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From Bamboo to Hidden Shrines: Kyoto’s Private Escape Tour by Car

By japa-kon
Free cancellation available
Price is $102 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 4h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages
Overview

Tired of the crowds and cookie-cutter tours?

This private tour is crafted for travelers seeking Kyoto’s quieter, spiritual side—the one guidebooks often miss.

We begin in Arashiyama at peaceful temples that are still considered must-visits, yet remain pleasantly uncrowded. From there, we drive into Kyoto’s northern countryside, away from the tourist map, into the deep green of forests and old villages.

You'll walk shaded paths, breathe in the scent of moss and trees, and visit sacred places known for their silence more than their fame. One stop includes a tranquil garden where time seems to pause. Another, a centuries-old shrine tucked deep in the mountains, doesn’t appear on maps—and its name is deliberately kept secret.

Some say it feels like entering another world. Others fall silent, moved by the stillness.

This isn’t just a sightseeing trip. It’s a meditative journey into Kyoto’s sacred quiet.

Special launch offer: 40% off for early guests.

Activity location

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    • Sagakamenoocho, Ukyo-ku
    • 616-8386, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station
    • Otabichō
    • 600-8001, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Kyoto’s Ultimate Hidden Gem: Private Car Tour to a Sacred Shrine in Multilingual
  • Activity duration is 4 hours4h
    4h
  • Opening hours: Wed 10:00am-2:30pm
  • English

Pickup included

Price details
$95.00 x 1 Adult$95.00
Paid at activity$6.50
Total
Price is $101.50
Until Tue, Oct 28

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Private transportation
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Fuel surcharge
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Parking Fees
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Admission fees to temples and shrines
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Optional stops may be arranged upon request, but are not included in the tour price.

Know before you book

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
One of Kyoto’s most iconic sights, this beautiful bamboo forest offers a serene walk through towering green stalks. Unlike most visitors, we drive to a less crowded area deeper in the grove, so you won’t need to walk far—and there’s a high chance to take photos without other people in the background. Your guide will lead you to the best photo spots.
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
  • 40m
  • Admission ticket not included
A unique and charming temple filled with over 1,000 expressive stone statues. Many visitors enjoy finding one that resembles themselves. This hidden gem is gaining popularity as one of Arashiyama’s most delightful surprises.
Kuzu Shrine
  • 30m
A mystical shrine tucked deep in the forest, far from the tourist path. Its main hall, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, sits quietly among the trees. Locals revere it as a true spiritual power spot, where the air itself feels sacred.
Keihokushuzancho
  • 30m
Only accessible by car, this sacred site lies deep in the mountains, far beyond Kyoto’s urban edge. Known as “Kyoto’s last untouched sacred place,” it’s not even fully marked on maps. A moss-covered stone path and a torii gate rise quietly from a peaceful mountain village. The atmosphere feels as if you’ve stepped into another world. With over 1,000 years of history, it is truly Kyoto’s ultimate hidden gem.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    • Sagakamenoocho, Ukyo-ku
    • 616-8386, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station
    • Otabichō
    • 600-8001, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Kyoto Station
    • Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho
    • 600-8216, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Arashiyama Station
    • Arashiyama Higashiichikawacho
    • 616-0002, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Gion-Shijo Station
    • 1 Chome
    • 605-0801, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

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