Arashiyama

Skipping the hassle of booking tickets and communicating yourself, the whole experience is relaxed and slow-paced. You can enjoy nature and listen to the tour guide chat, which is quite nice. The boat tour is not as exciting as boating, and the two-hour journey is a bit long. It is recommended to pay attention to sun protection and go to the toilet in advance. If you are bringing children, you should assess whether they can sit still.

For independent travelers, the "super pass" is a must-buy. There's almost no queue; just beep to get your ticket. Highly recommended.

With many tourists, some Taiwanese tourists used strollers to block the walkway.

We visited three attractions this time. Before the trip, our guide, Apple, gave us introductions in both Chinese and English, giving us a basic understanding of each place. She also thoughtfully pointed out less crowded photo spots, saving me from long queues, haha. I'm very grateful for her company today. She also reminded us of boarding times multiple times and sent us maps of the attractions so we could plan our route beforehand. 👍👍 Highly recommend Apple! Katsuo-ji Temple: We spent an hour there. Small Daruma dolls were everywhere—on trees, by the river, and on heads! Unfortunately, we spent a lot of time queuing to buy amulets, so we were a bit rushed when getting postcards afterwards, haha. Arashiyama: I think next time I could dedicate a whole day to exploring. The atmosphere was more relaxed than Osaka's. The bamboo grove was very cool, and there were many shops along the way, including several that collaborated with famous IPs. The souvenirs were all super cute! Since we were in Kyoto, we couldn't miss the matcha ice cream, haha! But the prices ranged from 750 to 600 yen... Kinkaku-ji Temple! It truly lives up to its name, gleaming with gold! The Daruma amulets are much cheaper than those at Katsuo-ji Temple, haha. There are also many other amulet designs available, and you can buy Kikawa souvenirs too! The overall atmosphere is nice and quite relaxing; a leisurely stroll around can be completed in about an hour, so the itinerary isn't too rushed. Since Kinkaku-ji Temple stands in the center, there are almost 360-degree photo opportunities – you can find your favorite angle! 👍

The entire trip is leisurely yet offers a touch of excitement, allowing you to experience the beauty of nature. Please note that the trip takes approximately two hours, so there are no restrooms available.

Activity Review: For a family trip of six, especially with elders, joining a day trip is the best option. The itinerary was well-planned, convenient, and easy, and the price was reasonable! Our Chinese-speaking guide, Gery Sun, was very friendly and provided excellent explanations of the itinerary and historical anecdotes! Thank you for his attentive service! I highly recommend arranging lunch; it was delicious!