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Kyoto Garden & park tours

Our most recommended Kyoto Garden & park tours

Kyoto: Top Highlights Full Day Trip

1. Kyoto: Top Highlights Full Day Trip

Visit some of Kyoto's most famous sites on this culture-focused day trip. Hop on board an air-conditioned coach and explore Japan's ancient capital to see the brilliant Torii Gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu-Dera temple, and the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-Ji. Start your tour by discovering some of Kyoto's ancient historic sites, dating back to the 6th century. Get dropped off at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Spend time wandering the paths before heading to a restaurant for lunch to taste a standard or deluxe traditional tofu set-course menu with Japanese tea. After lunch, head off to Kiyomizu-Dera, one of the most iconic temples in Japan. Spend ample time strolling through the temple. Walk across the impressive wooden stage, which juts out from the hillside and was constructed without the use of a single nail. Later, make a final stop at Kinkaku-Ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion because it's covered in gold leaves. Wander through the gardens surrounding the temple, admiring the original Japanese designs that have been preserved since Ashikaga's time. In the late afternoon, get dropped off at Kyoto Station where your tour ends.

Kyoto and Nara 1 Day Bus Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

2. Kyoto and Nara 1 Day Bus Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

Depart from the exclusive VIP waiting rooms of Osaka or Kyoto, heading to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Designated as an Important Cultural Property, the main shrine building contains five shrines together, these five pillars of Fushimi Inari Taisha are named for the great virtues of Inari Okami that they embody. Inari Okami is known as a deity of business prosperity, the prosperity of industries, the safety of households, safety in traffic and improvement in the performing arts. The 'Senbon Torii' or 1000 torii gates are donations by individuals and companies, and you will find the donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate. Then you will head to Arashiyama, which changes with the seasons and you can enjoy the scenery any time of year, with cherry blossoms in the spring, boat festivals in the Summer, red leaves in Autumn and snow white mountains in the winter. Arashiyama is also filled with temples and shrines including the match-making Shrine you can visit, during your walk through the famed Bamboo grove. There are a variety of restaurants to choose right near the Togetsukyo bridge, including vegan and Halal. Proceed to the symbol of Kyoto, Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, also named Rakuon-ji: one of the most popular buildings in Japan. Finally, move on to Japan’s old capital, Nara: you will have the time to explore its park, cuddle the worldwide famous deer and enter the biggest wooden building of the planet, Todai-ji Temple, another UNESCO world heritage site. Here you will find yourself in front of Japan’s biggest Buddha statue, 15 meters tall.

Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

3. Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

Fall in love with Arashiyama on an afternoon biking and hiking tour in Kyoto. Spend the day in nature as you hike along the greenery of Iwatayama Monkey Park and bike through the towering bamboo of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Visit the UNESCO-certified Tenryuji Temple with included entry tickets. Start your trip by traveling back in time as you ride along the roads used in Kyoto today that were originally sub-temples of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tenryuji Temple. Become one with nature while exploring the temple’s Zen gardens. Continue the journey with a short hike up to the impressive panoramic view of Kyoto from Iwatayama Mountain and the accompanying Iwatayama Monkey Park. Spend the rest of the tour peddling through bamboo forests and visiting local spots not frequented by tourist crowds.

Kyoto: Private Tour with Local Licensed Guide

4. Kyoto: Private Tour with Local Licensed Guide

Discover Kyoto’s historical sites, favorite local spots, and hidden gems on a private walking tour with a nationally licensed guide. Choose from a 6 or 4-hour tour, whose itinerary can be customized to fit your interests. See both the modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient city as well as some of the best sightseeing areas, restaurants, and shops. Visit places like the Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for the Torii Gate Corridor. Explore the filming location for the film “Memoirs of a Geisha”, displaying a colorful crimson scenery with a mysterious atmosphere. Walk through the shrine’s corridors that were erected as a symbolic continuing gate from the current world to the world of the dead inhabited by the gods. Go to the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), which was given its name from the golden color of its reliquary hall. Admire its simple yet bold structure that features beautiful mountain views in the background. Enter the ancient Kiyomizu-dera temple to get panoramic city views from its large veranda. Walk from the path from the temple to Gion, to find many Kyoto-esque shops filled with unique souvenirs. Grab a snack or enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in the Gion district. Your guide will give you dining recommendations that are sure to delight your palate.

