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Kyoto Morning: Fushimi Inari & Bamboo Forest
5.0
23 Ratings
Kyoto
Discover Kyoto’s top landmarks in a half-day morning tour. Beat the crowds, explore iconic sites, and immerse in history with expert guidance.
Discover Kyoto’s top landmarks in a half-day morning tour. Beat the crowds, explore iconic sites, and immerse in history with expert guidance.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Fushimi Inari is one of Kyoto’s most renowned shrines, celebrated for its thousands of striking red torii gates that create picturesque trails up the wooded Mount Inari. It is dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice and prosperity.
- Arashiyama - Arashiyama has been a favored destination since the Heian period…
- Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine - Fushimi Inari is one of Kyoto’s most renowned shrines, celebrated for its thousands of striking red torii gates that create picturesque trails up the wooded Mount Inari. It is dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice and prosperity.
- Arashiyama - Arashiyama has been a favored destination since the Heian period (794–1185), when aristocrats visited to admire the stunning seasonal landscapes. The area is particularly noted for cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant foliage in autumn. The Bamboo Grove is one of Arashiyama’s most iconic attractions. Strolling through the towering, swaying bamboo offers a serene and almost ethereal experience. Historically, bamboo was also utilized for crafting tools and building materials.
- Bamboo Forest Street - The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of Kyoto’s premier attractions, providing a tranquil retreat surrounded by thousands of towering bamboo stalks.
- Arashiyama Kimono Forest - The Arashiyama Kimono Forest is one of Kyoto’s hidden treasures — a walkway of illuminated kimono-style art poles that display Japan’s exquisite textile designs.
- Togetsukyo Bridge - Togetsukyo Bridge, meaning “Moon Crossing Bridge,” is a renowned landmark in Arashiyama. It’s an ideal spot to appreciate the natural beauty of the river, mountains, and seasonal changes.
- Monkey Park Iwatayama - Monkey Park Iwatayama is situated on a small mountain in Arashiyama, Kyoto. After a brief hike (about 20 minutes), visitors reach the summit, where over 100 wild Japanese macaques roam freely. Unlike a zoo, the monkeys are not confined—you enter their habitat. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Kyoto city from the top, and even feed the monkeys with special treats. It’s an enjoyable and distinctive experience, especially for families and nature enthusiasts!
What's Included
- Professional photos taken during the tour
- Passionate local English-speaking guide
- Professional photos taken during the tour
- Passionate local English-speaking guide
What's Not Included
- Public Transportation Fare
- Admission Fee: Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Food and Drinks
- Public Transportation Fare
- Admission Fee: Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Food and Drinks
Additional Information
Begin your day by exploring two of Kyoto’s most renowned attractions — the tranquil torii gates of Fushimi Inari and the peaceful Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Starting early allows you to appreciate their beauty in a serene, uncrowded setting before the crowds arrive. Afterwards, head to Monkey Park, where you can feed the monkeys and take in stunning…
Begin your day by exploring two of Kyoto’s most renowned attractions — the tranquil torii gates of Fushimi Inari and the peaceful Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Starting early allows you to appreciate their beauty in a serene, uncrowded setting before the crowds arrive. Afterwards, head to Monkey Park, where you can feed the monkeys and take in stunning panoramic views of Kyoto. Throughout the tour, an English-speaking local guide will share captivating stories about the city’s history and culture, take beautiful photos, and ensure a seamless and memorable half-day adventure!
- This tour is designed as a WALKING experience, using public transportation and plenty of time on foot to explore Kyoto.
- If you are late for the meeting time, you will not be able to join the tour or receive a refund.
- The Monkey Park requires about a 20-minute uphill walk, so it may not be suitable for guests who are not confident in their physical stamina.
Location
Kyoto Station
The tour starts at the central exit of Kyoto Station, near Kyoto Tower. Your guide will be waiting by the yellow map next to the 7-Eleven, holding a board with the our logo. (Detailed meeting instructions, including pictures, will be provided after booking.)
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
(23 Ratings)
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Aina
Apr 1, 2026
Great experience - We had the most lovely day with Ikki. He is the perfect tour guide — very knowledgeable, with great local insight, and he puts everything into context by adding interesting stories along the way. He also acted as our private photographer throughout the day, always making sure we got the best shots.
