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Offered languages
- English
- Spanish
Stand in Arashiyama's bamboo grove before Kyoto wakes up.
By 9 a.m., the bamboo path fills with visitors. Start at 8 with us and walk through quiet green pathways lined with towering bamboo. Visit Nonomiya Shrine, a site from The Tale of Genji and home to Japan's only black-bark torii gate — an unpainted wooden torii standing since the Heian period. Continue to Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple founded in the 14th century, where the Sogenchi Garden reflects the morning sky. Your guide leads you to hidden photo spots while sharing stories about Kyoto culture and Zen aesthetics. Experience Arashiyama before the crowds arrive on this small-group walking tour.
Highlights:
・Early morning walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
・Visit Nonomiya Shrine — from The Tale of Genji, with Japan's only black-bark torii gate
・Explore UNESCO-listed Tenryu-ji Temple and Sogenchi Garden
・Photo stops guided by a local guide
・Small-group walking tour
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Your guide will be waiting in front of Saga-Arashiyama Station. They are holding a signboard for our inbound tour service, so please use that as a reference point to meet up. If you have trouble finding them, you can contact the guide directly via WhatsApp or phone.
Itinerary
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1
Meet your guide at Randen Arashiyama Station for a short tour briefing and safety guidance. Learn about the layout of the Arashiyama area, including the Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine, and Tenryu-ji Temple. Your guide will also explain why starting early is essential for crowd-free photos before walking to the Bamboo Grove South Entrance.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Bamboo Forest Street
Walk through the peaceful Sagano Bamboo Grove surrounded by soft morning light and towering bamboo. Discover Japanese expressions describing the sound of rustling bamboo leaves and learn how this area has inspired poets and aristocrats since the Heian period. Enjoy guided photo stops and personalized photography assistance from your guide.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Nonomiya Shrine
Visit the historic Nonomiya Shrine, known from The Tale of Genji. Learn about the Saiō tradition, in which unmarried imperial princesses served at Ise Grand Shrine, and see the shrine’s rare unpainted Black Torii gate. Experience local traditions connected to matchmaking, academic success, and the famous Kameishi wishing stone.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Continue through the northern end of the Bamboo Grove near Okochi Sanso Garden while learning about Sagano’s literary history connected to The Tale of Genji and the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry anthology. Return south through the grove and enter Tenryu-ji Temple at opening time.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Tenryu-ji Temple
Explore Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1339. Admire the famous Sogenchi Garden designed by Muso Soseki and enjoy quiet moments overlooking the pond and Arashiyama scenery from the temple veranda. Stroll through the seasonal Hyakka-en Garden while learning about Zen garden aesthetics and Kyoto’s cultural heritage.
50 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
6
Walk back toward Randen Arashiyama Station while reflecting on the morning tour. Your guide will introduce recommended places to visit afterward, including Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama Monkey Park, Gio-ji Temple, and the Sagano Scenic Railway. Guidance for returning to central Kyoto and photo-sharing support will also be provided.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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