Kyoto: Arashiyama Walking Tour with Temple and Monkey Park

5. Kyoto: Arashiyama Walking Tour with Temple and Monkey Park

Get to know the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto on a guided tour around its top sights. Visit highlights like Bamboo Grove, Arashiyama Park, and the Okochi Sanso Garden. Get a taste of Japanese cuisine, explore a Buddhist temple, and enjoy free time in the district's famous shopping street. Choose between a group or private tour. Meet your guide at Saga-Arashiyama Station and head to your first stop, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Explore the amazing urban forest and reach the top of Arashiyama Park for panoramic views of the area. Continue to the private Okochi Sanso Garden. Relax in the serene surroundings and savor matcha tea and a Japanese sweet treat from the traditional tea house. Explore the Tenryuji Temple and admire the koi fish in the pond. Take in views of the Katsura River and the wooden Togetsukyo Bridge. Next, hike up the hill to reach the monkey park. Walk around the enclosures and admire the macaque monkeys up close. Finally, stroll along the Arashiyama shopping street with tips from your guide about the best shops to visit.

Kyoto: Sagano Train & Kiyomizudera Guided Tour with Lunch

6. Kyoto: Sagano Train & Kiyomizudera Guided Tour with Lunch

See some of Kyoto's highlights on this guided tour. Meet your expert guide and visit Arashiyama, where you can enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch with soft drinks to prepare you for an afternoon of sightseeing. After lunch, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kiyomizudera Temple, one of the most celebrated temples in Japan, founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall. The tour continues onto Fushimi Inari, world-famous for the thousands of Torii gates that line the entrance to the Shinto Shrine. Spend some free time exploring the mountain trails and the shrine buildings themselves, and learn about the fascinating culture of Japan. Beat the traffic and take the train with your professional guide from JR Kyoto Station to Arashiyama or Fushimi Inari Taisha (depending on the train schedule of that day). During the journey, feel immersed in nature as you admire the beautiful blossom trees and breathtaking mountain views. The tour ends after your visit to Fushimi Inari. If the first sightseeing place is Fushimi Inari Taisha, the bus will drop you off at JR Kyoto Station. Otherwise, your expert guide will give you a train ticket at Fushimi Inari Taisha to get back to JR Kyoto Station.

Kyoto: Arashiyama Customized Rickshaw Tour & Bamboo Forest

7. Kyoto: Arashiyama Customized Rickshaw Tour & Bamboo Forest

Your guide and chariot await at Kyoto’s iconic Togetsu-kyo bridge in Arashiyama, a nationally designated historic site and place of scenic beauty on Kyoto’s western fringe. Be amazed by the district’s main attraction, a towering grove of thick bamboo stalks with a pedestrian and rickshaw path cutting through it. Seeing its beauty, you’ll understand why the Japanese have a fond appreciation for nature. Admire the scenery, which is a blend of serene nature, tended gardens, and dazzling shrines, as your rickshaw driver pulls you up the mountain. Next you’ll see the beautiful Nonomiya Shrine, a Shinto site. If you’ve chosen the 45-minute tour, at this point you’ll end back at the starting point. But if you choose a longer tour, up to 3 hours and 10 minutes, you’ll continue through more of Arashiyama’s wealth of sites. Explore Rakushisya’s cottage, a rustic thatch-roof cottage that was once the home of one of Japan’s revered poets and haiku masters. Those continuing on will be pulled to spots not seen by many tourists. Explore more ancient temples, including Shinto shrines and the Buddhist Nison-in, as your guide whisks you through some amazing places before returning to Togetsu-kyo bridge. The Kyoto Arashiyama Tour is available in four different options: 45 minutes, 1 hour and 10 minutes, 2 hours and 10 minutes, and 3 hours and 10 minutes.

From Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights Day Trip

8. From Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights Day Trip

Visit some of Kyoto's most famous cultural sites on this day-long bus tour from Osaka. Hop aboard a comfortable coach and drive to Japan's ancient capital to see the brilliant torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu-dera temple, and the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. Kyoto is filled with ancient historic sites dating back to the 6th century. Get dropped off first at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Spend time wandering the brilliant paths before heading to your next destination. Arrive at Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most iconic temples in Japan. Take ample time to wander through the temple. Walk across the impressive wooden stage, which juts out from the hillside and was constructed without the use of a single nail. Next, stop at Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion due to the fact that it's covered in gold leaf. Wander through the immaculate gardens surrounding the temple, admiring the original Japanese designs that have been preserved since Ashikaga's time. Finish the day in Arashiyama, which has been a popular nature-viewing destination since the Heian Period. Take a stroll through the cool Sagano Bamboo Forest and listen to the distinct rustle of bamboo leaves as you walk. In the late afternoon, hop on the bus back to Osaka.

