arashiyama bamboo grove walking tour

Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Japan’s most incredible sights. Our walking tour route allows you to enjoy the Bamboo Grove and the surrounding sights while avoiding the worst of the crowds.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Introduction

Located about 7km west of downtown Kyoto, Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing districts. The heart of the district is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a mesmerizing grove of thousands of tall bamboo plants. A paved walkway runs through the middle of both sections, forming the famous “Bamboo Alley,” one of Kyoto’s most photographed sights.

It was possible to have the entire place to yourself just a few years ago. Now, if you go during high season, you’ll find almost as many selfie sticks as bamboo stalks. Luckily, the crowds tend to thin out as you make your way away from the main street of Arashiyama. Our walking tour below is designed to get you away from the crowds as quickly as possible.

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About the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is really two separate bamboo groves, both of which are sandwiched between Tenryu-ji Temple grounds and the JR Sagano-Saiin line train tracks. The combined length is about 500 meters, and the grove is about 140 meters wide. In the middle of the eastern section, near the main street, you’ll find Nonomiya-jinja Shrine, a popular Shinto Shrine, while on the southern edge of the western section, you’ll find the beautiful gardens and halls of Tenryu-ji Temple, one of Kyoto’s most beautiful Buddhist temples.

Many people wonder about the meaning or purpose of the bamboo grove. As a matter of fact, it’s merely decorative. Arashiyama has been a favorite location of imperial and noble villas and temples from the days of classical Japan (the Heian Period). Bamboo was a popular element in the gardens of these villas. During the Edo Period, bamboo was cultivated in the area for use in many Japanese crafts, as well as for eating (bamboo shoots are a popular ingredient in Japanese food). Due to economic changes in the modern era, many bamboo groves in Arashiyama were abandoned or turned into residential areas. However, the government acted in in 1967 to protect the remaining bamboo groves, so that today we can enjoy the fantastic grove we see today.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour Route

While it’s possible to enter the Bamboo Grove directly from the main street of Arashiyama, we find that the first section is always too crowded. Thus, in the following route, you will enter via the north exit of Tenryu-ji Temple. This allows you to enjoy the temple and also skip the worst of the crowds. After traversing the best part of the Bamboo Grove, you’ll visit Okochi-Sanso Villa and then enter Kameyama-koen Park, before descending to the Katsura-gawa River and walking downstream back to the main street of Arashiyama.

This walk can be done in about an hour if you walk non-stop. If you slow down and enjoy the sights along the way, plan on three or four hours. Hint: the restaurants are usually pretty busy in Arashiyama, so consider picking up some picnic supplies at a bakery or convenience store before heading out to Arashiyama and eating them in Kameyama-koen Park (along the route). For transport directions to Arashiyama, see our main Arashiyama page .

The route and the sights mentioned here are all shown on the map at the end of this page.

Arashiyama Benkei

Start your walk from the main street of Arashiyama near Keifuku Arashiyama Station. Walk north (away from the river). You will soon see the main entrance to Tenryu-ji Temple on the left. Enter through this entrance.

If you missed the main entrance, there is another entrance just a bit further along. They both go to the same place.

Walk toward the temple (in the direction of the mountains). You will soon come to a sign for the temple and the ticket booth. Continue straight toward the temple.

The next sign indicates the choice between visiting the garden and visiting the main hall of the temple. We recommend visiting the garden only, so take a left here.

Buy your ticket at the ticket booth and enter the garden. The garden here is one of the best in Kyoto, so take your time to enjoy it before continuing.

Make your way past the pond and work your way uphill toward the Tahoden Hall. Just beyond this, you will see the North Exit of the temple.

Exit the temple via the North Exit. You will find yourself at the bottom of the western section of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Take a left and walk uphill.

Walk uphill through the famous “Bamboo Alley.”

When you reach the top of the slope, look to the right and you will see entrance to Okochi-Sanso Villa diagonally across from you. This superb villa and garden is well worth a visit. Be sure to hold onto your ticket as it will get you a cup of matcha tea and a sweet after you explore the garden.

Here’s a picture of the sign at the entrance to Okochi-Sanso Villa.

We recommend following the full route through the garden at Okochi-Sanso. It’s clearly marked with signs. Then, make your way to the tearoom area when you’re done for a nice break.

When you have finished your tea break, exit the villa the way you came in. Take a right at the bottom of the slope and walk south (toward the open park area). This will bring you to the entrance to Kameyama-koen Park.

Shortly after entering the park, take the cobblestone path uphill. Keep walking until you reach the summit of the park.

There is a viewing area at the summit of the park that affords excellent views of the Arashiyama Mountains and down to the Hozu-gawa River (the name of the river changes to the Katsura-gawa just downstream from here).

Now, walk downhill, sticking to the pathways on your right (the southern edge of the park).

