dancer who found refuge and became a nun. Our unhurried walk continued down the road with quaint shops interspersed with charming old homes with private gardens arriving at a small local restaurant where we enjoyed a quiet lunch with set meals that were both delicious and beautifully presented. Yoshiko’s English was excellent, making everything feel effortless and engaging, and she sprinkled the day with stories from her own time living abroad, including heart-warming anecdotes about her family. Those personal touches made the entire experience feel even more special and connected. We’re so grateful for the time we spent with her. If you’re visiting Kyoto and want a guide who is kind, fluent in English, culturally insightful, and genuinely invested in your experience, we highly recommend Yoshiko from Arigato Travel.
via Tripadvisor
Must do!
We had a fantastic experience! Our guide was Takuma Goda and he was amazing! He was incredibly knowledgeable and constantly tailored the tour to exactly what we were looking for. We had a great time and it made our experience extremely special!
Response from the operator: We are truly delighted to receive your exceptional feedback. It's wonderful that your experience was so fantastic and truly a "must do"! We are especially pleased that Takuma Goda, your guide, was so amazing. His incredible knowledge and continuous ability to tailor the tour precisely to your desires clearly made for a superb time, rendering your experience profoundly special. We will certainly convey your high praise directly to Takuma Goda. We deeply appreciate you sharing your memorable journey. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back to Japan for future captivating discoveries.
via Viator
Perfect Day
The tour was incredible and Yuji was an amazing tour guide. We learned so much thanks to him and he built the itinerary exactly to what we had in mind so the day was perfect. Yuji gave us so much insight into the history and culture that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise so it was the perfect combination of sightseeing and learning about the importance and meaning of each location as well. Highly recommend the tour if you are looking to learn more about Arashiyama
Response from the operator: We profoundly appreciate your exceptionally detailed and heartwarming feedback on your recent Arashiyama tour. It is genuinely rewarding to learn that the tour was incredible, culminating in a truly perfect day, all thanks to your amazing guide, Yuji! You clearly gained a wealth of understanding through his insights. His meticulous crafting of the itinerary, perfectly aligned with your desires, ensured a superb and seamless day. Yuji thoughtfully imparted so much historical and cultural understanding that you undoubtedly would not have acquired independently, making it an ideal blend of sightseeing and profound learning about the significance and meaning of each destination. Your fervent recommendation for anyone seeking to delve deeper into Arashiyama truly resonates with us. Your outstanding comments will certainly be shared with Yuji; he will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact he had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptions. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
via Tripadvisor
Eric was a fantastic guide!
Eric was so knowledgable and friendly! He took beautiful photos of us and gave us fascinating insight on all the historical sites we visited. He was also very understanding and accommodating because I was recovering from an injury and needed to move slowly through the tour. We can't recommend him enough!
Response from the operator: We profoundly appreciate your exceptionally enthusiastic feedback on your recent tour. It is incredibly rewarding to learn that Eric was such a truly fantastic guide! His extensive insights and amiable demeanor clearly enhanced your understanding of the historical locations. His thoughtful gesture of capturing exquisite photographs further added to your cherished memories. We are especially pleased that he demonstrated such remarkable understanding and flexibility, allowing you to comfortably proceed at your own pace during your recovery. Your fervent recommendation truly resonates with us. Your outstanding comments will certainly be shared with Eric; he will be absolutely thrilled to know the profound impact he had on your cherished day. We are deeply appreciative of you taking the time to share your perceptions. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on your next visit to Japan.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $3300 to $39000
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 42
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 79
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kyoto.
How much does Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour cost?
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Prices start at $3300 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kyoto usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kyoto is not rushed.
Is Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 79 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 120 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kyoto, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour?
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Around 42 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kyoto can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kyoto and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Scenery Customized Private Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kyoto within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Kyoto?
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On Outty we rank every Kyoto experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Kyoto : Gion Make Your Own Chopsticks with Engraving Option, Award-Winning Authentic Ramen Making Experience in Kyoto, Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Kyoto?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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