Katsuo-ji Temple, Miyama, and Arashiyama Day Trip
- Katsuo-ji Temple, with its hills covered in Daruma dolls, speaks of people's obsession and faith in praying for victory.
- Collect six commemorative stamps to redeem a limited-edition postcard, adding a ritualistic aspect to your visit.
- The Miyama Thatched Village retains its Edo-era appearance, a rustic village where time seems to stand still, a secret escape from the city.
- Thatched-roof houses, red mailboxes, and green mountains and rivers intertwine, while milk and ice cream add to the rural flavor.
- The Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama spans the Katsura River, displaying picturesque scenery that changes with the seasons.
- The Sagano Bamboo Forest Path is serene and refreshing, with the sound of the wind and the shadows of the bamboo making visitors linger.
- Yuzen Light Forest and Nonomiya Shrine interweave dreams and prayers, leaving a gentle aftertaste to the journey.
What to expect
A day trip to three stunning hidden gems in Kansai, from a sacred place of prayer to a secluded ancient village, and finally to a must-visit natural beauty spot in Kyoto, immersing yourself in a journey interwoven with Japanese aesthetics and culture.
🛕 Arrive at Katsuo-ji Temple in northern Osaka in the morning. Stepping through the vermilion mountain gate and the Purification Bridge is like entering a spiritual world. Purify yourself and ward off misfortune in the swirling mist, and the daruma dolls all over the mountain symbolize victory and perseverance. You can experience the prayer process of painting the right eye on the Daruma, and there are six commemorative stamps waiting to be collected. After completion, you can get a limited edition Katsuo-ji Temple postcard and take it home full of blessings.
🏡 Then go to Miyama Thatched Village in Kyoto, one of the three major thatched roof villages in Japan, where the simple Edo period style is still vivid. Stroll through the traditional thatched houses, feel the stillness of time, stay away from the hustle and bustle, and experience the original rural customs.
🌿 Visit Arashiyama in the afternoon. Togetsukyo Bridge spans the Katsura River, and the changing scenery of the four seasons unfolds like a picture scroll. Walk through the Sagano Bamboo Forest, listen to the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo shadows, and enjoy the pure movement of nature. The “Yuzen Light Forest” light and shadow installation next to the station transforms traditional kimono patterns into dreamlike scenes. 💖 You can also visit Nonomiya Shrine, a sacred place for marriage hidden deep in the bamboo forest, which is said to be extremely effective. Come here with a wish, and maybe love will sprout here. 🌸 Finally, stroll through the Tenryu-ji Temple garden, where the pond is like a mirror, reflecting the scenery of the four seasons, bringing a perfect end to this Kansai trip.
We look forward to you experiencing the natural and cultural beauty of Kansai with us, and gaining a lot of emotion and memories! ✨

































Reviews
My family and I had a great time during our tour. Our Tour Guide, MoMo, is informative and very accommodating, always smiling and warm. The places we visited are all beautiful and have lovely autum foliage, from Katsuoji to Arashimaya. The transfer was smooth and we ride a mini bus, with is an advance since we are fewer than a big bus, it will not take much time to wait for the other passengers. Over all, it was very good for its price if you want to see beautiful sceneries in Osaka and Kyoto for a day. Thanks, MoMo for assisting as, we appreciate it. ☺️
well organized tour according to itinerary. tour guide Steven shared some details before reaching the destination. it’s a self guided tour and we were given just enough time at each destination to sightseeing, eat and shop. our family enjoyed this tour very much! highly recommended.
our tourguide is owen. he is very friendly and approachable. the trip is awesome with great memories. miyama village is breathtaking
This trip to Katsuo-ji Temple and Miyama was truly worth the money! I'm very grateful for Klook's careful planning, which made our trip complete and smooth. Special thanks to our guide, Hu Chun, who demonstrated a high level of professionalism. His itinerary coordination and time management were precise and on point, and his explanations were meticulous and patient. He fully embodied Klook's service quality, and I highly recommend him!
Our tour guide, Leo "Little Lobster" 🦞, was incredibly kind and attentive. He contacted us via WeChat the night before, and since there were mostly Taiwanese tourists, he created a Line group on the day of the tour to remind us of the meeting time and recommend delicious restaurants in Arashiyama (like soba 🍜). The timing was perfect. We went to Katsuoji Temple in the morning when there were fewer people, which was great for taking photos. At noon, we strolled around Shirakawa-go, enjoying ice cream and milk. In the afternoon, Sanjo Street in Arashiyama was crowded, but we timed it just right to avoid the lunchtime rush, so we didn't have to wait in line at the restaurants 👍.
tour was nice but not really much of a tour, we loved the self lead part without a tour guide, and our bus driver was perfect but tour was more of a private coach to each place, which we personally loved but if you're looking for a tour do a different one.
This is a pick-up and drop-off tour. I originally thought there would be a guide leading or explaining things, so I didn't gather much information in advance. However, only the driver provided transportation to and from the station, and there was essentially no guided tour. Katsuo-ji Temple is relatively inconvenient to access, and the weather was quite hot, so this transfer service was a good choice. The overall itinerary was quite rushed, only allowing enough time for a quick tour around, without much time to linger. If time allows, I would recommend independent travel. Finally, we departed from Arashiyama at around 3:30 PM and had two hours to explore after arriving, including lunch. If you plan to have a meal, there won't be enough time for sightseeing. Miyama's thatched-roof village allows for 50 minutes of exploration. In the summer, there isn't much to see in the entire village, and the sunflowers were already withered when we visited.
