Arashiyama Beyond the Crowds: Bamboo Grove & Hidden Paths
- 3h 15m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Don’t walk, run to book your tour with Michael! He is truly one of the best tour guides that we have ever had and made our Kyoto experience so much more memorable. As a former teacher, he knows how to tell stories in a way that connect with both adults and children (we have two teenagers). Michael knows all of the hidden gems to visit - spots that are so cool but not crowded with other tourists. His stories are really interesting (not just what you read on Wikipedia) and he is willing to answer any and all questions honestly! You will not regret booking a tour with Michael! -Lauren
Inclusions
What's included
- Entrance fee
Itinerary
A must-see in Kyoto. We will arrive before the adjacent temple opens to avoid crowds and you will learn a brief history of how it came to be.
Learn how to tell the difference between a temple and a shrine, and a brief explanation about the significance of the shrine and what is commonly found at shrines.
Jojakko-ji Temple is a historic Zen temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto, located near the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Bamboo Grove. This hillside Kyoto temple is known for its moss gardens, stone pathways, traditional wooden halls, and panoramic views over Kyoto city. Beautiful in every season, Jojakkoji Temple is a year-round highlight in Arashiyama, from spring cherry blossoms and summer greenery to autumn leaves and peaceful winter scenery.
Our Arashiyama Kyoto walking tour continues to Hōkyō-in Temple — a quiet, off-the-beaten-path Zen sanctuary rarely included on standard Arashiyama tours. While most visitors explore the famous landmarks, we step into a secluded space that preserves one of the most unexpected and deeply human stories of Japan’s medieval warrior era. Beneath its understated grounds lies a burial that reshapes how we understand loyalty, rivalry, and respect — a story few travelers ever hear without a guide who knows where to look.
Our journey concludes at Seiryō-ji Temple in Arashiyama, home to one of Kyoto’s most sacred and historically significant Buddhist images. While many visitors admire its impressive main hall and move on, this temple preserves a story that connects imperial devotion, international exchange, and centuries of quiet faith. It’s the kind of place where the surface is beautiful — but the deeper meaning only reveals itself when you understand what you’re truly standing in front of.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
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Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- When you get off the train, walk towards the front of the station - the guide will be waiting for you in front of the crossing. The tour will begin promptly at 8:00am unless otherwise arranged.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Michael
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- *Prams and strollers may have to be left at the gates of temples
- Recommended for travellers who can walk at least 10,000 steps per day
- Recommended for travelers who are comfortable climbing stairs
How it compares in Kyoto
- Its from-price is 28% below the median of the 1713 experiences we list in Kyoto.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 725 of 1713.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years, is a city of temples, gardens, wooden townhouses and refined traditions.
The city holds many of Japan's most treasured sites. Fushimi Inari Taisha's thousands of vermilion torii gates climb a wooded mountain, Kinkaku-ji's Golden Pavilion shimmers over its pond, and Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage juts from the hillside above the city. The rock garden of Ryoan-ji and the mossy grounds of Ginkaku-ji invite quiet contemplation.
Top-ranked sights in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Special offers in Kyoto
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
