We went to Arashiyama on the morning of 4 November 2025, from Kyoto.
The bamboo forest is very impressive.
Arashiyama overview
When: the morning of 4 November 2025.
How long we stayed: a morning, and half a day is plenty.
How we got there: by Uber, there and back.
Good to know: the usual way is the JR Sagano line from Kyoto station to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 minutes for 240 yen, or the Randen tram from the Shijo area. At 5am, before the first trains, a taxi or a ride app is the only option.
What we did
We did everything except the little train.
The bamboo grove, before sunrise
We got up very early, for sunrise, to avoid the crowds. That is the whole point of Arashiyama.
Good to know: the grove is free, open day and night, and there is no ticket. Before 8am the path is quiet, and you can actually hear the bamboo. By 10am it is packed and photographing it becomes difficult.
Book a tour of the bamboo grove, the monkey park and the temples
The monkey park
Good to know: the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is on the other side of the river, south of Togetsukyo bridge. Entry is 800 yen, cash only at the gate, and the climb takes 20 to 30 minutes uphill for 160 metres of elevation. Around 120 wild macaques live at the top, with a view over the whole of Kyoto. You feed them from inside a hut, not out in the open.
My advice: do not be scared of the monkeys, they are really chill.
The temples and the bridge
Tenryu-ji and its garden, and the Togetsukyo bridge over the river.
Good to know: Tenryu-ji opens at 8:30am, 500 yen for the garden, 800 with the Hojo hall. It is one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples, and its Sogenchi pond garden dates from 1345: the pond is placed so that the mountain of Arashiyama is reflected in it, a technique called shakkei, borrowed scenery.
The Togetsukyo, the Moon Crossing Bridge, is 155 metres of wooden deck over the Oi river, free at any hour, with the forested hills behind. It is the postcard of Arashiyama.
The small temples on the hillside
Behind the bamboo grove, Jojakko-ji, Nison-in and Gio-ji cost 300 to 500 yen each and receive a fraction of the crowd. Gio-ji is the moss temple, small and green, and the most photogenic of the three.
Okochi Sanso
The villa and garden of a silent film actor, at the end of the bamboo path. A thousand yen, and a bowl of matcha is included. Most people walk past the entrance without going in, which is exactly why it is calm.
The Sagano Romantic Train, which we skipped
The old sightseeing train between Saga and Kameoka, 25 minutes along the Hozu gorge, 880 yen one way. Book ahead in autumn, it sells out, and ask for a seat on the river side.
If you want to try it, book the Sagano train with the Hozugawa river boat
Where we ate
Back in Kyoto, after the morning.
What I would tell you
- Come very, very early. It is the difference between having the bamboo to yourself and queuing for a photo.
- Watch the stairs. I went down hard on them.
- Do not be afraid of the monkeys. They are calm, and the rules are there to keep it that way.
How to plan the morning: the grove takes half an hour, Tenryu-ji an hour, the bridge twenty minutes. With the monkey park, count four to six hours in all. That is why half a day works.
How long do you need in Arashiyama?
Half a day is plenty.
Arashiyama FAQ
When should you visit the bamboo grove?
Before sunrise, or at least before 8am. After 10am it is crowded.
Is the bamboo grove free?
Yes, and it is open at any hour.
How much is the Arashiyama monkey park?
800 yen, cash only at the gate, plus a 20 to 30 minute climb.
Are the monkeys dangerous?
No. They are wild, but calm. Follow the rules at the feeding hut and it is fine.
How much is Tenryu-ji?
500 yen for the garden, 800 with the main hall.
Is the Sagano Romantic Train worth it?
We did not take it, but it is 880 yen for 25 minutes along the gorge, and it sells out in autumn.
What is there besides the bamboo grove?
Tenryu-ji and its 14th century garden, the Togetsukyo bridge, the monkey park, and the small hillside temples, Jojakko-ji, Nison-in and Gio-ji.
How do you get to Arashiyama from Kyoto?
JR Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 minutes. Before the first trains, take a taxi.
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- Kawaguchiko travel guide: up at 4:30am to see Mount Fuji
- Kyoto travel guide: sunrise at Fushimi Inari, and a bathhouse for lunch
- Nara travel guide: a day trip from Osaka, with the deer
- Oi Racecourse flea market: one of Tokyo's biggest flea markets
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