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You’re doing the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves all wrong

You’re doing the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves all wrong

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves 嵐山, Kyoto

Just a quick look at the rows of rows of bamboo groves and you’ll know instantly that it’s the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves. Located at the far west of Kyoto, there’s no doubt that this is one of the most popular destinations for both tourists and locals. It would be very difficult to get a photo with you standing solo in the middle of the bamboo groves!

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

But there’s another way of getting to the bamboo groves, that often tourists think is the main attraction. As you get off at Saga-Arashiyama station and walk towards where the mountains are, you’ll pass by numerous Kyoto delicacies, Odango and Taiyaki included. You should grab a bite or two, as the hike can get very tiring.

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

When you reach the end of the road, and see the Tenryuji Temple, most people would go to the right, as this is where the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves are.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

But I encourage you to take a left and take a scenic route towards the Togetsukyo Bridge.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Hello, Japan’s own version of Santa Monica Pier.

Literally meaning “Storm Mountains”, this side of Arashiyama is breathtaking. I am not one to appreciate nature on a daily basis, but this is really beautiful. Everything else around it is complete tourist circuses, and to enjoy Arashiyama during Autumn season is a breather.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29


Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

So walk along the river and you won’t regret it.

Climb high and you’ll eventually reach the dense bamboo groves, the crowd thinner in comparison. This is where you can take a better photo of yourself.

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Kyoto 29

And as you exit the bamboo groves, you’ll still find yourself along the road where the shops are. All the restaurants are always full, so you might be contented with a potato croquette like I did. Unless you have all the time in the world to queue, by all means, please do.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Bamboo Groves Kyoto 29

Remember, there’s always a way around the place.

Traveling from Tokyo?

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Navigation and Map: How to Get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Location: Arashiyama Genrokuzancho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-0007, Japan
The best way to get to the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves is to take the JR Sagano/San-In line from JR Kyoto Station towards Saga-Arashiyama. Head towards where the mountains are and the bamboo groves are 10 minutes away. Alternatively you can take Kyoto City Bus #28 and get off at Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae stop.

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0 responses to “You’re doing the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves all wrong”

  1. Hello! Thank you so much for this blog. This will help me a lot. I am wondering how many hours did you spend around this area? We could only allocate one day for Kyoto so I’m trying to choose which areas to go to in such limited time. C:

    1. Hey Resuri! I’m glad you found this blog helpful. Arashiyama is at the opposite side of the other tourist spots like Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera and Gion. It’s best actually to spend two days here, one day for Kiyomizudera area and another day for Arashiyama. But if you can wake up, like, really early then that would help! I think you can spend half day at Arashiyama in the morning, and the following night, you can spend it in Kiyomizudera for the Autumn illumination. Hope that helps!

      1. Thank you so much for the insight. C: We planned to spend 2 days touring Kyoto but unfortunately, our arrival flight got delayed so instead of having 5 full days, it turned into 4 full days instead. But I look forward to my future visits in Japan so I hope to enjoy Kyoto more when time permits. C:

  2. Hey Resuri! I’m glad you found this blog helpful. Arashiyama is at the opposite side of the other tourist spots like Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera and Gion. It’s best actually to spend two days here, one day for Kiyomizudera area and another day for Arashiyama. But if you can wake up, like, really early then that would help! I think you can spend half day at Arashiyama in the morning, and the following night, you can spend it in Kiyomizudera for the Autumn illumination. Hope that helps!

    1. Thank you so much for the insight. C: We planned to spend 2 days touring Kyoto but unfortunately, our arrival flight got delayed so instead of having 5 full days, it turned into 4 full days instead. But I look forward to my future visits in Japan so I hope to enjoy Kyoto more when time permits. C:

  3. Thank you so much for the insight. C: We planned to spend 2 days touring Kyoto but unfortunately, our arrival flight got delayed so instead of having 5 full days, it turned into 4 full days instead. But I look forward to my future visits in Japan so I hope to enjoy Kyoto more when time permits. C:

  4. Hi! Thanks for this blog post. How long is the walk from the station to the bamboo grove if you follow the river route instead of the normal one? 🙂

    1. I would say around 30 minutes

  5. I would say around 30 minutes

  6. Hi, did you cross the bridge? is the golden pavillion also in the same area ?

    1. thank you. is the san arashiyama station same as the arayashiyama station?

    2. Hello! Yes, I crossed the bridge, but didn’t go to the other side. The golden pavillion / Kinkakuji is a bus away from the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves. I walked the last time from Arashiyama to kinkakuji because there was traffic and took a while for the buses to arrive

  7. Hello! Yes, I crossed the bridge, but didn’t go to the other side. The golden pavillion / Kinkakuji is a bus away from the Arashiyama Bamboo Groves. I walked the last time from Arashiyama to kinkakuji because there was traffic and took a while for the buses to arrive

  8. thank you. is the san arashiyama station same as the arayashiyama station?

  9. oh sorry its saga arashiyama

    1. It’s not the same. There are different trains that pass by in those stations

  10. It’s not the same. There are different trains that pass by in those stations

  11. where should I take the bus from bamboo grove going to golden pavillion?

  12. Hi.. I am a little lost… Coz u were saying “walk towards the mountains”… I tried looking at the map. theres like no mountain? Its like showing walk from Point A to Point B (which is the bridge)
    Do I cross over the bridge to the Monkey Park?
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1GCveOOjhl5YfjvE0QegTw7e6LDE&hl=en_US&ll=35.01495383537048%2C135.67654216085202&z=16

    1. Walk towards the mountains to get to Arashiyama bridge. I didn’t say anything about Monkey Park.

      1. OK.. No worries. I will look at the map again. Tks for the reply!

    2. One warning about your nickname here. This website does not tolerate hate.

      1. There’s no hate or anything. Pls don’t be alarmed. My previously inactive Twitter was hacked by this guy and he started posting comments in a foreign language so I was like not sure if he’s terrorism related or anything. I informed twitter n changed the nick to warn him to buzz off but kept his tweets n photo ard. Just in case it helps later on to trace him or something.

  13. Walk towards the mountains to get to Arashiyama bridge. I didn’t say anything about Monkey Park.

    1. OK.. No worries. I will look at the map again. Tks for the reply!

  14. One warning about your nickname here. This website does not tolerate hate.

    1. There’s no hate or anything. Pls don’t be alarmed. My previously inactive Twitter was hacked by this guy and he started posting comments in a foreign language so I was like not sure if he’s terrorism related or anything. I informed twitter n changed the nick to warn him to buzz off but kept his tweets n photo ard. Just in case it helps later on to trace him or something.

  15. OK.. No worries. I will look at the map again. Tks for the reply!

  16. There’s no hate or anything. Pls don’t be alarmed. My previously inactive Twitter was hacked by this guy and he started posting comments in a foreign language so I was like not sure if he’s terrorism related or anything. I informed twitter n changed the nick to warn him to buzz off but kept his tweets n photo ard. Just in case it helps later on to trace him or something.