Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji
Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji

Outty Ranking 70 4.9 · 16 traveler reviews3 hoursFrom $89
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Outty Ranking

70/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.9/5

Based on 16 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji worth booking?

Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji is a 3-hour experience in Kyoto, Japan, from $89 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 16 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
70 / 100
Rating
4.9/5 (16)
Duration
3 hours
From
$89 per person

Explore a quieter, more local Arashiyama on a relaxed walking tour. This experience focuses on hidden paths, calm temples, scenic views, and local food—beyond the typical tourist route. This tour is ideal for travelers who want to enjoy Arashiyama comfortably and thoughtfully, with a small group (up to 6 guests) and a local guide. My name is Yusuke. I designed this tour and guide it myself as a local Kyoto guide. With experience guiding over 3,000 guests, I aim to help you enjoy a deeper and calmer Arashiyama. For guests who choose the “The Tale of Genji” option: Most of the places visited on this tour (except the bamboo forest) appear in The Tale of Genji. If you are interested, I will explain the historical and literary context during the tour. Both options visit the same locations. The “The Tale of Genji” option simply adds deeper literary storytelling.

What you get

    About this experience

    Explore a quieter, more local Arashiyama on a relaxed walking tour. This experience focuses on hidden paths, calm temples, scenic views, and local food—beyond the typical tourist route. This tour is ideal for travelers who want to enjoy Arashiyama comfortably and thoughtfully, with a small group (up to 6 guests) and a local guide. My name is Yusuke. I designed this tour and guide it myself as a local Kyoto guide. With experience guiding over 3,000 guests, I aim to help you enjoy a deeper and calmer Arashiyama. For guests who choose the “The Tale of Genji” option: Most of the places visited on this tour (except the bamboo forest) appear in The Tale of Genji. If you are interested, I will explain the historical and literary context during the tour. Both options visit the same locations. The “The Tale of Genji” option simply adds deeper literary storytelling.

    What's included

    Included

    • Original Tour Booklet (about 15 pages)
    • Helping to take good photos. I’m learning Photography as my hobby.
    • Guiding

    Not included

    • Ticket for Daikakuji temple & Osawa-no-ike Pond
    • Ticket for Seiryoji temple
    • Japanese snacks (Optional)- about 500 yen
    • Insurance-Please prepare your insurance on your own if you need.
    • Gratitude

    What you'll see and do

    1. Nonomiya Shrine

      + Seeing black wooden Torii gate. Only 2 shrines in Japan have black torii gate. + Seeing beautiful moss garden. + Knowing the way of visiting temple and praying. + Knowing the differences between shrine and temple. + Feeling relaxing as a spiritual place. + Getting Shrine stamp (Goshuin). (optional)*You need stamp book and to pay stamp fee. *”The Tale of Genji Tour” gives you more guiding about the tale. + Experiencing physically the world of the tale.

      30 minutes here

    2. The Bamboo Forest Trail

      + Enjoying beautiful bamboo forest and soundscape of bamboo. + Taking photo time and memorable photos by Yusuke in bamboo forest.

      15 minutes here

    3. Seiryoji Temple

      + Experiencing old temple. This temple was built about 1,200 years ago originally. Present building was built about 300 years ago. + Seeing Japanese national treasure – Shaka Nyorai Buddhism statue. + Enjoying magnificent building and corrido with beautiful Japanese garden. + Getting temple stamp (Goshuin). (optional)*You need stamp book and to pay extra stamp fee. *There are 2 kinds of Temple stamp. Official stamp with paying and free stamp. + Enjoying local sweets. (optional) *Sweets fee does not include. + Ticket is 400JPY *”The Tale of Genji Tour” gives you more guiding about the tale. + Seeing the tomb of Toru Minamoto who is the model of Genji in the tale. + Experiencing physically the world of the tale.

      55 minutes here · Admission not included

    4. Daikaku-ji Temple

      + Former Emperor’s Imperial palace called Saga Gosho that was built about 1200 years ago. + This temple is the hidden gem. You can enjoy traditional imperial palace without crowds. + There are some unique way of building such as nightingale floor, corridor of Murasame and so on. + This is former imperial palace so that you can experience how emperor and queen lived. You also can move without walking on the ground. + Getting temple stamp (Goshuin). (optional)*You need stamp book and to pay stamp fee. + Ticket it 500JPY. *”The Tale of Genji Tour” gives you more guiding about the tale. + Experiencing physically the world of the tale.

      50 minutes here · Admission not included

    5. Osawaike

      + The oldest artificial pond in Japan. + Enjoying beautiful scenery in each season and quiet bamboo forest. + Ticket is 300JPY.

      20 minutes here · Admission not included

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Kyoto

    In front of Locker area at the Keifuku(Randen) Arashiyama station. Randenya is shop at Keifuku(Randen) Arashiyama station. +Google map does not show exact place when you put correct station address.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    If you'd like to return to the starting point, I'll be happy to walk back with you at no extra charge.

    Options you can book

    • The Tale of Genji Tour

      Extra guiding option: Enjoy the same itinerary with additional stories about The Tale of Genji and its connections to the places we visit.

