Private Kyoto Morning Tour: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama & Monkey

Joi was definitely made our tour so much fun and we learned so much as well!!

Ikki, our tour guide, made the tour. I can’t say enough kind things. He was informative, respectful and funny. After 3 private tours, we were left wishing every guide could be like him. If you can request him, you should!

Wonderful experience. Ikki was a fantastic tour guide- very knowledgeable and takes great pictures for you. Highly recommend

The tour guide was perfect. Highly recommend waking up early for this day to beat the crowds. Extremely worth it. The guide went at our pace. He’s English was the best we had all trip. He was educated on all the areas. 10/10.

Great experience. Our guide, Ikki, was knowledgeable and fun. He even brought along his camera for free photo ops!

Guide was great and very informative about the area . We would definitely recommend him to anyone visiting the area .

We are visiting Kyoto and Japan for the first time and decided to do some sightseeing. Mariko was simply a fantastic tour guide. She did a great job not only showing us where to go but explaining the cultural significance of each site. Mariko was also very personable and friendly. We had to pivot on transportation choices because if heavy rains but she changed course in stride. I highly recommend this service if you are looking to explore some of the sights in Kyoto.

What an amazing tour! Our tour guide Ikki was personable , friendly and had quite the knowledge of the area, the Fushimi Inari shrine as well as the bamboo forest.He pointed out interesting sites along the way , stopped at great places for snacks and was a fantastic photographer for our day. We had great conversation and learned much about the Japanese shrines and temples as well as Japan itself, We also hiked to the Arashiyama Monkey Park , fed the monkeys and had a beautiful view of Kyoto from the mountain top. I would highly recommend this tour!!

We had the most wonderful time Ikki!! This was one of our favorite things we did the entire trip, 100% worth every penny. Tour is private and tailored to what you like & want to see. Ikki is so knowledgeable and clearly loves what he does. Going early is key & Ikki knows this. He times everything perfect to ensure wait times are minimal and that you get out as much as you can from the experience. He also serves as your personal photographer!! Such a sweet way to remember this trip. Will cherish these memories forever - thank you Ikki!!!

My family and I did this tour and absolutely loved it! Ikki got amazing pictures of us with the monkeys and the bamboo forest. There were quite a bit of stairs to get up to see the monkeys but Ikki cheered us on and the view weredefinitely worth it. We’re very glad we took this tour and had Ikki as our tour guide! I would definitely recommend people to add this to their itinerary!

We had the most lovely day with Ikki. He is the perfect tour guide — very knowledgeable, with great local insight, and he puts everything into context by adding interesting stories along the way. He also acted as our private photographer throughout the day, always making sure we got the best shots. Ikki is incredibly easy-going and friendly, and he made sure everyone in our group felt included and comfortable — even our teenager, which we really appreciated. The tour itself was a perfect mix of temples and history, beautiful nature, and a close-up experience with the monkeys. It was definitely worth climbing up to the monkey park, both for the experience and for the stunning view over the Kyoto area. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area.

We had a fantastic guided tour in Kyoto with Ikki. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very engaging. We learned a lot about both Japan’s history and modern life, and the tour was perfectly adjusted to our pace. Ikki also took many great photos of us, which we really appreciated. What made the experience even better was his genuine interest not only in the tour itself, but also in us and our family. An unforgettable experience we’ll always remember

I am so glad I picked this tour. Ikki-San did a wonderful job showing us his beautiful city. It was also very good to start early since Fushimi Inari was the highlight of the trip for me. He took time to explain items along the way & answer questions. It is best to go early since it gets extremely busy as the day goes on. He helped coordinate trains & took pictures along the way that was great bonus! The bamboo forest was amazing and visited monkey preserve on top of mountain that had great views of Kyoto as well. Be advised that it is a elevated hike so be prepared with comfortable attire & shoes, but there were plenty areas for break. The entire morning was so enjoyable & could not ask for a better or more thoughtful guide!

Ikky was a terrific guide. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating. We enjoyed learning from him and spending time with him. He even gave us helpful recommendations for the rest of our travels in Kyoto. Also, this tour offered a fabulous combination of sites to see in Kyoto.

Ikki was a delight as a tour guide. He communicated instructions beforehand so we knew what to expect as I had a young daughter on the tour. He took great care to inform us of our tour and kept us interested and moving so we had so much time at the actual attractions! Polite, respectful, and informative. Additionally he took pictures and sent them to us so we didn’t have to always have our phones out. And he gave us advice on the rest of our trip that he did not have to do but was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend this tour!

Wonderful private half-day tour by Ikki! He was knowledgeable, explained things well, thoughtful, respectful and attentive. Early Bird Tour is the time to go! Nice not to be rushed and at places before the crowd. Enjoyed the short train rides, walks and moderate hike; Fushimi Inari-taisha Temple, Aroshiyama Bamboo Forest, Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge and River and Monkey Park were so much more enjoyable because of Ikki! Thankful for his photos! (Glad there were benches to rest on the hike to Monkey Park.) Also appreciate his restaurant recommendations! Our first trip to Japan! We will do this tour again on our next trip back. Thank you Ikki!

