Arashiyama is a place where Kyoto slows its breath. For centuries, the city’s western district attracted emperors, poets, and monks, and today it enchants travelers from all over the world with its calm, nature, and the extraordinary harmony of its landscape. This is where you can stroll through the famous bamboo grove, take a boat ride on the Katsura River, or step inside one of the temples or magical galleries.
Arashiyama is a must-see for anyone visiting Kyoto. This guide will take you to the most important places. It will show not only its most famous symbols, but also less obvious corners that let you feel the true atmosphere of this part of Kyoto. I will explain what is worth seeing, when it is best to come, and how to plan your visit to avoid the crowds and truly enjoy this exceptional place.
ARASHIYAMA – PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Arashiyama is located in the western part of Kyoto and is very well connected to the city center, which makes getting here easy even on a first visit to Japan.
HOW TO GET TO ARASHIYAMA?
The most convenient option is by train. JR Sagano Line (JR San-in Line) – from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The journey takes about 15 minutes and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. From the station, you can walk to the main attractions (the Bamboo Grove, Tenryū-ji) in 10–15 minutes. Hankyu Railway – from Kawaramachi or Gion-Shijo to Arashiyama Station (Hankyu Arashiyama Line). This is a good option if you are staying near the city center or in the Gion area.
You can also get there by the Randen tram (Keifuku Railway). It’s a charming and very “Kyoto-like” option. The Randen Arashiyama Line connects Arashiyama with the northern districts of the city, making it ideal if you want to combine sightseeing with a local atmosphere.
City buses (e.g. lines 28, 11, and 93) also run to Arashiyama, but during peak seasons they can be crowded and slower than trains. This is more of a second-choice option.
If you have more time, Arashiyama is perfect for a cycling trip, the routes along the Katsura River are flat and very scenic.
RAILWAY STATION – KIMONO FOREST
It’s worth coming to this district by train for another reason as well. At the terminal station you’ll find Kimono Forest, one of the most photogenic attractions in Arashiyama. The installation consists of over 600 illuminated 2-meter-tall columns, each decorated with a different pattern of traditional kyō-yūzen kimono, a distinctive Kyoto textile-dyeing style. During the day, they impress with their details and colors, while after dark they transform into a magical forest of light. At the very center of the installation is a small “dragon pond” (Ryū no Atago no Ike), which, according to local belief, brings good luck and purification.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ARASHIYAMA?
Early morning (7:00–9:00) is the best time to see the bamboo grove without crowds. Arashiyama is one of the most popular places in Kyoto, so planning your visiting hours makes a huge difference.
It is most beautiful in spring during the cherry blossom season, but also in autumn, when the maple leaves create spectacular colors, especially around temples and on the surrounding hills. Summer can be hot and humid, but the greenery is lush and vibrant.
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD YOU PLAN?
For the main sights, it’s worth planning at least half a day. However, if you’re planning to visit temples, go hiking in the hills, or take a river cruise, a full day is ideal.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE ARASHIYAMA DISTRICT
As we step out of the station, the district’s architecture immediately catches our attention, perfectly reflecting the character of western Kyoto. Unlike the city’s modern districts, low-rise buildings and traditional architectural forms dominate here. The most distinctive features are wooden houses and pavilions inspired by the Heian and Edo periods, with sliding doors, dark roof tiles, and simple façades. Many of them now serve as ryokan, tea houses, and small restaurants, preserving their classic appearance while offering modern comforts.
KATSURA RIVER
Now we head south, toward the river. The Katsura River, also known in its lower course as Ōi-gawa, is one of the most important and picturesque elements of Arashiyama’s landscape. Flowing through western Kyoto, it has shaped the rhythm of life in this district for centuries and provides a natural stage for its most beautiful views.
It is here that the famous Togetsukyō Bridge, a symbol of Arashiyama, spans the river, offering a panoramic view of the mountains covered with maple and cherry trees. Depending on the season, the river changes its character and colors. For centuries, it has also served practical purposes, and even today traditional sightseeing boats and river rides on the mountainous sections remain popular attractions.
