Kyoto Spiritual Hike: Discover Mount Kurama
5.0
72 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.

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…
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What's Included
  • All fees and taxes
  • Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-off (from Kyoto urban area and Kurama area)
  • Entrance fees
  • English Speaking Guide
  • Photos of Tour Participants
What's Not Included
  • 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…

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Location
Yuki Shrine
1073 Kuramahonmachi, Sakyo-Ku,
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(72 Ratings)
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Kimkr2313tn
Nov 1, 2025
Great, relatively easy hike outside Kyoto - Highlight of our trip to Kyoto! We highly recommend it. Akari was a fantastic guide—warm, friendly, very knowledgeable. We felt in excellent hands. The hike was truly beautiful and got us to a place we never would have ventured on our own. And the lunch we had was my favorite so far. Locally made tofu cooked at the table with several tasty accompaniments beautifully appointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gracies531
Oct 25, 2025
100/10 sweetest tour guide ever!! - i have never written a review before and probably never will again, however she was the purest soul i’ve ever met. i could not begin to express how much i enjoyed spending time with her, she was the kindest lady i’ve every met and had a genuine heart, always trying to do her best and go the extra mile for you - helping me with my japanese and being so patient. Not only would i recommend her tour which was amazing, giving so much insight to the country’s culture and history but you get to spend time with such a lovely person, i couldn’t have had a better time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
548marialuisaj
Oct 18, 2025
A great experience away from the hustle and bustle - Etsuko was an excellent guide, she took us to this wonderful place and explained us all about the mysticism, the temple and the places to meditate. Also we had a really nice experience during the lunch. We really recommended to take this tour. Etsuko always tried to explained any doubt or solve any request.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melanie_l
Sep 27, 2025
Great experience. Highly recommend. - Mariko was friendly, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable. The tour was awesome with beautiful sights and picturesque moments. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves nature, culture, and walking.
Review provided by Viator
Kristian
Jul 9, 2025
Beautiful hike and scenic lunch - Beautiful hike through the mountains of northern Kyoto followed by a scenic lunch on the river. My wife and I enjoyed our time with Ai who was a wonderful guide. I would highly recommend this tour for couples or families with slightly older children.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
147kandicem
Jul 8, 2025
Forget Mt. Fuji, Try Mount Kurama - If you are wavering on whether or not to book the Mount Kurama Hiking Tour, I would say just click yes. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and came away with postcard pictures. I will try to provide some details and insights that will give you an idea if this hike works for you. We are a family of three. Parents in their fifties and 18 year old daughter. We did this hike with Mariko who is very knowledgeable about the area. If this is your first time using buses and trains, this tour will give you a taste of how to use the public transit system. Mariko met us at our hotel. From there, she navigated us to a train station where we started our journey. Then she was with us the entire time so we always felt comfortable in the rural area without knowing the Japanese language. She helped us translate and pointed out landmarks which gave us fun facts and historical information that made the landmarks more interesting. We did this hike at the end of June which was monsoon season and it was hot and humid. It would be wise to pack a portable fan and absorbent handkerchief with you if you do this in the summer. With the river and tree shade, it felt a bit cooler than in the city. I was concerned about the heat and humidity prior to doing the hike but it’s do-able. This hike does involve a lot of walking so make sure you have comfortable shoes and preferably shoes that you can easily take on and off because you will be going into some temples that require shoes off. The hike is not too strenuous because it’s mostly a series of steps. There are a lot of steps but Mariko allowed us to take our time especially for pictures. We had an opportunity to eat a local style lunch and check out a cute gift store (with air conditioning!) in a nearby city of Kifune. We didn’t need to go all the way to Nara because we met some sweet deer that let us watch them munch on lunch on this trip. If you are someone that wants to learn a little more about what it’s like outside a big city and you want some adventure, this tour will give you that. If you’re a fan of Reiki, on this hike you will see the birthplace of Reiki. If you’re into taking really gorgeous pictures, this hike is for you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
Check Availability
From $102
From $102
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).
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