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1 Day Hiking Tour in the Mountains of Kyoto
5.0
66 Ratings
Kyoto
Discover Kyoto’s Mt. Kurama: hike through cedar forests, explore magical temples, and unwind in onsens. Perfect for nature lovers and history enthusiasts.
Discover Kyoto’s Mt. Kurama: hike through cedar forests, explore magical temples, and unwind in onsens. Perfect for nature lovers and history enthusiasts.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Yuki Shrine - Originally constructed in central Kyoto, Yuki Shrine was relocated to Kurama in 940 AD to shield the area from mysterious malevolence. A notable feature of this mountainous shrine is an 800-year-old cedar tree that stands 53 meters tall.
- Mount Kurama - Renowned as the birthplace of Reiki, a holistic healing art, Mount Kurama is…
- Yuki Shrine - Originally constructed in central Kyoto, Yuki Shrine was relocated to Kurama in 940 AD to shield the area from mysterious malevolence. A notable feature of this mountainous shrine is an 800-year-old cedar tree that stands 53 meters tall.
- Mount Kurama - Renowned as the birthplace of Reiki, a holistic healing art, Mount Kurama is where Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, meditated for 21 days in the early 1900s and received the Reiki healing energy. Usui meditated near the mountain’s summit at Osugi Gongen, a site marked by a sacred tree believed to be an incarnation of the god Maoson. Upon reaching the mountain, you can feel a positive energy enveloping you. Entering the temple, you experience a profound spiritual comfort and physical vitality. The mountain, soil, and sky seem to connect with your spirit, offering an exceptional meditation experience as you wander through the mountain’s intricate root systems and trees.
- Kurama-dera - After visiting Yuki Shrine, enjoy a scenic 25-minute walk through the forest to Kuramadera, the area’s most renowned shrine. Established in the 8th century, Kuramadera is dedicated to the reverence of mountains and nature, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges, particularly in autumn. See how many long-nosed tengu, the mountain’s guardians, you can spot.
- Okunoin Maoden - Deep within the mountains lies Okunoin Maoden Temple, a place shrouded in mystery and said to be the domain of demons.
- Kifune Shrine - Dedicated to the God of water and rain, Kifune Shrine is a destination for sailors seeking good fortune on their voyages. The shrine features pure mountain water sources and numerous small streams. Summer visitors can enjoy the wildflowers, while autumn and winter bring their own unique beauty with vibrant foliage and snow. Don’t miss the mizuura mikuji (water fortune-telling paper), which your guide can help translate.
- Kifune Shrine - Legend has it that a goddess traveled by boat from Osaka up the river to these mountains. The inner shrine of Kifune houses the boat she is said to have used.
What's Included
- English speaking guide
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off
- Public transport costs (from Central Kyoto - Kurama and back)
- Shrine/Temple entry fees
- English speaking guide
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off
- Public transport costs (from Central Kyoto - Kurama and back)
- Shrine/Temple entry fees
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Private transportation
- Lunch
- Private transportation
Additional Information
Explore the spiritual essence of Kyoto with a guided trek through Mount Kurama, a tranquil haven where tradition and nature converge. Known as the birthplace of reiki, a healing practice, and home to the legendary tengu, this mountain exudes a mystical allure that feels far removed from urban life.
Stroll along tranquil forest trails, uncover hidden…
Explore the spiritual essence of Kyoto with a guided trek through Mount Kurama, a tranquil haven where tradition and nature converge. Known as the birthplace of reiki, a healing practice, and home to the legendary tengu, this mountain exudes a mystical allure that feels far removed from urban life.
Stroll along tranquil forest trails, uncover hidden temples, and absorb the serene energy of the environment as you journey to the quiet mountain village of Kibune, surrounded by picturesque landscapes.
・Enjoy a leisurely hike from Kurama to Kibune through stunning cedar forests
・Visit sacred temples and learn about reiki and local folklore
・Experience the tranquil charm of Kyoto’s mountain countryside
Location
Yuki Shrine
1073 Kuramahonmachi, Sakyo-Ku,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(66 Ratings)
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Sam_w
May 31, 2025
Wonderful hike and day trip to the mountains - Ryoma was amazing from start to finish. He was very personable and well informed about the history of Mount Kurama. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike up the mountain and the rest of our day with him, including a delicious soba lunch- highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Q9392yimichellel
Apr 25, 2025
Great hiking tour - We enjoyed our time hiking with Yuki. It was one of our favorite thing to do during our time in Japan. Yuki was very informative, patient with us and help us to great photos. This is an unforgettable tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F4206afangelat
Apr 19, 2025
Awesome hiking trip - Yuki was very knowledgeable and fun! We learned so much historical stories as we hiked thru all the amazing sceneries! We had an amazing time! Yuki was awesome 👍👍👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T308ivandreac
Dec 10, 2024
Incredible Experience - ancient shrines and temples against a backdrop of Autumn Leaves - My 18 year daughter and I had a most wonderful day and both agreed it was the highlight of our trip to Japan.
