Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of the most visited places in Kyoto and is located in a tourist attraction area near Tenryu-ji Temple, the old Togetsukyō Bridge and the Katsura River Canyon.

Exchange the numerous temples and palaces for the magical atmosphere of slender and tall bamboo trees. Walking among them, you will find yourself in a completely different world.

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There is a path about 1.5 km long through the bamboo forest.

We recommend that after walking through the bamboo forest, continue through the pretty park to the river and the old bridge and return past Tenryu-ji Temple.

Bamboo forest

Entrance fees and opening hours

The bamboo forest trail is open 24/7.

Until 2015, there was an entrance fee to enter the trail, but from this year onwards, the bamboo forest is accessible for free.

Accommodation nearby

The area around the Bamboo Forest is full of tourist attractions and is a good place to stay if you are heading here from Osaka or Fukuchiyama City, for example.

We recommend the following hotels:

Hotel Binario Saga Arashiyama **** - Affordable hotel near JR train station
MUNI KYOTO by Onko Chishin ***** - one of the most luxurious hotels in Kyoto overlooking the river

How to get there

The trail through the bamboo forest starts about 20 meters north of the entrance to Tenryu-ji Temple.

The bamboo forest is located on the very western edge of Kyoto, and it will take about 20-25 minutes to get here from the centre.

JR trains - to Saga-Arashiyama Station (580 metres from the forest)
- JR Pass and JR-WEST Pass valid here / no day passes for subway + bus or Kansai Railway Pass
- Direction Kyoto Station, journey time 19 minutes, frequency 12 minutes, price 240 jpy
- Nijo direction (about 1 km from Nijo Castle), journey time 10 minutes, frequency 12 minutes, price 200 jpy
Randen Tram - to Arashiyama Station (200 meters from the forest)
- JR Pass, JR-WEST Pass, all-day subway + bus passes and Kansai Railway Pass are not valid here
- Flat price 220 jpy
- Tenjingawa direction (transfer to the Red Line subway), Shijo-Omyia
Hankyu trains - to Arashiyama station on the other side of the river (1,200 meters from the forest)
- Kansai Railway Pass valid here, JR Pass, JR-WEST Pass not valid here
- Katsura direction, where you change to another Hankyu train in the direction of Osaka
- Price to Osaka 410 jpy
City buses
- On all lines, a full day metro + bus pass or flat single fare applies 230 jpy
- Line 11 - direction Tenjingawa (red metro line) and Yamagoe-Nakacho (transfer to bus 59 direction Kinkakuji Temple)
- Line 28 - direction Daikakuji Temple, Nishioji Shijo, Shijo-Omiya, Kyoto Station (total journey time to Kyoto Station is about 45 minutes)
- Line 92 - direction Kiyotaki
- Line 93 - direction Nijo Castle, Marutamachi (green subway line towards downtown), Higashi Tennocho
- Line 94 - direction Daikakuji Temple, Kiyotaki