Arashiyama Tour

Itinerary (customizable):
Monkey park
Tenryūji Temple garden
Bamboo Grove
Ōkōchi Sansō Garden

Description:
In this tour we will hike up the Iwatayama mountain to see the monkeys living in the park. We’ll see one of Kyoto’s most beautiful gardens at Tenryūji before we head into the bamboo forest before we get to the top at Ōkōchi Sansō, the villa of a Japanese film actor with a beautiful view of Kyoto.

We begin with a short hike to the Monkey Park (20 min.), where over 100 Japanese macaques roam freely. From the summit, you’ll also enjoy one of Kyoto’s most spectacular panoramic views, the city framed by mountains.
Our next stop is Tenryūji, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the head temple of the Rinzai Zen school.
Its garden, designed in the 14th century, is considered one of Kyoto’s most beautiful. It’s a perfect

harmony of pond, rocks, and Arashiyama’s mountains as a natural backdrop.
From here, we step into Arashiyama’s famous Bamboo Grove. Towering stalks sway gently overhead, creating one of the most otherworldly sights in Japan. It is a path often described as walking through a living green cathedral.
We head to the top of the bamboo forest at Ōkōchi Sansō, the former villa of a famous Japanese film actor. The gardens are breathtaking year-round, with tea and sweets included in your visit. From here, the view stretches over the city, mountains, and Hozu River.
From here, we go back down the bamboo forest where you’ll pass some other shrines like Mikami and Nonomiya before we end at the shopping street.