Yuki was an excellent guide - friendly, professional and knowledgeable. She shared her passion for the mountains around Kyoto and the intriguing history of the area.
We loved the hike and the breathtaking scenery. The autumn leaves, in a myriad of colours, were stunning. The shrines and temples dotted along the track were unexpected and made for a very special experience.
We are very thankful and fortunate that Yuki was our guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leesa
Dec 2, 2024
Family trip exploring Kyoto mountains - Thankyou Miki. It was such an enjoyable day. An incredibly beautiful place with the Autumm foliage, mountain views and the beautiful clear water stream. We learnt so much on the day as well about the origins/customs/stories of the Kuramo area and shrines from our wonderful guide Miki who was so lovely. It was definitely a highlight of our Japan trip. We went as a family group with 19 and 17 year old son and daughter and they loved it also.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sonia
Nov 27, 2024
Do not miss this tour - This tour was the highlight of our stay in Kyoto. We were so lucky to have Mizuho as our guide and to get to know her during the day. Mizuho took us places we would not have found on our own, provided interesting commentary as we walked and she also arranged a beautiful lunch for us at a traditional Japanese restaurant. The tour took us to some of the most beautiful shrines and the autumn colours in the mountains was amazing. We were very grateful to Mizuho who also took us to Nanzen-ji when we returned to Tokyo. This was unplanned but we finished the hike a little early and Mizuho asked where we hadn’t yet been. We had the best day with Mizuho. Cannot recommend the tour or her highly enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Crystal
Nov 25, 2024
Worth it! Seriously. - I was very lucky to be paired with Mizuho as my guide. You don’t know who your choices are until after booking. You get an email confirmation from the company. I was traveling alone but didn’t know the tour would literally be a private 1x1 tour. I was hesitant because of the hefty price but gradually throughout the day, I fell more and more in love with everything about the hike including Mizu’s friendliness and professionalism. She picked me up from my hotel and kindly explained to me what our itinerary was going to be like. She spoke good English. The tour was perfect from beginning to end. You are also expected to pay for the guide’s lunch to which I had no issue with at all. I just wanted her to choose an amazing spot and she did! Lunch was delicious and the perfect intermission after hiking. She is so thoughtful in how she carries her conversation. We spoke almost from beginning to end which is 9am-5pm. The hike was magnificent. Many beautiful shrines along the way, stairs, and beautiful views of the trees and mountains. Spring and autumn are probably best when to book. This was so much fun and delightful and I made sure to soak up every bit of Mizu’s knowledge. She was patient and took photos of me every time I asked. I am so thankful I chose to do this tour that I teared up as our day came to an end. Thank you Mizu! I’ll never forget you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
570yangc
Nov 17, 2024
Great Hike! - My guide, Etsuko, was wonderful from start to finish. Very friendly and politely answered all of my questions during the guided tour of Kurama to Kibune. She even entertained some of my silliness in teaching an American slang phrase or two. Definitely smoked me in the hike as well because I had to catch my breath a few times and she seemed completely unfazed by the physical demand of the hike.
There are a lot of stairs but it was still doable for me, who was coming off a fractured ankle and spent a good chunk of the year learning how to walk again. When I told Etsuko this, she made sure to check in every so often to make sure I was okay. I visited the first half of October, which meant that it was the tail end of typhoon season. The day was very humid so I recommend bringing a water bottle, a towel, and a mini handheld fan to help you cool off. Also - the shrine at the top of Kurama has light switches in the basement so. you can turn it on to see things better. Just remember to turn it off when you’re done!
I highly recommend this for those who want to experience the quiet serenity outside of a busy metropolitan vacation experience. It rained by the time we got to Kibune and it just added to the really nice atmosphere. Definitely a highlight of my Japan trip! You won’t be disappointed!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barbara_s
Nov 15, 2024
Book this tour! - We very much enjoyed this tour of Kyoto nature and countryside. We wouldn’t have been able to make to any of these sights without this tour and our guide was very informative and helpful. We had a wonderful time!
Review provided by Viator
L2867hfcharlesm
Nov 9, 2024
A wonderful trek in nature and Japanese culture - Touring with Koko was like visiting with an old friend we hadn’t seen in a long time. She is as engaging and informative as she is inquisitive and warm.
An eagerly anticipated trip to the mountains was full of culture, legends and wonderful nature.
Thank you Koko for what has been the highlight, for me, of our epic trip to Japan.
Charles (Coco) Melanson
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Review provided by Tripadvisor