Interesting/informative activity and although I'm not an early riser, starting @ 7 am helped with both crowds and temperature as a fair amount of hiking. Ikki was a superb guide in every respect.

This was a tour of a lifetime!! Ikke our tour guide was so incredibly knowledgeable and fun! I was with my sister and our teenage boys. Our boys really enjoyed how easy going he was and is knowledge of Japan. This is a must do day!! Thank you Ikke!!!

I highly recommend this tour. You get to enjoy Fushimi Inari before the crowds and then enjoy a walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before going to see the Japanese monkeys. Our tour guide, Ikki, was very knowledgeable on the sites we visited and the many questions we had for him on Japan. He took great photos of our group throughout the tour and shared them along with recommendations for restaurants and activities for us on the rest of our trip. On the tour my son lost his wallet on a train and Ikki was quick to sort out its retrieval. Thank you for such a fun tour Ikki. We really enjoyed our time with you!!

The tour was extremely engaging and we enjoyed the experience. DK our guide was very thoughtful and knowledgeable. He made sure that we were comfortable.

This time I joined a tour with friends to explore the Arashiyama area of Kyoto that I hadn't been able to visit last year. The guide not only possessed deep knowledge but also took many photos for us. Also, the guide told me that there's a special nighttime illumination only in October, so you absolutely must go at night too!

This Early Bird Tour was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we met our guides- Ikki and DK, it was clear we were in for something special. They were not only incredibly friendly and welcoming, but also impressively knowledgeable about Kyoto’s history, culture, and hidden gems. Starting the day at Fushimi Inari Shrine before the crowds was magical — walking through the thousands of iconic torii gates in the quiet morning light felt like stepping into a dream. DK shared fascinating stories and facts that added so much depth to the experience. Next, we headed to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which was stunning and serene at that early hour. Again, we beat the crowds, which made it feel even more special. The guides pointed out details and perspectives I would have totally missed on my own. And finishing the morning with a visit to the Iwatayama Monkey Park was so much fun! Seeing the monkeys up close, combined with the breathtaking views over Kyoto, was the perfect way to wrap up the tour. If you're visiting Kyoto and want to make the most of your morning, I can’t recommend this tour enough. It’s well-paced, thoughtfully planned, and led by people who truly love what they do. A highlight of my trip! The earlier the better, as we were leaving it was getting crowded!

Our tour in Kyoto was absolutely unforgettable thanks to our amazing guide, Ikki! He took us to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Bamboo Forest, and the Monkey Park. His explanations were clear, engaging, and filled with fascinating details that really brought the history and culture of Kyoto to life. Both my husband and I learned so much about the city—not just about the landmarks, but also about daily life, traditions, and hidden gems we would have otherwise missed. He was friendly, attentive, and made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. We left with wonderful memories and a much deeper appreciation of Kyoto. Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a truly enriching experience!

Another tour was so good that we decided to join another tour with the same company. This tour takes you to all of Kyoto’s iconic spots: Fushimi Inari shrine(1000 Torii gates), Arashiyama(bamboo forest) and the monkey park. At the monkey park, you can feed the monkeys, making it a truly fun experience. It’s especially recommended for families with young 👦

I joined Ikki’s tour again and brought my friends this time because I had such a great experience with him last year! This time, he took us to the Arashiyama area, which we had to skip on our previous visit due to time constraints. By starting early, we were able to avoid the crowds and fully enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. The monkey park requires about a 20-minute hike, but it’s worth the effort because you get the rare chance to feed wild monkeys!

This was a fantastic tour! We got to see three amazing Kyoto sites all in one morning! DK our tour guide was so knowledgeable and shared lots of information about the history of each landmark we visited. Also he was super fun to chat with and get to know better!

We enjoyed our tour! Ikki, our tour guide, was friendly, patient and very personable. We learned the history and the significance of each tour spot from him. He also made sure we were following along and staying hydrated during the hike. I recommend this tour and thanks to Ikki for the great experience!

This is a tour I can ONLY recommend if you’re in Kyoto. This tour covered all the major landmarks in Kyoto, and starting early morning let us take amazing photos of Tori gates and bamboo forests.

Our English speaking guide Ikki-San was fantastic. His knowledge and easy going nature made our experience to a whole next level!

My partner and I joined this tour during our visit to Kyoto, and it truly exceeded our expectations! The guide was incredibly welcoming and made sure we had a personalized experience throughout the day. We visited some of of Kyoto's most iconic spots, and her insightful stories brought each location to life. She was also great at keeping the pace relaxed, which made the whole experience feel smooth and enjoyable.

HANA-san was very knowledgeable and thoughtful! She brought with her an illustration books and used them to explain the culture and history of Japan in a fun way! Very fulfilling tour in Kyoto!