You will soon come to a narrow footpath branching off on your right. Take this path.

The path descends some cobblestone steps.

Keep heading downhill, sticking to the right. You will soon pass the wooden sign for Shorai-an, a traditional tofu restaurant. The river will also appear through the trees at this point. Head down the paths to the river.

You’ll soon arrive at the pleasant, flat walkway along the Katsura-gawa River. Take a left and follow it downstream.

A few hundred meters of walking along the river will bring you back to the heart of Arashiyama and the main road. To the left is Keifuku Arashiyama Station, to the right, across the Togetsu-kyo Bridge, is Hankyu Arashiyama Station.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour Map

All the sites mentioned here are on this map. The map also shows the walking tour route described above:

View a full-sized version of the Arashiyama map.

Places to Stay and Eat in Arashiyama

For our recommended restaurants and accommodations in Arashiyama, check out our main Arashiyama page .

Kyoto Walking Tour: Arashiyama

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Kyoto Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour

per person USD 90 NG100S

This tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter. With Mt. Arashiyama as the backdrop, take a walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter. Enjoy the ever-popular Arashiyama which offers different scenery every season, be it the cherry blossoms of spring, the fresh greens of summer, the colored leaves of autumn, or the snowy scenescapes of winter. Visit the beautiful temple gardens of Tenryuji, a World Heritage Site considered as one of Kyoto's best Zen temples. Enjoy panoramic views of Kyoto City from Jojakko-ji Temple, renowned for its beautiful scenery of colorful leaves in autumn and green blankets of moss in summer. 5Enjoy the scenery of Togetsukyo Bridge and Arashiyama from aboard the yakatabune.

• Optional Tour

Day 1: Kyoto

8:40   Depart   Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) Walk to Kyoto Station   From Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station (JR Rapid/Local, non-reserved seating) Please refer to the [Itinerary/Destinations] in the remarks.   Jojakko-ji Temple (30 mins)   This temple overlooks the town of Sagano and the city of Kyoto. The area is famous for its beautiful scenery when the colored leaves cover the mountain in autumn.   Sagano Bamboo Grove   Enjoy a relaxing walk through this bamboo grove popular even among international visitors.   Tenryu-ji Temple (30 mins)   A World Heritage site. This Zen temple stands in one of Kyoto's leading sightseeing areas. The Japanese garden is complemented by the beautiful landscapes of Arashiyama, and has been registered as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.   Togetsukyo Bridge   This 250-meter-long bridge offers a spectacular location for viewing cherry blossoms or colored autumn leaves.   Board the Yakatabune (30 mins)   Enjoy the scenery of Togetsukyo Bridge and Arashiyama from aboard the yakatabune. The guide will not board the yakatabune.     From Saga Arashiyama Station to  Kyoto     (JR Rapid/Local, non-reserved seating)    13:30   Tour ends at Kyoto Station Please head to your next destination on your own after the tour.

Departure Date

2023: Jan.11-Dec. 27, Mon., Wed., Sat., (There are blackout dates) 2024: Jan.11-Dec. 27, Mon., Wed., Sat., (There are blackout dates)

National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter fee, Other admission fees and transportation costs included in the tour

Minimum Participants Required

Pick up and Drop off

Pick-up / Drop-off: Not Available

1 . [Reception Method]   At reception, please show your reservation confirmation sheet, a printout of the reservation confirmation e-mail, or show the e-mail on your mobile device screen to staff.  

2 . [Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions]   If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled.   *The minimum no. of participants is 10 only for the following tour dates in 2023. All tour dates from Mar. 25 to Apr. 8; Saturdays from Apr. 15 to 22; Saturdays from May 13 to 27; All tour dates from Nov.1 to Dec. 11   Bookings are accepted until 15:00 noon on the day prior to the tour. Please make a reservation on the system until the reservation deadline.

3 . [Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee: Itinerary/Destinations]   This tour uses public transportation with non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed. The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations.   If the yakatabune cannot be boarded due to effects of high water level, etc., the tour will visit Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture (partial refunds will not be issued). In case the Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture is closed (on Tuesdays, or the following day if Tuesday is a holiday; during exhibition change periods), the National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter will issue a refund for the yakatabune fare (JPY 1,500/adult, JPY 800/child) on the day.   Connection to the Kyoto Afternoon Tour and Nara Afternoon Tour are not possible from July 1 - Sep 23, 2024.

4 . [Important Notes/Supplements: Meeting/Pick-up/Pick-up Location]   Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) / 8:30

5 . [Important Notes/Supplements: What to Wear/Bring]   As this is a walking tour, please wear shoes and clothing that are suitable for walking. The total walking distance for this tour is approximately 3 km.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Children/Infants] (2024) An additional JPY 800 must be paid for 4 and 5 year old children for the yakatabune fare

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