Kyoto Soul Tour: Hidden Temples and Villages

Explore Arashiyama’s hidden temples and serene bamboo forests. Discover wabi-sabi’s beauty in imperfection on this tranquil Kyoto walking tour.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple is a tranquil and lesser-known treasure, offering a distinctive and personal experience. The temple is famous for its collection of over 1,200 stone statues, known as rakan, each with unique facial expressions, creating a whimsical yet peaceful atmosphere. The serene gardens and natural…
What's Included
  • Tea and coffee
  • Guided walk of Arashiyama
  • Local Guide
  • Admission fee for Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple and Jojakko-ji Temple
Additional Information
  • Be guided by experienced locals who share stories, history, and cultural insights that might be missed when exploring alone.
  • Venture beyond the usual tourist attractions. Uncover serene temples, traditional villages, and picturesque spots known only to locals.
  • With a small group size, enjoy a more intimate and personalized experience — no rushing…
Location
Hannari Hokkori Square
Meetup: 09:15 am Go to Hannari Hokkori Square in front of Randen Arashiyama Station. Meet a guide with a green signboard written "Japan Wonder Travel" . Please come 15 minutes before the start time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(19 Ratings)
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Ellencf126aj
May 17, 2025
Beautiful, Scenic, Knowledgeable tour. - Great, friendly, knowledgeable guides. We saw some off the beaten track, quieter areas that were so beautiful and had so much history. The tour was well organised with plenty of photo opportunities, the group was small so if you had questions they were always answered. Overall, we had such a lovely few hours, walking around the temples and bamboo forests, and ending with a stroll along the stunning river.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bibbybubby
May 12, 2025
You can enjoy Arashiyama even on weekends! - I enjoyed the tour very much. Even Arashiyama is crowded but the tour brought us to avoid the crowds which is very important. Machiko is helpful and professional.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yensze
May 10, 2025
An Enjoyable Walking Tour to Discover the Uncrowded Side of Arashiyama - Arashiyama is known for its crowds, so I was genuinely surprised to find peaceful, lesser-known spots tucked away in the area—hidden gems that offer a different side of this popular destination. We were surrounded by vibrant greenery at Nenbutsu-ji Temple and Jojakko-ji Temple, both of which are also famous for their stunning autumn foliage. Our guide, Machiko, shared moving stories about the history of Nenbutsu-ji, which added depth to the experience. She was warm, engaging, and patiently answered all of our questions with insightful detail. One unexpected highlight was a small bamboo forest, beautifully serene and almost too perfect to be real. Unlike the crowded main bamboo grove, this one felt like a private retreat. We strolled along the Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, learning fascinating facts about the area’s history and architecture. We even stopped by a cozy café with a lovely local atmosphere and excellent coffee. The tour concluded at the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge. Seeing the morning crowds there made us appreciate even more the peaceful start we had exploring the quieter corners of Arashiyama.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quest53018729382
May 10, 2025
Kyoto Walking Tour Through Time and Tranquility - I would like to thank Japan Wonder Travel for organizing a wonderful guided trip to Arashiyama. We visited serene and culturally rich sites including Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple, Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, Jojakko-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge. Compared to the bustling bamboo grove, the temples offered a peaceful and calming atmosphere. From the top of Jojakko-ji, the panoramic view of Kyoto was truly breathtaking. Our guide, Machiko-san, was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic in sharing the historical significance of each site. To top it off, I enjoyed a delicious green tea ice cream before leaving—truly OISHII!
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M1320xy_
May 8, 2025
A Peaceful Yet Insightful Arashiyama Walking Tour – Highly Recommended! - I joined a unique walking tour in Kyoto’s Arashiyama and it was a truly memorable experience. The small group size allowed us to clearly hear the guide’s engaging explanations about local culture, history, and traditions without distractions. What set this tour apart was the thoughtful route – we visited quiet, lesser-known temples far from the tourist crowds, allowing us to soak in the serene atmosphere and appreciate the beauty of the old streets at a relaxed pace. The walk was well-paced with occasional breaks, and never felt too long or tiring. Along the way, we also passed by the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove for that must-have photo stop, before finishing the tour near the famous Togetsukyo Bridge. This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to escape the crowds yet still experience Arashiyama’s most iconic sights. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
631quyenn
May 6, 2025
Amazing Tour in Arashiyama - I went on a cultural tour with Japan World Travel, and I can confidently say it was one of the highlights of my time in Japan so far. The guide Ms. Machiko was incredibly friendly and easy to talk to, with excellent English skills that made communication smooth and enjoyable. We also talked about my school and how I was adjusting to my new life here, which made me feel very welcome. What really stood out was the depth of cultural insight they provided. Rather than just walking around and snapping pictures, they offered detailed explanations about the history, symbolism, and traditions behind the temples and shrines we visited. I learned so much more than I would have on my own, and it made the experience far more meaningful. The tour was very well-organized. We visited several beautiful temples, but managed to avoid the usual tourist crowds. It felt like a peaceful, more personal journey. The pace was great, not rushed at all, we had time to really absorb the atmosphere at each site and even enjoyed tea at a small local shop.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W5882xvruthg
May 5, 2025
Another side of Kyoto - This tour took us to Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple, Saga Toriimoto preserved street and Jojakko-ji temple, passing by the famous bamboo grove and Togetsukyo Bridge. Otagi-Nenbutsuji was a very special place! I enjoyed looking at the stone sculptures. Jojakko-ji's garden was peaceful and lovely. The spots on this itinerary were great choices that most tourists don't usually see. The length of the tour and the route was just right; we walked in a good, leisurely pace. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend this tour especially if you've been to Kyoto before. Take the road less traveled!
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Evacjp1104
May 5, 2025
Visiting with a guide makes a great difference - We had such a beautiful day in Arashiyama. Despite the crowd we first visited two temples with only a few people then we went to the main touristic places so we could see the difference. It was great to discover hidden gems and to learn the story of these two temples. I particularly loved the view on Kyoto city and it was very nice to had a break to enjoy tea in a small retro coffee shop. I would like to thank our guide Machiko who speaks perfectly English and organized so well this tour. She even gave us enough free time to take pictures at every places.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elsadx3502pb
May 15, 2025
Off the beaten path arashiyama - Very careful planning by the guide who checked bus times and routes to take us to the back roads of arashiyama to otagi nenbutsuji and jojakkoji + sneak peek of bamboo forest and togetsukyo bridge. Enjoyed learning about the head monk of otagi nenbutsuji having lost his best friend during world war 2 and then promoting peace through his sculptures. We found a rakan statue looking like trump which was fun. Jojakkoji was serene, green and beautiful, providing a refreshing walk.
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Northstar00523200359
May 7, 2025
I was healed, I was slow. - Mr. Machiko guided us. The slow pace guidance suited me and I was able to spend enough time in each and every place I visited. I also liked that they chose a quiet place! And thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $85
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).