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A mellow-out in Kyoto (Arashiyama centered)

boating in the river

view on the Katsura river

stepping up the monkey mountain

on the top of monkey mountain

close up on feeding the monkey with snack

watching the monkeys

white heron in the Katsura river

a panoramic view on Hozukyo gorge

snow on the way to Hozukyo view terrace

blue sky against the emerald green water

boating in the river

overview on the katsura river

snow landscape on the Arashiyama

TogetsuKyo bridge

snow on the Togetsukyo bridge

snow on the garden

autumn in the lotus pond

rickshaw

a mellow out on the Sagano area

Sogenchi_No.1 national designation of ZEN temple

Sogenchi_closed up

a mellow out on the Sagano area

the tamajari_Zen-oriented white sand

landscape on the Takada-ji temple

affiliated temple to Tenryuji

bamboo forest

Kimono Forest

Neagarinomatsu_Priced-up root of pine tree

writing of prayer's wishes

A mellow-out in Kyoto (Arashiyama centered)

Highlights

Joined 2025

Gary S.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kyoto

Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) (Native), English, Japanese

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Gary S.)

Up to 4 people

Arashiyama has been the beloved landscape for many ancient emperors, who had been buried in the Arashiyama park area. It is now managed by the Kyunaicho, Imperial Office.

This tour highlights several attractions, inclusive of both must-to-be-visited site, bamboo grove, kimono forest and off-the-beaten-track scenic spots, such as view terrace of Hozukyo gorge, three emperors' crematorium, Kokura Pond (Lotus flower), Hair (Shrine), Suminokura Ryoi in Edo period.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

Your hotel lobby

- After meeting each other, we will start to take the public transportation(train/bus/taxi). Pls make sure you have Japanese cash because sometimes credit card is not used.

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Monkey mountain in Iwatayama

Entrance Ticket @800JPY per person at tourist’s own expense

1.5~2 hours for the round trip

Challenge points:

Continuous uphill stepping in 30 mins from the entrance of check in until we arrive at the monkey mountain top.

Attraction:

About 200monkeys on the mountain top

Tourist may answer the quizzes alongside of the uphill paths, by doing so, he or she can have some interesting knowledge regarding monkey’s habituation.

Tourist may feed the monkeys by buying snacks such as apple slice or shell peanuts.

Tourist can have photos with monkeys in the closest distance.

Arashiyama Bamboo grove/forest

After leaving the monkey mountain, we walk 16 mins to the must-to-be-visited site, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

The magic of beauty of the bamboo forest lies in the light change of the sunlight reflections due to comprehensive factors resulted from the change of the cloud, the bamboo leaves shaking and the wind waving movements.

As you would be emerging in the shady, soothing and serenity of the green world of bamboo, you would find yourself in the most peaceful environment.

Options (Tenryu-Ji temple or Arashiyama Park)

After bamboo grove, we may do the below options tour routings:

(1) Tenryu-Ji temple, the Japanese national No.1 designation Zen concept pond, SOGENCHI

(2) Arashiyama park walkabout, Inclusive of Togetsukyo bridge

Restaurant: ORAGE

Lunch & rest 1hour

Lunch budge is about 1100~2500JPY per person, iced water is free.

Pls take note that most of the restaurant does not accept credit card payment, pls prepare the case before the tour.

Or you may do the exchange(USD to JPY) at the restaurant area, there is auto exchange machine available.

Although it is not mandatory, it is high appreciated that you pay for tour guide lunch.

Arrival at Fushimi Inari shrine

Most popular and powerful Inari god in Japan, where tourist can have the most blessing to take the breathtaking photos inside the undulating beauty of vermillion brilliance of Senbon Torii gateway (archway).

Neagarinomatsu (Fushimi Inari)

A lifted up root of pine tree.

Local Japanese believe a pray in front of the Neagrinomatsu would make his/her stock(or investment) become priced up.

What is more, if tourist would go through the hole of pine root, his/her knee/waist/back would be improved greatly.

To conclude, if tourist trust the power of trust of Neagarimatsu, he or she would definitely become wealthy and healthy.

Matcha ice cream shop

A visit in the local Macha ice cream shop, tourist would have the Macha ice cream with Genmai(fried rice) topping at the lowest price @280JPY.

Remark: The Macha shop closes on Wednesday and public holiday.

