Discover Arashiyama Free Tour in Kyoto: Bamboo Forest, Hidden Gems & Monkeys in Kyoto, Netherlands Antilles - A unique experience

Walk Arashiyama the local way: time the Bamboo Grove, visit Nonomiya and Mikami Hair Shrine, climb to a quiet Kameyama Park viewpoint, and cross poetic Togetsukyo Bridge. Optional: Monkey Park. Small group, easy pace, stories and photo tips.

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Things to do Arashiyama Free Tour in Kyoto: Bamboo Forest, Hidden Gems & Monkeys

Small group, Real stories, no tourist script. I live here — not just in Kyoto, but in Arashiyama. Before the bamboo fills with cameras, this place moves differently. Slower. Softer. More honest. This is not a checklist tour. It’s a walk through history, poetry, and quiet corners most visitors pass without noticing. This is a small group experience. No umbrellas. No microphones. No rushing. At the end, you decide what the experience was worth to you.

Included

Mikami Shrine

Togetsu-kyo Bridge

Arashiyama Park Kameyama Area

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

Nonomiya Shrine

Meeting point

Kyōto Sagano maison matcha cafe

Reviews (16)

2026-04-06 07:46:41

“Awesome Guide”

Ben is a very knowledgeable, kind and helpfull guide. Flexible, easy in contact with every person in the group. He took great pictures of everyone even in the most crowded places, and showed us really hidden beautiful spots we never would have discovered on our own.

Marjon Nederpelt (English)

2026-04-01 06:20:26

“Ben gives a fun and relaxed tour”

… to some if the most beautiful spots in his neighborhood. He’s relaxed and good-spirited - and knows how to make the best pictures, too! Highly recommended.

Martin Stavenhagen (English)

2026-03-24 22:45:19

“Highly recommend”

We much enjoyed the Arashiyama Walking Tour. Ben is a great guide and knows a lot about the area. Highly recommended

Theresa Arnold (English)

2026-03-22 09:12:11

“Bamboo Forest ”

Ben was a great guide. He was knowledgeable about the area, not just the sites we saw, but also restaurant & activity recommendations. He was personable and ensured we had time to explore each area to its fullest. Definitely recommend Ben.

Kia Solari (English)

2026-03-21 23:49:55

“Great Guide, Great Tour”

Had a great experience! Ben was a knowledgable guide and very personable.

Christopher Donahue (English)

2026-03-20 14:27:12

“One of my favourite Japanese tours ever!”

I had an absolutely amazing experience on the Arashiyama Walking Tour with Benjamin! He guided us through the bamboo forest and the surrounding area with shrines, sharing fascinating stories about the town along the way. Benjamin is extremely knowledgeable and has a fantastic sense of humour, which made the tour both fun and memorable. He also went out of his way to take the best photos of our entire group, capturing moments we’ll always cherish. The combination of his expertise, humour, and attention to detail made this experience a perfect 12/10. I highly recommend Benjamin to anyone visiting Arashiyama!

Maria B (English)

2026-02-17 10:43:49

“Great day in Arashiyama”

We enjoyed our tour with Benjamin today and we were lucky to have a beautiful weather which made are photos wonderful and the atmosphere pleasant. We visited the main spots in Arashiyama and received all the information and tips we needed. Stands of food were everything and we really enjoyed the various and tasty Kyoto specialities. Very satisfied and happy of our visit today. Big thanks to Benjamin!

Yasmina Limame (English)

2026-02-16 11:45:59

“nice walk and a lot of information”

we have made a nice romantic walk through the Bambou-Forrest and have got a lot of information about the district and about shinto. Ben is a very sympatic guide :-)

Bettina Hemme (English)

2026-02-07 12:08:54

“BEST GUIDE IN KYOTO”

Ben is the best guide I have ever used. We got along so well that he took me back to his wife's business, making kimonos and at a ceremony we then went back to my Hostel and drank four bottles of plum wine with the guests of the hostel. And we all went out to dinner after that! This was above and beyond the two hour tour! I think we ended up spending 10 hours together. It was awesome.

Hunter S Thompson II (English)

2026-01-25 07:22:59

“Excellent guide”

Has a great visit of the bamboo grove and received splendid recommendations for meals and activities !

john lim (English)

2025-11-30 16:34:23

“Top!”

Ben est très agréable! Nous avons passé un très bon moment et une visite très pertinente... Mais Ben ne se limite pas à ça et est plein de bons conseils pour les autres choses à découvrir sur Kyoto avec cerise sur le gâteau: partage de ses bonnes adresses ! Encore merci Ben

Sandrine Bacquaert (French)

2025-11-17 03:18:53

“Bamboo bliss and much more!”

This was a great trip led by Ben. We learnt so much about Japanese culture, history and religion as well as seeing some fantastic sights along the way - including one of Jack Ma’s houses! The autumn foliage was wonderful and my camera was constantly clicking away. We finished walk at monkey forest where we sampled eel, octopus balls and sweet potato. Thank you once again Ben.

Melvyn Lintern Lintern (English)

2025-11-12 10:58:49

“Brilliant ”

Benjamin was an excellent guide, very welcoming and genuinely heartwarming. He showed us all the described locations, answered every question with patience, and gave us plenty of great recommendations for further exploration. The highlight was when he showed us the best spot to buy Wagyu A5 beef so we could cook it at our accommodation — honestly the best recommendation we could have received!

Edwin (English)

2025-10-23 08:17:20

“Arashiyama Free Tour ”

My family of four had an absolutely amazing time on this walking tour through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. From the moment we started, it was clear that this wasn't just a walk—it was an enriching experience. Our guide Ben, was incredibly knowledgeable, not just about the local history and significance of the forest and surrounding temples, but also about the best times for photos and how to navigate the crowds. He brought the area to life with fascinating stories and context we would have completely missed on our own. Ben was incredibly helpful, finding us the best route back to our hotel. Highly, highly recommend!

Viktoria (English)

2025-10-16 12:11:37

“Fantastic day out with an exceptional Guude”

We had an amazing experience with Ben (Benjamin Tang)! Our small group of seven couldn’t have asked for a better guide – he was super organized, punctual, and really knowledgeable about all the key spots we visited. He timed everything perfectly so we could enjoy the sights without the crowds, and he’s also a brilliant photographer – our photos look like we had the whole place to ourselves! What really stood out was how caring he was. He looked out for everyone, especially the older members of our group, offering encouragement (and even carrying handbags up hills!). He went above and beyond the whole afternoon and even stayed longer than planned just to make sure we had the best experience. Highly recommend – professional, friendly, and genuinely passionate about what he does. Keep up the great work Ben!

Priya (English)

2025-10-14 09:35:19

“Great tour”

I can only recommend this tour. It was really interesting and covered good places in Arashiyama. Ben is a great tour guide who explains everything well and answers every question. And the list of recommendations for sightseeing, restaurans etc. makes staying in the area even more enjoyable

Conny (English)

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