Things to do in Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

We had the best tour guide, Jack was amazing. He showed us around the park, the shrine, and even offered to make us reservations at a restaurant after our tour since we didn’t know a much Japanese ourselves. This experience went above and beyond my expectations and we would definitely go again!

If you're taking the Sagano Romantic Train and then the Hozugawa River Boat Ride, it's best to allow an hour and a half between them. For example, if your train arrives at 11:00 AM, book the 12:30 PM boat ride. After getting off the train, there will be signs directing you through a tunnel to the bus stop. The bus will make a brief stop and then go directly to the Hozugawa River Boat Ride building. There's a small shop where you can buy snacks and drinks; definitely buy something to drink, as the boat shop won't appear for about an hour and a half after you board. The boatman on our trip was very entertaining, likely a veteran, and interacted well with the passengers. When we encountered rapids, he would playfully warn passengers about a little splashing. You won't get completely soaked, as there are tarps for cover. Throughout the journey, the boatman spoke a mix of Japanese and short English phrases, and also used gestures to point out the local wildlife. The boat ride is spectacular and highly recommended.

Huahua was a fantastic guide and made our day trip to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nara Park and Fushimi Inari so enjoyable. He looked after all of us throughout the day, making sure we knew where to go, what to see, and the history and significance of each place. He kept us all together and on time while making everything feel relaxed and easy. It was a beautiful day, made even better by having such a wonderful guide. We would highly recommend Huahua!

Had the best time on the tour with our guide Valerie! who was informative, sweet and incredibly helpful. We were so stressed about squeezing in all of these attractions in the short time that we had and it was a great find stumbling upon this posting on klook. Not only did we manage to tick off all of our bucketlist spots but also learned little facts about each spot that we visited with the drive leading up to each attraction the best headsup in terms of background and what to expect when there. Valerie was very patient and accommodating with all of our little (sometimes stupid) questions and really made the day all the more memorable for us topping it off with the sweetest little parting gifts which we will travel home with and remember fondly of our experience here! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience.

Very fun and informative trip with our guide Natsuki- she was super knowledgeable and helpful. We really enjoyed all three locations, and Natsuki was able to provide lots of interesting context for the temples and pathways. She also suggested a second tour to us which we took and really enjoyed. Strongly recommend this tour! guide: Natsuki is the best!

Ttai Sei was a wonderful guide and took great photos for us, and the lunch was excellent. In short, highly recommended.

Our Kyoto experience were so amazing and fun. Thank you to Zoey for doing a fantastic tour for everyone. It’s been great and educational experience for us. Thank you also to our wonderful bus driver. Both these guys were amazing and friendly. We really appreciate them. This was really one of the highlights of our trip here in Japan. Congratulations Zoey! Good job!👏👍🇦🇺🇯🇵

Perfectly spooky and an absolute delight! 10/10 This was an absolutely incredible experience! We went on the night tour in the Arashiyama forest, and it exceeded all our expectations. A special shoutout to our guide — he is simply amazing! A truly gifted storyteller. The Japanese ghost stories and local legends sounded genuinely creepy and gave us goosebumps, but at the same time, we learned so many fascinating and entirely new facts about the history of the area. The weather played along perfectly too: it was raining, and the wet, dark paths gave the forest that perfect gloomy, cinematic vibe. The atmosphere was indescribable — a complete immersion into mystical Japan! But the biggest indicator of success was my teenage son being absolutely thrilled (and Andrey isn't easily impressed!). He listened with bated breath the entire time. It was so cool!!! Highly recommend this to anyone looking for vivid emotions and a chance to see a completely different, mysterious side of Kyoto.

It was our 12th day in Japan, and all the previous days had been exhausting. I had wanted to do this tour on my own, but the kids weren't keeping up as well anymore. I decided to book this tour a day in advance, and it was the best decision. We visited several places without getting too tired or worn out, and the kids happily continued. We wouldn't have been able to see so much on our own. Our guide and driver were very kind!