Kyoto: Private 2.5 Hour Historical Walking Tour

9. Kyoto: Private 2.5 Hour Historical Walking Tour

Meet up in the west gate (red gate) of Yasaka Shrine. At first, the guide will tell you about the history of Kyoto with a map of Kyoto. Start the tour with the explanation about Yasaka shrine. In Yasaka shrine, the guide will explain how to worship at a shrine.  Next, going through Maruyama Park, located next to Yasaka Shrine, you will find a busy street whose name is Nene-no-michi. Nene is the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a political leader in Japan in the late 16th century. Entokuin is a temple associated with Nene. Entokuin is a Zen temple, with beautiful dry landscape gardens, famous pictures depicted on sliding doors of the rooms in the temple. You can see  traditional Japanese rooms. You can enjoy the serene atmosphere of the temple. After going out of the temple, you will find a narrow street called Ishibe-koji. Walking further, you will find red ornaments hung from the eaves of the  entrance of shops and restaurants. The ornaments are the dolls of monkey, a divine messenger of Koshindo. Koshindo is a place of folk religion, which originated in  Asian countries.   A five-storied pagoda, commonly called Yasaka-no-to(pagoda), is located close to Koshindo. You will see the pagoda from outside. Zuigudo is a sub-temple of Kiyomizu Temple. You will get into the basement floor of the temple which symbolizes the womb of Bodhisattva. Wooden balls symbolizing a rosary will lead you to the bottom of the temple. When you get out, you will feel as if you were reborn. The final destination, Kiyomizu temple is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto. It was originally built in the 8th century. The temple has five million visitors a year from all over the world. The main object of worship is Kannon Bodhisattva. You can see Buddhist statues, including Kannon Bodhisattva. There is a wooden stage attached to the main hall. The stage is a wooden structure without the use of nails. The scenery from the stage is magnificent. From the stage you can see a three storied pagoda. It is called Koyasu Pagoda, or lliterally  pagoda for easy birth.  Women visit the pagoda praying for easy birth. Kiyomiozu literally means "pure water". The stream of water, running down from the mountain behind the temple, has never been dried up.  A lot of visitors stand in line to drink the water. There are an iron stick and iron clogs in the precinct.. They are donated items to the temple. The iron stick is very heavy. Why don't you try to lift it up?  After getting out of the main hall, the tour ends. Before ending the tour, the guide will explain something about Jishu Shrine, a shrine for match making.

Kyoto Highlights 7-Hour Private Guided Tour

10. Kyoto Highlights 7-Hour Private Guided Tour

During this 7-hour tour, your private guide will show you around the city of Kyoto on a visit to 4 major must-see attractions. There are 2 different routes available: a northwest-bound route and a southeast-bound route. If you choose to take both tours, you can visit 8 different locations at a relaxing pace. The tour starts out at 09:00 from the Hotel Granvia Kyoto in the JR Kyoto Station building. When booking you are requested to select either the northwest-bound or the southeast-bound itinerary. On the northwest-bound tour you’ll visit the Bamboo Grove, the Rock Garden (Ryoanji Temple), the Golden Pavilion and Nijo Castle or the Nishiki Market. The southeast-bound tour visits the Sake Brewery, the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Sanjusangendo Temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple and the Ninenzaka or Sannenzaka Slope. The tour ends at 16:00 near the Gion area, the geisha district of Kyoto.

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Frequently asked questions about Kyoto

What top attractions are a must-see in Kyoto?

The must-see attractions in Kyoto are:

What are the best day trips and excursions from Kyoto?

The best day trips and excursions from Kyoto are:

Arashiyama

Other Sightseeing Options in Kyoto

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What people are saying about Kyoto

Overall rating

4.1 / 5

based on 127 reviews

The trip took us to beautiful and impressive places. We were highly impressed by our first guide Satoshi - he spoke advanced English and was quite knowledgeable and kind. The second guide Kan was very friendly and caring. The activity provider was also extremely kind and thoughtful in preparing a small surprise for my boyfriend who had a birthday on the day of our trip. The trip can be booked with a starting point Kyoto or Osaka, I think Osaka is the better option, discuss it with the activity provider.

Driver and guide were nice and patient throughout the trip. Guide provided much information and was fluent in both Mandarin and English.

Leider kein bevorzugter Einlass. Unbedingt vor 08.45.

Tanaka-San (Rich) was well-informed, helpful, and a neat person to spend a morning with. Money well spent.

Very enjoyable personalized tour with an excellent guide who speaks perfect English!

You got exactly what was in the description, a very good day!