Kyoto Hidden Gems Tour: The Kyoto of Small Things

This 4.5-hour private Kyoto experience explores lesser-visited parts of Arashiyama with a Kyoto-based cultural guide, making it an ideal half-day tour for travelers who want to experience a different side of Kyoto.

Begin at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, where 1,200 small stone statues sit among the moss, each with its own expression and story. Continue to Giōji Temple, a quiet Kyoto temple with a beautiful moss garden and bamboo groves, before walking through the preserved streets of Saga Toriimoto.

In Saga Toriimoto, discover traditional Japanese crafts at small family-run workshops, including a papermaker working with mulberry bark and an indigo-dyeing store. These intimate craft visits offer a closer look at the handmade traditions and everyday cultural heritage of Kyoto.

Throughout the experience, your Kyoto-based guide brings the gardens, Buddhist art, historic streets and traditional crafts to life through stories and cultural context, helping you understand the traditions and details that make this part of Kyoto distinctive.

The experience finishes with Japanese tea accompanied by light seasonal snacks or sweets in a traditional Japanese setting away from the typical crowds of Arashiyama.

Set aside a few hours to explore a quieter side of Arashiyama, from Kyoto Japanese gardens and moss-covered stone statues to traditional crafts, historic streets and the stories behind them.