Kyoto Hiking Tour: The Nature and Legends of Kurama and Kibune

It was a different and incredible adventure. Climbing Mount Kurama, a sacred place, brought a lot of reflection and learning. It is not an easy place to reach, so I completely recommend Omakase Tour, a trustworthy company that took care of every detail. Thanks to our guide Yoshi, my mother and I were able to make the most of it. Yoshi was completely attentive, caring, and made our experience smooth and high-quality. For those looking for a different tour and a spiritual journey, I highly recommend this experience.

Just outside Kyoto lies Kurama, a charming little town that feels worlds away from the city’s bustle. It’s the starting point for one of the most delightful walks Dachshundtours.com.au arranged in Japan — an easy 5‑kilometer trail that winds through forested hills, shaded paths, and temple grounds, offering a perfect blend of nature and culture. The adventure begins with the ride itself: the “dinky” Eizan train that rattles its way from Kyoto to Kurama. It’s a short journey, but the scenery — villages, valleys, and glimpses of cedar forests — sets the tone for what’s to come. Arriving in Kurama, you’ll find a sleepy town with hot spring inns and a relaxed vibe, the ideal launchpad for your walk. The trail leads up past Kurama-dera Temple, perched on the hillside, before continuing through tranquil forests. Towering cedar trees line the path, their shade keeping the walk cool even in summer. The air feels fresh, filled with birdsong and the earthy scent of moss. It’s not a strenuous hike, more of a gentle wander, and along the way you’ll encounter shrines, stone steps, and occasional viewpoints that remind you just how close you are to Kyoto yet how far you feel from its urban pace. The walk finishes in Kibune, another picturesque village known for riverside dining and traditional inns. From here, you can hop back on the little train, completing the circle of your adventure. Easy, beautiful, and accessible, the Kurama to Kibune walk is proof that sometimes the best experiences are found just beyond the city limits.

Akari was fabulous, adding to an overall great experience. The shrines, temples, and views were amazing. Highly recommend this trip. Akari was wonderful and added so much to our experience. Very knowledgeable, super friendly, engaged the whole time. We felt like we became friends.

Highlight of our trip to Kyoto! We highly recommend it. Akari was a fantastic guide—warm, friendly, very knowledgeable. We felt in excellent hands. The hike was truly beautiful and got us to a place we never would have ventured on our own. And the lunch we had was my favorite so far. Locally made tofu cooked at the table with several tasty accompaniments beautifully appointed.

i have never written a review before and probably never will again, however she was the purest soul i’ve ever met. i could not begin to express how much i enjoyed spending time with her, she was the kindest lady i’ve every met and had a genuine heart, always trying to do her best and go the extra mile for you - helping me with my japanese and being so patient. Not only would i recommend her tour which was amazing, giving so much insight to the country’s culture and history but you get to spend time with such a lovely person, i couldn’t have had a better time.

Etsuko was an excellent guide, she took us to this wonderful place and explained us all about the mysticism, the temple and the places to meditate. Also we had a really nice experience during the lunch. We really recommended to take this tour. Etsuko always tried to explained any doubt or solve any request.

Mariko was friendly, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable. The tour was awesome with beautiful sights and picturesque moments. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves nature, culture, and walking.

Beautiful hike through the mountains of northern Kyoto followed by a scenic lunch on the river. My wife and I enjoyed our time with Ai who was a wonderful guide. I would highly recommend this tour for couples or families with slightly older children.

If you are wavering on whether or not to book the Mount Kurama Hiking Tour, I would say just click yes. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and came away with postcard pictures. I will try to provide some details and insights that will give you an idea if this hike works for you. We are a family of three. Parents in their fifties and 18 year old daughter. We did this hike with Mariko who is very knowledgeable about the area. If this is your first time using buses and trains, this tour will give you a taste of how to use the public transit system. Mariko met us at our hotel. From there, she navigated us to a train station where we started our journey. Then she was with us the entire time so we always felt comfortable in the rural area without knowing the Japanese language. She helped us translate and pointed out landmarks which gave us fun facts and historical information that made the landmarks more interesting. We did this hike at the end of June which was monsoon season and it was hot and humid. It would be wise to pack a portable fan and absorbent handkerchief with you if you do this in the summer. With the river and tree shade, it felt a bit cooler than in the city. I was concerned about the heat and humidity prior to doing the hike but it’s do-able. This hike does involve a lot of walking so make sure you have comfortable shoes and preferably shoes that you can easily take on and off because you will be going into some temples that require shoes off. The hike is not too strenuous because it’s mostly a series of steps. There are a lot of steps but Mariko allowed us to take our time especially for pictures. We had an opportunity to eat a local style lunch and check out a cute gift store (with air conditioning!) in a nearby city of Kifune. We didn’t need to go all the way to Nara because we met some sweet deer that let us watch them munch on lunch on this trip. If you are someone that wants to learn a little more about what it’s like outside a big city and you want some adventure, this tour will give you that. If you’re a fan of Reiki, on this hike you will see the birthplace of Reiki. If you’re into taking really gorgeous pictures, this hike is for you.

Ryoma was amazing from start to finish. He was very personable and well informed about the history of Mount Kurama. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike up the mountain and the rest of our day with him, including a delicious soba lunch- highly recommend!