Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Katsura River: An In-Depth Kyoto Guide

3. More sights around Arashiyama

Beyond the Bamboo Grove Path and Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama is dotted with places steeped in history and culture.

Tenryu-ji Temple

• Overview: a Rinzai Zen temple founded by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, to pray for the soul of Emperor Go-Daigo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its vast grounds include the Sogenchi Garden, a designated Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty that uses Mount Arashiyama as "borrowed scenery" (shakkei); it is a view not to be missed.
• Address: 68 Saga-Tenryuji Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場町68)
• Opening hours: 8:30–17:00 (from 21 October to 20 March, admission closes at 16:30)
• Fees: gardens (Sogenchi and Hyakkaen) ¥500 for high school students and older, ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. To enter the halls (Ohojo, Shoin and Tahoden), add ¥300 to the garden fee. The special viewing of the "Cloud Dragon" painting in the Dharma Hall costs a separate ¥500 (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only, with periods of daily opening in spring, summer and autumn).
• Time to allow: 1 to 2 hours

Nonomiya Shrine

• Overview: a quiet shrine near the entrance to the Bamboo Grove Path, known for blessings in matchmaking and for couples hoping for children. It appears in the "Sakaki" chapter of The Tale of Genji, and it is also famous as the place where the Saio, the imperial princess chosen to serve at Ise Shrine, once purified herself before taking up her duties.
• Address: 1 Saga-Nonomiya-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市右京区嵯峨野々宮町1)
• Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (visitors welcome to walk in)
• Fee: free
• Time to allow: about 30 minutes

Okochi Sanso Garden

• Overview: the villa and garden that Okochi Denjiro, a star of Showa-era samurai films, spent 30 years creating. The strolling garden makes clever use of the slopes of Mount Ogura and offers sweeping views over Kyoto, including Mount Arashiyama, Mount Hiei and Mount Daimonji. Admission includes matcha and a traditional sweet, so you can enjoy a cup of tea while taking in the garden. It has earned one star in the Michelin Green Guide.
• Address: 8 Saga-Ogurayama Tabuchiyama-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市右京区嵯峨小倉山田渕山町8)
• Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
• Fee: adults ¥1,000, elementary and junior high school students ¥500 (matcha and sweet included)
• Time to allow: 1 to 1.5 hours

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

• Overview: a nature park at the top of Mount Arashiyama, home to around 120 wild Japanese macaques. You can feed the monkeys and watch them up close, and an observation point at the summit looks out over the whole of Kyoto.
• Address: 8 Arashiyama-Genrokuzan-cho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市西京区嵐山元禄山町8)
• Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (until 16:00 in winter)
• Fee: adults ¥600, children (age 4 to junior high school) ¥300
• Time to allow: 1 to 1.5 hours

4. Getting to Arashiyama

You can reach Arashiyama by train, bus or car. Choose the option that fits your travel style.

From the main stations

By train

• JR Sagano Line (San-in Main Line): the direct route from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station needs no transfer and is the fastest option, so it suits most visitors. The Bamboo Grove Path and Tenryu-ji are within walking distance of the station.
• Randen (Keifuku Arashiyama Line): Randen's Arashiyama Station is close to Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryu-ji and the Bamboo Grove Path, which makes it very convenient for sightseeing. Riding the retro streetcar is part of the fun.
• Hankyu Arashiyama Line: if you are coming from Osaka, Hankyu trains are the easy choice. Take the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Katsura Station, then change to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line for Arashiyama Station.

By bus

• From central Kyoto, city buses (route 28, for example) stop at "Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae" and other stops in the heart of the area. From Kyoto Station the ride takes about 50 minutes and costs ¥230. It is slower than the train, but you get to watch Kyoto's streets go by.

By car

• There are several paid car parks around Arashiyama, but in peak season and on holidays they fill up and finding a space can take a long time. Use a car park you can reserve in advance, or consider public transport instead.

Fares and fees in this guide may change, so check the latest information before you travel.

5. Kyoto food and souvenirs in Arashiyama

Part of the pleasure of visiting Arashiyama is tasting Kyoto's cuisine and choosing souvenirs you won't find elsewhere.

Food to try

• Yudofu (simmered tofu): Arashiyama has many long-established yudofu restaurants. Made with pure water and carefully chosen soybeans, it is simple yet deeply flavourful.
• Kyo-tsukemono (Kyoto pickles): an essential part of Kyoto's food culture and a popular gift. Colourful pickles made from seasonal vegetables go perfectly with rice or with a drink.
• Matcha sweets: Kyoto is the home of matcha, and Arashiyama is full of desserts that use it well: matcha parfaits, matcha lattes and matcha soft-serve make a perfect break between sights.
• Kyo-ryori (Kyoto cuisine): many restaurants around Togetsukyo Bridge serve traditional Kyoto cuisine with a beautiful view, ideal for a special meal.

Souvenirs

• Bamboo crafts: bamboo goods inspired by the famous grove make a souvenir that could only come from Arashiyama. Look for chopsticks, bowls and baskets that show off the maker's skill.
• Kyo-gashi (Kyoto confectionery): beautiful sweets that capture the changing seasons, as much a pleasure to look at as to eat.
• Chirimen crafts: charming little items made from chirimen crepe fabric, a popular souvenir.

6. The best seasons to visit and how to avoid the crowds

Arashiyama is beautiful in every season, but some times of year, and some times of day, are far busier than others. These tips will help you enjoy it in comfort.

Best seasons

• Spring (late March to early April, cherry blossom season): the cherry trees around Togetsukyo Bridge and at Tenryu-ji are spectacular.
• Autumn (mid-November to early December, autumn foliage season): the whole of Arashiyama turns red and yellow, perhaps its most beautiful time of year.
• These two seasons are the most popular, and the area gets extremely crowded with visitors from Japan and abroad.
• Early summer (May to June), with its fresh greenery, and winter (January to February), when the scenery may be dusted with snow, each have their own charm and are comparatively calm.

How to avoid the crowds

• Go early: visit the main sights (Togetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove Path, Tenryu-ji) around 8 a.m., when there are few people about and you can enjoy the scenery in peace. The bamboo path in particular is best walked in the clear early-morning air.
• Or go late: after 4:30 p.m. the daytime tour groups start to leave and the atmosphere becomes calmer. The bamboo grove is lovely at dusk too.
• Choose a weekday: weekends and public holidays are especially crowded, so plan a weekday visit if you can.
• Take the back streets: the main routes around Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Grove Path get busy, but step one street back and you will find quiet lanes for a peaceful stroll.

7. Final thoughts: Japan's traditional beauty, in one district

Arashiyama distils the traditional beauty of Japan into a single district: the mysterious calm of the Bamboo Grove Path, the sweeping view of the Katsura River from Togetsukyo Bridge, and historic temples and shrines led by World Heritage-listed Tenryu-ji. Here the changing seasons meet the culture of Japan's ancient capital, and it is hard to leave without feeling both moved and rested.

Walk the bamboo grove in the clear morning air, watch Togetsukyo Bridge at dusk, and explore the quieter lanes in between at your own pace. For more ideas in the city, see 15 must-visit places in Kyoto for first-timers and our 7-day Kyoto culture itinerary.

✨ Want to explore beyond Arashiyama? Book a rental car with OlaChill and discover Kyoto's outskirts at your own pace.