An expert overview to help you experience Arashiyama
All images are provided by Ollie Ronin, unless otherwise stated, and are protected under copyright law.
Overview
After working as a tour guide in Kyoto for 3 years, I've decided to write this article based on my expert knowledge of this incredible city. Arashiyama is famous for its bamboo forest, stunning autumn leaves, and beautiful temples. It's also notorious for the large crowds of tourists that come to experience the bamboo forest and the UNESCO temples, but with sufficient knowledge you can escape the crowds and have a unique experience.
Located only 20 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, Arashiyama is a stunning natural paradise on the western edge of Kyoto. As soon as you step off the train at Saga-Arashiyama Station you'll be within walking distance of all the attractions, make sure you have comfortable shoes as you can easily spend a whole day exploring all the temples, parks, shops, and restaurants.
FAQ
The Best Things To Do In Arashiyama
When's the best time to visit Arashiyama?
The most popular time of year for visiting Arashiyama is during autumn when the leaves are changing color, they typically reach their peak in the second half of November. Due to its slightly colder climate, the peak of autumn in Arashiyama is a few days earlier than the rest of Kyoto.
The second most popular time is during spring when the cherry blossoms bloom, which typically reaches its peak at the end of March and start of April. However, this is dependent on the weather, and full bloom has been occurring a few days earlier in recent years.
Summer, from June to August, can be hot and humid with temperatures often reaching the mid-thirties (celsius). Despite the heat, the summer is lush and green, so the scenery is quite beautiful, and Arashiyama can be a couple of degrees cooler than central Kyoto.
Winter is the quietest time of year, and if you're lucky you might get some snow. Depending on the season, snowfall occurs 1-4 times per winter in Kyoto, although it typically melts by lunchtime. Many of the temples are famous for their gardens, so they'll look a bit different with the absence of leaves, but the bamboo forest will still impress with its evergreen foliage.
The bamboo forest with some light snow during winter
Do you need to arrive early for the bamboo grove?
If you're visiting for the autumn leaves or the cherry blossoms, prepare yourself for large crowds of fellow visitors. Even outside of this period the bamboo grove gets very crowded. If this bothers you, then arriving at sunrise or by 6am is ideal, and before 7am is essential, it's also wise to avoid leaving between 4pm and 6pm.
Okay, so you've arrived at sunrise to get a nice peaceful experience of the bamboo grove, but now it's 6am and all the temples don't open for another 2-3 hours, so what do you do? Arashiyama has some really amazing cafes serving delicious coffee and breakfasts. Far too many to list here, but simply searching 'cafe' on Google Maps will give you a range of options to suit your personal preferences.
How many hours do you need for visiting Arashiyama?
You could spend anywhere from 1-2 hours or an entire day exploring Arashiyama depending on what you want to see. If you're simply going for the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, and some shops, then 1-2 hours is fine. But if you're hoping to include multiple temples, lunch, the monkey park, and maybe even a river cruise, then you'll need a full day. I think it's worth it to spend at least half a day there, especially considering some of the more secluded temples offer the best experiences.
What's accommodation like in Arashiyama?
If you like escaping the city then Arashiyama is perfect for spending a few nights relaxing in nature and surrounded by the mountains. We've analysed thousands of customer reviews to compile a complete list of the best accommodation in Arashiyama for all budgets, you can check it out here.
The 6 Best Things To Do In Arashiyama
1. The Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama's famous bamboo grove is a small section of an ancient bamboo forest that dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868). It's a narrow path that takes about 5 minutes to walk, surrounded by the tallest bamboo trees in Kyoto. The bamboo grove also serves as a central point for other famous sites including the Tenryu-ji Temple and the Okochi Sanso Villa which is known for its beautiful garden.
It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk to the bamboo grove from Saga-Arashiyama station. At the entrance you'll pass the Tenryu-ji Temple, and at the end is the Okochi Sanso Villa.