Driver and tour guide Wang Weibing was very lucky to have a great tour leader. They answered all questions and provided very detailed explanations throughout the trip. Katsuo-ji Temple and Miyama Village (the location is a bit remote, so I recommend a day trip to avoid the hassle of traveling there yourself. Plus, having someone take you directly to your destination is really convenient! Highly recommended!)
Highly recommend today's tour guide, Ms. Liu Ling, for her enthusiastic and professional bilingual explanations. We were so glad we joined this day trip, which saved us from the hassle of transfers and running around in the high heat. We were able to comfortably sit on the minibus and reach the places we wanted to go, enriching our independent travel itinerary. Heartfelt thanks ❤️
The tour guide that day was very friendly and explained some things to keep in mind while in Japan. Since it was the end of July and the weather was hot, they reminded everyone to drink plenty of water, proactively discussed the itinerary with us, and adjusted the order, allowing us to spend more time in Arashiyama and have lunch there. The only slight drawback was that we felt a bit rushed at Katsuō-ji Temple. After getting the stamp, we didn't have much time to enjoy the scenery and temple grounds. The time in Arashiyama was very ample, and the Miyama thatched roof village was beautiful. The milk and ice cream were really great.
Good to know
{Important Information for Registration}
- If the registrant is a senior citizen over 70 years old or a pregnant woman, a waiver must be signed to ensure safety and improve relevant security procedures. Please note this in the "Special Request" column when booking, and we will send the waiver agreement document by email after receiving the order. Please sign and return the photo in advance to complete the registration process.
- Each guest can bring one piece of luggage for free. Please note this in the "Special Request" column when placing your order. If you bring it temporarily without notifying us one day in advance, it may cause crowding in the carriage and affect driving safety. The tour guide has the right to refuse you to board the car, and the fee will not be refunded; if there is an "infant under 3 years old who does not occupy a seat" among the travelers, be sure to make a note when placing the order, because even if the infant does not occupy a seat, it will be included in the number of people carried.
{Pre-Trip Tips}
- We will send you an email between 20:00-21:00 the day before the trip to inform you of the tour guide and vehicle information for the next day. The email may be mistakenly placed in the trash can. If it is the peak season, the email sending time may be delayed. In special circumstances, if you receive multiple emails, please refer to the latest email.
- Since this is a shared ride, please be sure to arrive at the meeting point or attraction on time. No refunds will be given for late arrivals. Any unexpected expenses and responsibilities arising from being late will be borne by you. Thank you for your understanding.
- As this activity is a group tour, guests of other languages may travel in the same car with you.
- To ensure your smooth travel, please be sure to confirm the meeting point. Once confirmed, please avoid temporary changes. If you fail to board the bus due to changes in the meeting point for personal reasons, no refund will be given.
- We will arrange different types of vehicles according to the actual number of travelers, and we cannot specify the type of vehicle.
- Seasonally limited activities (such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, special flower seasons, illuminations, fireworks displays, snow scenery sightseeing, hot spring season, festival activities, etc.) are greatly affected by climate, weather, or other force majeure factors, and specific arrangements may be adjusted. Therefore, please refer to the official notification. If no official notice of cancellation of the event is received, we will arrange according to the original plan, and no refund will be given if the flowering period or special event cannot reach expectations. Please be aware.
- 【Small Group Instructions】If there are traveling guests, we will arrange for a small car to travel, and the driver will also be the tour guide. Please note that due to the long journey, the small vehicles used may not be as comfortable as large buses, and the space inside the car is limited. To ensure the riding experience of all passengers, please do not bring large luggage (such as large suitcases). In addition, small group and chartered service drivers will prioritize safe driving, and the explanations along the way may be simpler than those of large groups. Thank you for your understanding. It is recommended that you fully evaluate whether the itinerary meets your personal needs before registering. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
{Tips during the trip}
- During peak tourist seasons or other special circumstances, the departure time of the itinerary may be earlier or slightly delayed. The specific departure time is subject to the email notification the day before the trip. Please be prepared in advance at that time.
- We will do our best to arrange seat requests, but since this trip is a shared ride, seat allocation mainly follows the principle of first come, first served. If you have special needs, please inform us in the remarks, and we will do our best to arrange suitable seats for you. The final arrangement is subject to the coordination of the tour guide on the day.
- The traffic, sightseeing, and stay times involved in the itinerary are subject to the actual situation on the day. In case of special circumstances (such as traffic jams, weather reasons, etc.), the tour guide will reasonably adjust the tour sequence or reduce attractions (time) after considering the actual situation and obtaining the consent of the guests.
- During group tours, it is not allowed to leave the group early or leave the group midway. If you choose to leave the group midway, the unfinished part will be regarded as voluntarily giving up, and no refund will be given. You will be responsible for any accidents that may occur after leaving the group or leaving the group. Thank you for your understanding.
- Due to the long journey, the actual arrival time will be affected by factors such as traffic and weather. The above time is only an estimate. Please avoid arranging other activities after the day's itinerary. Our company will not be responsible for any losses caused by delays. Thank you for your understanding.
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Top attractions in Kyoto
- 1 Arashiyama
- 2 Fushimi Inari Taisha
- 3 Kiyomizudera Temple
- 4 Sanzen-in Temple
- 5 Kinkakuji Temple
- 6 Gion
- 7 Nishiki Market
- 8 Nijō Castle
- 9 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- 10 Fushimi Jikkokubune
- 11 Kyoto Station
- 12 Kyoto Imperial Palace
- 13 Pontocho
- 14 Kamo River
- 15 Toei Kyoto Studio Park
- 16 Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
- 17 Ninenzaka
- 18 Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- 19 Kurama Hot Spring
- 20 Sanjusangen-do Temple




