---
title: Kyoto top must-see Golden pavilion and Bamboo forest half-day Private tour
lang: en
type: tour
city: Kyoto
country: Japan
price: 107
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.97
reviews: 61
duration_minutes: 240
languages: [ja, en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 15 of 36 (Sightseeing & City Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-11-08
data_updated: 2026-11-08
canonical: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/tours/kyoto-top-must-see-golden-pavilion-and-bamboo-forest-half-day-private-tour/
---

# Kyoto top must-see Golden pavilion and Bamboo forest half-day Private tour

**Guidekin's take:** Visit Golden Pavilion, bamboo groves and Tenryuji Temple on a private tour for your party that ends in Arashiyama. A guide and Kyoto City hotel pickup are included; taxi fares and temple entry cost extra, and you arrange your own return. 4.97 from 61 reviews at €107 per person for 4h.

In our comparison: #15 of 36 in Sightseeing & City Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

This tour is best for first-time visitors to Kyoto. You will visit popular must-see tourist attractions such as Golden Pavilion, bamboo groves, and Tenryuji Temple with its wonderful World Heritage garden.
We will also take you to hidden jem, meaning the temple of heaven, which is a relatively quiet and beautiful temple.
You can enjoy popular sightseeing spots in a comfortable and efficient manner by cab.
The tour ends in the Arashiyama area.　
After the tour, the guide will give you directions to other must-see places such as movie studios, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, etc. If you are new to Kyoto, please join this tour and get an outline of Kyoto sightseeing.

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: no car needed
- Entry ticket not included: buy it separately
- Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers
- Starts 09:00, 13:00: 2 departures a day
- Strollers OK: infants accepted

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup included

## Key facts

- Price: from €107 per person
- Duration: 4h
- Rating: 4.97/5 from 61 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: EE tour
- Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price
- Group: Private tour, your party only
- Guide languages: Japanese, English
- Tickets: Admission not included, pay on site
- Start times: 09:00, 13:00
- Booking: Confirmation within 48 hours, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08

## Reviews

4.97 from 61 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 60 of 61.

- 5 stars: 60 (98%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 1 (2%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

## What's included

- Selected Local Professional Guides
- Pick-up service （only Kyoto city）

## Not included

- Taxi fee: About 6000 yen per one taxi. *Depending on the hotel location and traffic conditions.
- ＊4people (a guide+3 guests) can get on one taxi. If your group is 4 people, you need two taxis.
- Admission fee : around 1500yen per person for all temples
- Retern transfer, The tour ends in the Arashiyama area.

## Itinerary

1. **Kinkakuji Temple** (50m) - You can see the shining golden pavilion which used to be the political center of the Shogun(the head of Samurai warrior).It is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in Kyoto.
2. **Jojakkoji Temple** (30m) - A relatively uncrowded and quiet temple. This temple's name comes from the atmosphere as if it were playing in heaven.
3. **Tenryu-ji Templet has an outstanding pond garden which was made by one of the...** (20m) - Tenryu-ji Templet has an outstanding pond garden which was made by one of the greatest gardeners in Japan. It is also the NESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
4. **Togetsukyo Bridge** (pass by, no stop) - Togetsu Bridge is a representative scene of the Arashiyama area. Please take a photo of it !!
5. **Arashiyama Kimono Forest** (10m) - Kimono forest is one of the most popular Instagram spots because of its' picturesque 600poles of 36 designs of Japanese kimonos.
6. **Bamboo Forest Street** (20m) - You will go through the Bamboo forest. This beautiful bamboo forest appears many times in the advertisement poster of Kyoto.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 09:00, 13:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour ends in the Arashiyama area.
- Pick-up service is available at hotels in Kyoto City. Pick-up from private accommodations such as Airbnb is not available. Please send a message with the hotel's name and address.

## Cost for your party

| People | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | €214 | €107 |
| 4 | €308 | €77 |
| 6 | €402 | €67 |

Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Sightseeing & City Tours start at €91 per person.

## Compared with other Sightseeing & City Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #15 of 36** | €107 | 4h | 4.97 (61) | private |
| [10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour](/japan/kyoto/tours/10-must-see-spots-in-kyoto-one-day-private-tour/?format=md) | €168 | 8h | 4.98 (1441) | private |
| [Kyoto Early Morning Tour with English Speaking Guide](/japan/kyoto/tours/kyoto-early-morning-tour-with-english-speaking-guide/?format=md) | €91 | 5h | 4.95 (2124) | shared |
| [Private car tour in Kyoto (up to 4)](/japan/kyoto/tours/private-car-tour-in-kyoto-up-to-4/?format=md) | €261 per group | 7h | 5.0 (147) | private |

Ranked #15 of 36 in Sightseeing & City Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €463, median €139; typical length 5h 38m. 31 of 36 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/japan/kyoto/kyoto-sightseeing-tours/?format=md

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