White horse temple (Fushimi Inari)

This is where tour guide would explain to you regarding Japanese superstitious behavior, putting their company’s name cards into the temple and wishing the white horse(messenger of Inari god)would help deliver the name cards to Inari god so that the company would have the blessings of prosperity from Inari god.

Kyoto station

After arriving at the Kyoto station, tour guide will help the tourist make sure the way back to his/her hotel.

Ending Point

Kyoto Station

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Tour guide fee

What‘s not included

1.Tourist's transportation(railway/bus) and private transportation(taxi) needed in the process of sightseeing.

Below are the estimated prices for your reference.

Because tour guide does not know your hotel location, pls kindly do not regard it as accurate and final.

*******************************************************************

Your hotel->JR Kyoto Station->Hankyu Arashiyama Station->Fushimi Inari station->Your hotel

Totel budget for transportation is about:

Max:500+500+500+500=2000JPY

*****************************************************************

(1USD=144.54JPY ,exchange rate as of July 6,2025)

3.Tourist lunch is at his/her own expense .

4.Tour guide lunch(it is not mandatory but highly appreciate that tourist(client) would pay for the lunch fee of tour guide)

Lunch fee for one person is from 1300JPY to 2300 JPY

5.All the entrance tickets for sightseeing inside the scenic spots

for tourists.

Monkey mountain entrance fee:800 per person

Tenryu-ji Temple:800 per person

6:Taxi fee

If the tourist has senior or infirm family members, it is highly recommended that you take the taxi as transportation vehicle,e.g., from your hotel to railway station and railway station to your hotel, from Hankyu Arashiyama station to Monkey mountain ticket office(15mins by walking),from Lunch restaurant to Bamboo Forest(18mins by walking),From southern gate of Tenryu-ji Temple to JR Saga Arashiyama station(20mins)

Tour Important Information

1. Pls prepare enough protection from sun,e.g., hat, cap, umbrella, water, coolant spay, sun burn spray, in order to prevent you from being hit by heat stroke.

2.The way to the Monkey mountain top with steep steps is challenging for people with back/knee problems.

The senior or infirm tourist may adopt the the walk-and-sit method to reach the mountain top.

However, if you really think it is out of your capacity to meeting the challenge of climbing, pls stay at the bench in the mid-way of the mountain path.

Differs from your walking pace, in general you need 30~40 mins to reach the mountain top so that you can see the lovely monkeys.

3.This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

4.The Fushimi Inari Shrine has five sections of the Senbon Torii gateway(archway).The 1st section is wheelchair accessible, however guest with wheelchair is not able to complete the 2nd/3rd/4th/5th section because of the stepping(stair case).Also as a reminder,although it is accessible with a wheelchair on the 1st section of Senbon Torii gateway,it is no easy to continue to the moving progress because of too many people are getting in your way.

To conclude:

Since this is a tour by public transportation, Tour guide hope you could be considerate in figuring out whether it is feasible to invite your family member with wheelchair neccessity together to complete this tour.

Important message from the supplier

Max people=3 would be adjustable if the tourists have more than 3 members in his/her family or friend group.

The reason that I define the Max People as 3 is because I plan the tour by using public transportation.

In case of the bus/train,there would be no restriction for 3 peoples,but in case of taking taxi,I think 3 people is easy and comfortable for a riding.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2025

Gary S.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Gary S.

As an inbound tour guide and outbound tour leader, I have had the honor of serving guests from over 56 countries. I specialize in both private tours and bus higaeri (one-day) tours for Japanese local tourism services. I am also proud to be a 5-star-reviewed tour guide on other platforms. I speak Japanese, English, Mandarin, and Cantonese—skills I developed during my long-term career as a project manager in international joint ventures requiring multilingual and cross-cultural communication. This enables me to interact smoothly with tourists from regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), and mainland China, as long as we share a common language like English. In addition, I’m currently studying French, Spanish, Italian, and German to deepen my understanding of diverse cultures and enhance the experience I provide. I believe in the importance of omoiyari—the Japanese concept of empathy and consideration—an essential trait cultivated through personal growth, social experience, and professional challenges. I always strive to stand in my guests' shoes and provide thoughtful, personalized service. I also bring a sense of humor and optimism to my work, guided by a strong belief in the power of trust, shaped by my interest in Buddhism, Shintoism, and Protestant Christianity. In August 2024, I joined my first Heiro tour led by Japanese trainers, a couple who became certified Heiro masters after completing the practice 11 times. This experience enriched both my spiritual perspective and cultural understanding.