Arashiyama Walk, Monkeys & Garden

Arashiyama Walk, Monkeys & Garden, 5 hours, rated 5 across 1,781 traveller reviews.

Overview

This five-hour walking tour covers the Arashiyama district, moving on foot from the Bamboo Grove to Tenryu-ji's garden, across Togetsukyo Bridge and finally up the hill to Iwatayama Monkey Park. Japanify Tours caps the group at twelve travellers and runs it in English, with entrance fees for the paid stops included in the tour price.

The route strings together the area's main sights in one walk, which is the practical appeal: one reviewer said that while you can enter the bamboo forest on your own, having a guide really improved the experience. The trade-off is physical. The listing warns of a 20 to 25 minute hike to the monkey park hilltop on a path it describes as a bit steep, and multiple reviewers called that climb strenuous.

A combined option adding Fushimi Inari is available for travellers who want a fuller day. Lunch is not included, but the itinerary builds in a break near the main street where reviewers found plenty of choices. Solo travellers can book, though the tour needs at least two guests to proceed.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arashiyama startThe tour begins in Arashiyama with a 20 minute introduction to the area. Admission here is free.
2. Bamboo Forest TrailA 30 minute walk through the bamboo grove with the guide. Admission is included.
3. Tenryu-ji Temple gardenThe Sogenchi Teien garden visit lasts 35 minutes. The garden entrance fee is included in the tour price.
4. Arashiyama streetsRoughly 35 minutes exploring the district. Admission is not involved at this stage, and reviewers mention a lunch break with choices on and just off the main street.
5. Togetsukyo BridgeA 15 minute stop at the bridge before the final leg of the walk.
6. Monkey Park IwatayamaOne hour at the monkey park, entrance fee included. The listing warns the hike to the hilltop takes 20 to 25 minutes on a path that is a bit steep.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews, and they are worth knowing before booking.

• Fitness needed. The final climb to the monkey park is the hardest part of the day. The listing puts it at 20 to 25 minutes on a path it calls a bit steep, and several reviewers described it as strenuous. One reviewer also noted the tour is entirely on foot, with no bus or car between stops.
• Weather and pace. The tour runs outdoors for five hours, so the weather shapes the day. One reviewer mentioned a hot day on the tour, and another said the five hours passed quickly. The monkey hike is optional according to another reviewer, who said guests are warned about the effort ahead of time.
• Tickets handled. Entrance fees for the Tenryu-ji garden and the monkey park are included, so there is nothing extra to pay at those stops. One reviewer described the guide running ahead to the ticket booths so tickets were ready on arrival. The Togetsukyo Bridge stop is also listed with admission included.
• Food and drink. Lunch and dinner are not included. The itinerary builds in a break in Arashiyama, and reviewers mention a tea house break and a side street lunch spot, with more choices just off the main street. Bring water, especially for the climb.
• Group feel. The tour takes a maximum of twelve travellers and runs in English only. Reviewers repeatedly praised the guides as knowledgeable, patient and personable. One reviewer said five hours passed by quickly because there was so much to see and learn.
• Photos. Recording and live streaming are not allowed during the tour, and smart glasses with recording capability are banned. Ask the guide on the day about what photography is permitted.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum of two guests to proceed, so a solo booking may be cancelled if nobody else signs up, with rescheduling or a full refund offered. The bamboo forest is busy, as one reviewer put it, and there is nothing a tour can do about the crowds. The monkey park climb is genuinely tough for anyone with mobility limits, and the listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Pickup is not available, so travellers must make their own way to the meeting point.

Common Questions