Early Morning Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama & Kinkakuji Tour Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha: the torii gate tunnels

Fushimi Inari Taisha, founded in 711, is the head shrine of Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, prosperity and business. It is famous for the long tunnels of vermilion torii gates that climb the wooded slopes of Mount Inari; each gate is a donation from a company or family, whose name is painted in black on the back. Stone foxes, the messengers of Inari, guard the shrines along the way, many holding the key to a rice granary in their mouths.

The shrine is open around the clock and free to enter, but by mid-morning the famous Senbon Torii section is packed. That is why this Fushimi Inari early morning visit starts the day: you spend about seventy minutes with the guide, walking the twin rows of gates in near silence and climbing far enough to see the paths split up the mountain. The full hike to the summit takes two to three hours, so the guide shows you the best section for the time available.

Arashiyama and the Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama, on the western edge of Kyoto, has been a retreat for aristocrats since the Heian period, when nobles came to admire the cherry blossoms and autumn colours along the Katsura River. Its most famous sight is the Bamboo Forest of Sagano, a path that winds between towering green stalks that creak and rustle in the wind, with dappled light falling through the canopy.

Later in the day the path becomes one of the busiest spots in Japan, but in the early morning you can walk it calmly and take clear photos. On this Arashiyama bamboo forest tour you spend about an hour in the district, and your guide also points out the Togetsukyo Bridge across the river and the gardens of Tenryu-ji, a World Heritage Zen temple next to the grove, so you know what to return to if you want more time.

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji, officially Rokuon-ji, began in 1397 as the retirement villa of a powerful shogun and became a Zen temple after his death. Its upper two floors are covered in gold leaf, and each storey follows a different style: an aristocratic palace, a samurai residence and a Zen hall, crowned by a golden phoenix. The pavilion seems to float above Kyokochi, the mirror pond, surrounded by pines and small islands.

The original building burned in 1950 and was faithfully rebuilt in 1955, and the temple is part of the World Heritage site of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00 every day, and the entrance fee is paid in cash at the gate; it is not included in the tour. You spend about an hour here, following the garden path past the tea house and the waterfall stone with your guide.

Kyoto Station and travelling by train and bus

The tour starts and ends at Kyoto Station, the main gateway to the city, with its vast glass-and-steel hall facing Kyoto Tower. Instead of a coach, you travel as residents do: by local train from Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari in about ten minutes, by train across the city to Arashiyama in about thirty minutes, and then by train and city bus to Kinkaku-ji.

This is one of the most useful parts of the day for independent travellers. Your guide shows you how to tap an IC card, read the platforms and bus stops, and plan your own trips afterwards. Transport fares are paid with your own IC card and are not included. Because the group is limited to eight, moving between stops is quick, and the tour returns to Kyoto Station by lunchtime.