Kyoto Dream Illumination Maple Viewing Day Trip - Kinkaku-ji & Arashiyama (Including Night Maple Train・Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
- In autumn, Kinkaku-ji Temple's golden pavilion and red leaves reflect beautifully, with the mirror lake's reflection being particularly stunning.
- From the Kuro-mon Gate to Sekka-tei, maple trees line the path, and the distant view of Kinkaku-ji from the high platform adds a sense of depth.
- Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge offers picturesque scenery in all four seasons, making it one of Kyoto's most representative natural landscapes.
- Tenryu-ji Temple's Sogenchi Garden showcases the ultimate in Japanese garden design, with autumn maples creating a profound atmosphere.
- Stroll through Arashiyama's Bamboo Grove, listening to the wind rustle through the bamboo leaves, and immerse yourself in the tranquil natural ambiance.
- At Jojakko-ji Temple, Mount Ogura's maple leaves are ablaze with color, offering a peaceful autumn foliage viewing experience away from the crowds.
- The Sagano Scenic Railway's night autumn foliage train illuminates the valley, creating a dreamy, limited-time visual feast.
What to expect
* When Kyoto's autumn foliage intertwines on the same journey, with the shimmering Golden Pavilion, the whispers of the bamboo forest, and the night train chasing maple leaves—this one-day tour, starting from Osaka or Kyoto, condenses Kyoto's most iconic seasonal scenery into a single day.
- The first stop on the journey is Kinkaku-ji (Rokuon-ji). This Zen temple, founded in 1397, gets its name from the reliquary hall covered in gold leaf. In autumn, the temple is surrounded by red maple leaves, creating a stunning contrast with the golden pavilion. Strolling from the Kuro-mon gate to the depths of the garden, you can also admire the interwoven scenery of Kinkaku-ji and the maple forest near the Sekkatei teahouse.
- Afterwards, enjoy free time in the Arashiyama area. A stroll along the Katsura River from Togetsukyo Bridge is one of Kyoto's classic scenic routes. You can walk to Tenryu-ji Temple, a World Heritage site, and admire its famous Sogenchi Garden; pass through the Sagano Bamboo Forest path to listen to the natural sounds of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves; then proceed to Jojakko-ji Temple, where the autumn foliage of Mount Ogura is particularly enchanting.
- In the evening, take the limited-time Arashiyama Scenic Railway illuminated train (approximately 30 minutes). In autumn, it becomes a night maple train, with the illuminated valley and red leaves appearing dreamlike.
* In one day, collect the romance of Kyoto's ancient temples by day and its red leaves by night.


























Reviews
I had a REALLY great time, Bunny, the tour guide is very very kind and she knows a lot about the places we visited, me and my family are Mexican and we could understand her English very very well. it’s a really beautiful experience and the train is beautiful!! the views are spectacular!
Bunny was a very friendly tour guide, and we were extremely satisfied with the experience. She took great care of everyone in the group and even helped my wife and me take photos. It was a very worthwhile trip, especially the mini train at the end, which was amazing.
our tour guide, Bunny was friendly and helpful. the itinerary was just right. the romantic scenic train ride as a little disappointment. the train was going too fast to be able to capture the sakura along the way. the only best part was the train driver singing a romantic song before the end of the journey.
we had Bunny for our tour guide she was amasing with positive attitude and very patient. punctual with time and the very kind. took us amazing places that as a tourist need to see in Kyoto . def worth to try . ❤️
Overall very nice tour! Bunny is an excellent tour guide, friendly and yet highly professional. she is detail orientated and kept the entire group organized, entertained, and without delays. Would like to see her on future tours.
Our tour guide KangFu is a really kind and knowledgeable guide who is very accommodating to our needs. He also gave use some good tips on how to navigate the walk. Thank you KangFu
This tour was the highlight of my trip. The autumn leaves were amazing and the ease of getting to these locations with our helpful and friendly tour guide Frank was great.
The itinerary itself, the timing, and the transportation arrangements were all good, but the professionalism of the tour guide needs significant improvement. During the tour, the guide just read from a script. When we rode the Sagano Scenic Railway and were with another group, their guide frequently provided explanations and introductions, which made our guide seem much worse in comparison. The entire day felt like just transportation, and it didn't feel worth the price. However, I must say that the Sagano Scenic Railway experience itself was very good.
I had a very disappointing experience with this tour. I used the iPhone Apple map to find the meeting location indicated in the purchasing voucher provided by the tour company. It turned out the actual meeting place is in the alley nearby, which I could not see from my location. I was not informed of the exact location until it was too late for me to react. As a result, though I arrived at the “meeting place” 20 minute in advance, I missed the day tour. My advice: please ask the tour guide to share with you the exact location in google map in advance of meeting time to avoid such a disappointment.
great experiences with free time to explore bamboo forest. love the Sagano train ride.
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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




