Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour with Tenryu-ji Temple Admission

Your experience

Explore Kyoto's Arashiyama on a guided walking tour that includes Tenryuji Temple admission and a local guide.

Getting started

Meet your local guide at the designated starting point in Arashiyama and get a brief overview of the walking route. Your Tenryuji Temple entry ticket is organized in advance, so you can proceed directly toward the UNESCO World Heritage temple area. Once the group is ready, you set off on foot toward Tenryuji Temple to begin your guided visit.

What to expect

Tenryuji Temple

Tenryuji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Arashiyama, known for its Zen Buddhist architecture and historic garden layout. Your visit begins inside the temple precincts before continuing into the surrounding landscape.

Features

• Your Tenryuji Temple entry ticket is included with this Guided Tour with Temple Admission Included, so you can focus on experiencing the site instead of handling ticket purchases on the day.
• With a local guide, you follow a walking tour that covers Tenryuji Temple, its Zen gardens, and onward paths that connect to the wider Arashiyama area.
• Inside the temple grounds, you explore the celebrated Zen gardens that frame views of the surrounding mountains and provide changing scenery as you move along the paths.
• From selected viewpoints near the temple, you enjoy panoramic mountain views, which your guide helps you appreciate in the context of the garden design and temple setting.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

After the temple visit, the walking tour continues into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto's most photographed landscapes. Paths lead between tall bamboo stalks, creating a distinct atmosphere as you move through the grove.

Features

• The walking tour of Tenryuji Temple, gardens and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove lets you experience how the temple grounds connect directly into this famous bamboo corridor.
• As you walk through the photogenic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, your guide sets the pace and explains how this landscape has become one of Kyoto's signature sights.
• The route through the grove includes spots that highlight the height and density of the bamboo, giving you time to pause for photos and absorb the surroundings.

Local shops in Arashiyama

The final part of the walk brings you into nearby streets lined with small businesses that specialize in regional snacks and crafts. Here you can discover food and gift options that reflect Arashiyama's location and materials.

Features

• Your guide leads you to charming local shops where you can browse matcha sweets, traditional wagashi, and bamboo gifts that draw on local ingredients and craftsmanship.
• The visit to shops for matcha sweets and gifts is included in the route, giving you practical suggestions for items to try or purchase as souvenirs.
• You have the option to join a chopstick-making workshop at Chopsticks Studio Kyoto, which your guide can help you locate if you choose to participate.
• Entry to the Chopsticks Studio Kyoto workshop is not included in this experience, so any admission fee for the chopstick-making session is paid separately on site.

Wrapping up

The guided portion of the Arashiyama Walking Tour With Admission concludes near the local shop area, where your guide can point out directions for returning by public transportation or for continuing your own exploration of Arashiyama.

Highlights

• Walk with a local guide through Tenryu-ji Temple and its Zen gardens, then into Arashiyama's bamboo grove for a calm escape from city streets.
• Begin at Tenryu-ji using your included ticket, meet your local guide, then set off on a relaxed walking route toward the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
• Your guided access covers the UNESCO-listed Tenryu-ji Temple, from tranquil Zen gardens to paths that open up panoramic views of nearby mountains.
• Stroll the photogenic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then browse local shops for matcha sweets, wagashi treats, and handcrafted bamboo gifts to take home.
• Add an optional chopstick-making workshop at Chopsticks Studio Kyoto to craft your own pair, with the studio admission fee paid separately on site.