Garden Tours in Kyoto: Choosing Between 9

1.Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Gardens & Secrets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,216 reviews · from $65Our pick

Spend five to six hours exploring Arashiyama with an English-speaking guide such as Teri, Marie, or Mari. Walk through Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, the Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Monkey Park. Expect a small group of up to 12, a 20 to 25 minute uphill hike, and a lunch break at your own expense.

“We really enjoyed the variety of sights on the walking tour. Our guide was so friendly and helpful. I recommend this tour.”

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2.Kyoto Zen Meditation & Garden Tour at a Zen Temple with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 441 reviews · from $110

Walk through Tofukuji’s Zen temple area with a local guide such as Yutaka, learn the basics of Buddhism and zazen, sit in meditation with a monk, admire a dry garden, and eat a traditional Buddhist lunch. The group is limited to seven, making this a calm, personal introduction to Kyoto’s Zen culture.

“Highly recommended, especially if you are seeking a quiet and reflective experience in Kyoto. Perfect for solo travellers like myself. Yukata was my guide and he treated us like VIPs. We walked the streets of Tofukuji, visiting the famous shrine Read more”

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3.Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 413 reviews · from $129

Walk Arashiyama with a certified guide and no more than seven people. Visit Hokyoin, Tenryuji, Okochi Sanso Garden, the bamboo forest, and Togetsukyo Bridge, with temple admissions, matcha, lunch, and tour photos included. Guides such as Josh, Yuki, Ayuri, Masa, and Hiroko have been praised for clear cultural explanations and personal attention.

“This was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we learned a lot about Japanese religion and history. She took us to off-the-beaten-path locations, including a temple with the most beautiful, serene garden, and a garden with amazing views of the city and mountains. We also visited a famous shrine. And of course, the bamboo forest, which is really something to see. We went early enough that it wasn't too crowded. The tour included a delicious vegetarian kaiseki lunch, and our guide explained what everything was and how to eat it. The pace of the tour was perfect for the very hot weather,…”

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4.Zen Garden, Zen Mind (Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews

Join landscape designer Andrew for a private 3.5-hour walk through three Kyoto temple gardens. He explains Zen design, Japanese aesthetics, Buddhism, Shinto, and the links between rocks, space, history, and daily life. The tour starts near Keage Station, ends at Nanzen-ji, and suits curious visitors who want more than pretty garden views.

“Fantastic Tour! It was an unforgettable experience made even more meaningful by Andrew’s insightful explanations of the gardens and the principles of Buddhism.”

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5.Kyoto Kiyomizu Tea Ceremony with Scenic Garden Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · from $50Best value

At Tea Ceremony Sakaguchian near Kiyomizu, a tea master guides you through the rituals of matcha preparation in a traditional room overlooking a Japanese garden. You receive two cups of matcha, wagashi sweets, cultural explanations, and a chance to prepare tea yourself. The intimate session lasts about 45 minutes and welcomes up to 12 people.

“This was a lovely experience for the 4 people in our group. Relaxed, informative, and in lovely tea house. We all enjoyed it and recommend it highly.”

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6.Zen Meditation and Garden Tour at a Temple with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 86 reviews · 4h 30m · from $107

Meet your English-speaking guide at Tofukuji Station for a 4.5-hour visit to Kyoto’s Zen temples. You’ll study a garden, learn zazen posture and breathing, meditate for an hour at Shorin-ji, and eat Shojin Ryori. Guides such as Yutaka, Eri, Louis, and Tammy are praised for clear explanations and helpful Kyoto tips.

“The tour was amazing! Yutaka, our guide, was very patient and helpful. We learned a lot about Zen Buddhism and he guided us through the whole process. We recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about Zen with a great guide.”

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7.Bamboo Grove Temple and Garden Views Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $60

Starting at Kyoto Station at 8:30 am, this small-group walk visits Arashiyama’s Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, Iwatayama Monkey Park, Tenryu-ji, the Bamboo Forest, Okochi Sanso, and Nonomiya Shrine. Expect about five hours, a 20 to 30 minute uphill hike, guide commentary, and included admission to three sites. Mari has led one highly praised tour.

“Mari was our tour guard! She was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, helpful and made our tour an excellent experience! My husband and I highly recommend her, you will be very happy!!!”

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8.Japanese Gardens Private Customizable Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 18 reviews · 6 hours · from $151

Spend six hours exploring Kyoto’s gardens with a private English- or Japanese-speaking guide. Choose favorites such as Ryoanji, Kinkakuji, Arashiyama, or Nanzenji, or let your guide plan the route. Pickup is on foot from your hotel or a train station. Entrance fees, meals, and transport costs are extra.

“It covered everything we discussed and shoji was very knowledgeable and informative. He spoke English well and was very well travelled outside of Japan so had an informed perspective on almost anything we discussed. Was willing to share his perspective easily. Easy to be with. As well. Also, gave just the right amount of information. Not too much and not too little.”

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9.Kyoto Guided Walking Tour: Secret Zen Garden and Fushimi Inari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $78

Start near Tofukuji at 9 a.m. with a guide such as Mika, Kenta, Naomi, or another local host, then walk through a quiet Zen garden, small shrines, and lesser-used paths toward Fushimi Inari. Expect about four hours, uphill sections, a maximum of eight people, and plenty of history, religion, and scenery.

“I recently took a guided tour to two of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks—Fushimi Inari Shrine and Fuhuji Temple—and it was a truly remarkable experience. The tour was well-paced, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning sites without fRead more”

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