    • Relaxed Arashiyama Tour

      Basic tour option: Enjoy Arashiyama’s scenery, nature, history, and local culture through a relaxing walking tour.

    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 6 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Yusuke Tanaka

    Know before you go

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • 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
    • Travel/Walking time is included on the total tour duration. We will walk about 3km/55minutes during the tour with enjoying local scenery.
    • You have to take off your shoes to enter inside at Seiryoji-temple and Daikakuji Temple.
    • This tour will take about 4 hours.
    • Please bring snacks if you need. There are not many restaurants around the ending point.

    Photos

    Nonomiya Shrine, Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and DaikakujiTourists, Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and DaikakujiSign of The Tale of Genji, Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and DaikakujiCharm and Goods Shop, Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and DaikakujiKyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji, photo 6Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 16 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    7 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    6 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    4 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Pace and timing

    4 mentions

    Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.

    Value for money

    2 mentions

    Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

    Traveler reviews

    16 verified traveler reviews for Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    15
    4 star
    1
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    souravn966 · September 2026

    Nice tour

    It was a nice walking tour to watch shrines and temples

    via Tripadvisor

    elizabethdS4762TZ · May 2026

    Great tour with wonderful knowledge of Japanese history!

    Yusuke was an amazing guide. He made sure we were away from crowded areas and provided us with professional knowledge on the spots we did visit. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting Kyoto!

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed exploring the quieter side of Arashiyama and learning more about Kyoto’s culture and history. One of my goals is to help guests experience not only the famous places, but also the atmosphere and deeper stories behind them. It was a pleasure spending time with you both, and I hope the memories from Kyoto stay with you for a long time. Thank you again for joining my tour!

    via Tripadvisor

    T4738LRdanielw · June 2025

    Local guide with local experiences

    Mr. Tanaka, a Kyoto local, possesses extensive understanding of the city and its surrounding areas, making him an excellent guide for those seeking a more authentic experience. His tours are perfect for travellers who prefer peaceful, hidden gems over the well-known, crowded landmarks. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore Kyoto's quieter, local sites.

    Response from the operator: I’m very happy if you could enjoy another side of Arashiyama and local hidden nice places. Even though it was heavy rain but I do appreciate you tried to enjoy places and time. Eating fried tofu snack from famous local tofu shop together was good memory with you. Thank you very much for joining my tour!

    via Tripadvisor

    929edytah · April 2025

    Exploring Kyoto with a local guide, who grew up in the city, allowed us to discover less popular and crowded spots, take

    We had the pleasure of exploring Kyoto with a guide who grew up in this city. Thanks to him, we discovered not only the popular attractions but also less-visited spots that we would have likely missed on our own. His patience, kindness, and attention to detail made us feel well taken care of throughout the day. Even though we were tired after a long flight from Europe and somewhat distracted with many interesting attractions, his calm and helpful nature made the tour truly enjoyable. We are grateful for his help in taking our family photos—he has a great eye for composition, and thanks to him we have nice memories from our trip. Exploring unfamiliar places is so much more rewarding with a guide, especially one who truly knows his city.

    Response from the operator: Thank you very much for joining my tour! I was very happy to introduce my hometown. It is pleasure to hear you had a good time there. I appreciate your manner in Japan and acted by following the local rule. At the same time, it’s nice to know I could contribute you to have good travel experience in Kyoto😊

    via Tripadvisor

    filiph573 · April 2025

    Sightseeing with professional and fun photographer

    He told many interesting things and showed us beautiful places. He has taken fantastic photos too. We are very thankful for his guidance.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for joining our tour. I’m happy if you enjoyed Arashiyama. At the same time, I appreciate your interest of Japan and our culture. See you again😊

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    3 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    6
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Yusuke Tanaka, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 64.2.

    See everything Yusuke Tanaka runs

    Why this scores 70

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)92
    Review evidence (18% weight)38
    Booking momentum (14% weight)31
    Value for money (12% weight)89
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)52
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kyoto.

    How much does Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji cost?

    +

    Prices start at $89 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 Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji take?

    +

    Plan for about 3 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 Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 16 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 Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    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 Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    Around 6 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?

    +

    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 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji start and how do I get there?

    +

    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?

    +

    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 Ghost Tour: Dark Tales, Urban Legends, Bamboo Forest Night, Kyoto : Chopsticks Making Workshop with Engraving Option in Gion, Kyoto: Gion Hidden Gems & Geisha Culture 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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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.

    What is included in Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    Included: Original Tour Booklet (about 15 pages); Helping to take good photos. I’m learning Photography as my hobby; and Guiding. Not included: Ticket for Daikakuji temple & Osawa-no-ike Pond; Ticket for Seiryoji temple; Japanese snacks (Optional)- about 500 yen; and Insurance-Please prepare your insurance on your own if you need. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    In front of Locker area at the Keifuku(Randen) Arashiyama station. Randenya is shop at Keifuku(Randen) Arashiyama station. +Google map does not show exact place when you put correct station address. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji offered in?

    +

    It is offered in Japanese and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji if the weather is bad?

    +

    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    Across 16 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.

    What booking options are available for Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji?

    +

    There are 2 options to choose from, including The Tale of Genji Tour, Relaxed Arashiyama Tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

    Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour With Bamboo Forest and Daikakuji.

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