The Bamboo Grove
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Bamboo Rickshaw Tours: Buy Tickets Here
2. Ancient Temples
Jojakkoji Temple
Arashiyama is home to a wide range of unique and beautiful temples. Tenryu-ji is the most popular option as it's a UNESCO-listed temple located at the entrance to the bamboo forest, and naturally, it gets very crowded during autumn. However, despite its popularity, it's not the best option, it's simply the most well-known. Dare I say, it's not even worth the visit when you consider the vast crowds and other temples. This sentiment has also been echoed by my guests when I take them here. So how do you escape the crowds and discover better alternatives? First head towards Jojakko-ji, it still gets busy during autumn but will have half as many people as Tenryu-ji. After exploring Jojakkoji, keep walking along the historically preserved streets and you'll come across many more stunning temples with progressively fewer people. I won't list them for you here as it's better to discover them for yourself, and the last thing Kyoto needs is to have its remaining secrets overrun by Instagram tourists. If you do come across them, be humble when posting on social media ;)
Tenryu-ji
Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5pm
Jojakko-ji
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm
3. The Hozugawa River
The Hozugawa River is a beautiful emerald-colored river that runs through the mountainous terrain in Arashiyama. One of the quintessential features of the Hozugawa are the boats that drift down through the valley from a nearby town called Kameoka. For $45 you can spend 90 minutes taking in this stunning scenery while boat masters navigate through mild rapids and rocky features. It's a thoroughly enjoyable experience and offers a nice natural escape from the urban environment.
Hozugawa River Boat Ride
Tickets: Reserve your tickets here
Cost: $45
Time: 90-120 Minutes
Start Point - Kameoka: Google Maps
Hours: 845am - 3pm
Not interested in the boat cruise? You can also simply stroll along the river and relax with the scenery, or enjoy a 5-minute hike to the Arashiyama Park Observation Deck that looks over the valley. Another option, which is popular for couples, is to jump in one of the little row boats and paddle around yourself. You'll easily find these humble row boats by simply walking along the river.
The Hozugawa River is only a 7-minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama station.
4. The Sagano Scenic Railway
Image source: Sagano Railway
The Sagano Scenic Railway, also known as the Sagano Romantic Train, is a nostalgic open-air train that runs along the Hozugawa river between Kameoko and Arashiyama. This is the same route taken with the boat cruise and is a popular combination. It's most famous for the autumn leaves and cherry blossoms but it's a beautiful trip year-round, during summer it's lush and green, and during winter there's a chance of snow.
Although it's popular to combine the boat cruise and the scenic railway, the tickets need to be purchased separately. But due to its popularity, the two companies coordinate transfers together and will help you when you arrive at Kameoka.
It's located right outside Saga-Arashiyama station.
The Sagano Romantic Train
Time: 25 Minutes
Hours: 9am - 4pm
Cost: $6 (one-way) $12 (return)
Tickets: Reserve your tickets here
5. The Arashiyama Monkey Park
The Arashiyama Monkey Park, also known as monkey mountain, is a fun alternative to all the ancient temples and provides a nice view of the city. It's a 12-minute hike and functions kind of like a reverse zoo - the animals are free to roam while the visitors enter a cage if they want to feed them by hand. The top of the mountain contains a viewpoint, heaps of monkeys, and the feeding cage. Although it's popular, the 12-minute hike deters some visitors which means it's not too crowded.
The entrance to the monkey park and the start of the hike is a 15 minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama station.
The Arashiyama Monkey Park
Tickets: ¥600 paid at the entrance
Time: Approx. 45 Minutes
Location: Google Maps
Hours: 9am - 4pm
6. The Fufu No Yu Onsen
The Fufu no Yu onsen is a true hidden gem in Arashiyama and one of the only natural onsens that can be found in Kyoto without a hotel reservation. It's a beautiful traditional onsen with two outdoor baths (one hot and one cold), two indoor baths, and a sauna. It's located along the river about 5 minutes walk from the monkey park, and about 15 minutes walk from the bamboo grove.
The Fufu No Yu Onsen
Cost: ¥1300
Tickets: Reserve your tickets here
Time: Approx. 60 Minutes
Location: Google Maps
Hours: 12pm - 10pm
7. The Okochi Sanso Garden
The last entry on our list is the Okochi Sanso Garden located at the end of the bamboo grove. Officially known as the Okochi Sanso Villa, this garden is popular for its beautiful autumn leaves which reach their peak in the second half of November. The property originally belonged to a Japanese silent film star named Denjiro Okochi. Entry to the garden includes traditional matcha tea served in a beautiful teahouse.
The Okochi Sanso Garden
Tickets: ¥1000 paid at the entrance
Time: 20-30 Minutes
Location: Google Maps
Hours: 9am - 5pm