Ikki is incredibly easy-going and friendly, and he made sure everyone in our group felt included and comfortable — even our teenager, which we really appreciated.
The tour itself was a perfect mix of temples and history, beautiful nature, and a close-up experience with the monkeys. It was definitely worth climbing up to the monkey park, both for the experience and for the stunning view over the Kyoto area.
We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Noahmx9391zo
Apr 1, 2026
Truly a 5 star experience - We had a fantastic guided tour in Kyoto with Ikki. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very engaging. We learned a lot about both Japan’s history and modern life, and the tour was perfectly adjusted to our pace.
Ikki also took many great photos of us, which we really appreciated. What made the experience even better was his genuine interest not only in the tour itself, but also in us and our family.
An unforgettable experience we’ll always remember
Review provided by Tripadvisor
5025emy
Mar 25, 2026
Fantastic Tour & Great Guide - I am so glad I picked this tour. Ikki-San did a wonderful job showing us his beautiful city. It was also very good to start early since Fushimi Inari was the highlight of the trip for me. He took time to explain items along the way & answer questions. It is best to go early since it gets extremely busy as the day goes on. He helped coordinate trains & took pictures along the way that was great bonus! The bamboo forest was amazing and visited monkey preserve on top of mountain that had great views of Kyoto as well. Be advised that it is a elevated hike so be prepared with comfortable attire & shoes, but there were plenty areas for break. The entire morning was so enjoyable & could not ask for a better or more thoughtful guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brodsmom
Mar 23, 2026
Great tour with a great guide - Ikky was a terrific guide. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating. We enjoyed learning from him and spending time with him. He even gave us helpful recommendations for the rest of our travels in Kyoto. Also, this tour offered a fabulous combination of sites to see in Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
19kleanthisg
Dec 29, 2025
Fun, Informative, and Entertaining - Ikki was a delight as a tour guide. He communicated instructions beforehand so we knew what to expect as I had a young daughter on the tour. He took great care to inform us of our tour and kept us interested and moving so we had so much time at the actual attractions! Polite, respectful, and informative. Additionally he took pictures and sent them to us so we didn’t have to always have our phones out. And he gave us advice on the rest of our trip that he did not have to do but was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay19391287183
Nov 15, 2025
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thank you Ikki! We will do this again with family and friends on our next trip back! Best tour ever! - Wonderful private half-day tour by Ikki! He was knowledgeable, explained things well, thoughtful, respectful and attentive. Early Bird Tour is the time to go! Nice not to be rushed and at places before the crowd. Enjoyed the short train rides, walks and moderate hike; Fushimi Inari-taisha Temple, Aroshiyama Bamboo Forest, Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge and River and Monkey Park were so much more enjoyable because of Ikki! Thankful for his photos! (Glad there were benches to rest on the hike to Monkey Park.) Also appreciate his restaurant recommendations! Our first trip to Japan! We will do this tour again on our next trip back. Thank you Ikki!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timothy_d
Nov 15, 2025
Great tour - Interesting/informative activity and although I'm not an early riser, starting @ 7 am helped with both crowds and temperature as a fair amount of hiking. Ikki was a superb guide in every respect.
Review provided by Viator
Jenrs7927oq
Nov 10, 2025
Shrine & monkey tour a must!!! - This was a tour of a lifetime!! Ikke our tour guide was so incredibly knowledgeable and fun! I was with my sister and our teenage boys. Our boys really enjoyed how easy going he was and is knowledge of Japan. This is a must do day!! Thank you Ikke!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurakd6373yf
Nov 9, 2025
Highly recommend the Kyoto early bird tour! - I highly recommend this tour. You get to enjoy Fushimi Inari before the crowds and then enjoy a walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before going to see the Japanese monkeys. Our tour guide, Ikki, was very knowledgeable on the sites we visited and the many questions we had for him on Japan. He took great photos of our group throughout the tour and shared them along with recommendations for restaurants and activities for us on the rest of our trip. On the tour my son lost his wallet on a train and Ikki was quick to sort out its retrieval. Thank you for such a fun tour Ikki. We really enjoyed our time with you!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
418seemah
Oct 11, 2025
Cultural and nature tour of Kyoto - The tour was extremely engaging and we enjoyed the experience. DK our guide was very thoughtful and knowledgeable. He made sure that we were comfortable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