ARASHIYAMA YUSAI-TEI GALLERY
Arashiyama Yusai-Tei Gallery is one of those places that’s hard to describe in a single word. It balances between an art gallery, a temple of silence, and a poetic vision of dreamlike relaxation. Hidden in the forest, near Arashiyama’s main trails, it invites visitors into a world where time clearly slows down and the senses take over. Here, art does not hang on the walls—it breathes, moves, and coexists with nature. This is one of those spaces that stay in your memory for a long time, not as a tourist attraction, but as an experience. For us, the place made a profound, almost mystical impression.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- LOCATION: Arashiyama Yusai-Tei Gallery
- OPENING HOURS: 10:00–17:00. During the autumn foliage season (late autumn), galleries sometimes open earlier, from 08:00. Usually closed on Thursdays, but during peak season they may be open daily. It’s best to check the website in advance.
- TICKET PRICES: ¥2,000 per person. During the autumn season, the price may rise to around ¥3,000. Reservations are mandatory, and daily visitor numbers are limited to maintain a calm atmosphere.
- VISIT DURATION: The planned visit is about 60–90 minutes, allowing you to calmly enjoy the interiors, views, and riverside spaces.
- ADDITIONAL NOTES: Shoes are removed at the entrance; inside there are tatami floors and spaces for meditation/silence. Quiet is recommended, with conversations kept to whispers if at all. You can often order matcha or light snacks (on the terrace or in the garden), which further enriches the experience.
- DETAILS ON THE WEBSITE: Arashiyama Yusai-Tei Gallery
INTERIORS
The gallery’s interiors are minimalist, almost ascetic, yet full of meaning. Wooden floors, tatami mats, and subtle lighting create the perfect backdrop for the vibrant works of silk-dyeing master Yūsai Okamoto. The intense colors of the fabrics contrast with the quiet of the space, and their reflections on the polished floors give the impression that the patterns are floating in the air. This is a place to be felt rather than simply visited. Complete silence prevails, no one dares speak, and everyone moves on tiptoe so as not to disturb the incredible atmosphere.
EXTERIOR
The real magic, however, awaits outside. The terrace overlooking the Katsura River serves as a stage for an extraordinary performance of nature and art. Silk scarves draped on wooden frames sway gently in the wind, responding to light, moisture, and air currents. In the small water basins, the stunning greenery is perfectly reflected. Here, nothing is accidental …
Along the path leading to the garden, a soft, diffused mist rises, giving the entire space an almost mystical, unreal quality. It feels as if the boundary between the real world and the artistic vision has been blurred.
The garden also features jars, basins, and ceramic vessels that produce sounds when water is poured into them. This subtle rhythm, combined with the murmur of the river and the movement of the silk, creates a meditative atmosphere perfect for calm reflection and contemplation.
KAMEYAMA PARK – THE GREEN HEART OF ARASHIYAMA
To get from the gallery to the next attraction, the bamboo grove, we must walk through the green avenues of the park. Kameyama Park is a peaceful oasis, perfect for those seeking contact with nature and panoramic views of the surrounding hills and the Katsura River. Due to the intense heat, we skip the viewpoints, but at another time of year, it’s worth making the effort to visit them.
BAMBOO FOREST IN ARASHIYAMA
There are many bamboo groves throughout Japan, but the one in Arashiyama is probably the most famous and the most photographed in Kyoto. Walking among the tall, slender bamboo stalks, it’s easy to understand why this place has become a symbol of Japan’s harmony between nature and humanity.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- LOCATION: Las bambusowy
- OPENING HOURS: The grove is open 24 hours a day, but the best time to visit is early morning, between 7:00 and 9:00, to avoid crowds.
- VISIT DURATION: About 30–45 minutes is enough to feel the magic of the place and take a few photos.
The famous bamboo grove has one main path that guides visitors along the route. This helps organize foot traffic while keeping the natural environment undisturbed. Tall bamboo stalks grow densely on both sides of the path, and small reed fences are placed between them to gently separate visitors from the plants, protecting them from being trampled.
Halfway along the path, you’ll often encounter a musician dressed in traditional attire, playing an instrument resembling a shakuhachi. The calm, evocative melody, combined with the rustling of the bamboo, creates an almost mystical atmosphere, as if time slows for a moment and each step becomes part of the meditative rhythm of nature.
You can reach the Arashiyama bamboo grove not only on foot but also in a unique, traditional way—by the famous rickshaw, pulled by a young man in traditional attire. This experience allows you to feel the atmosphere of old Kyoto, when narrow streets and pathways were navigated exactly in this manner.
TEMPLES AND CEMETERIES IN CENTRAL ARASHIYAMA
The heart of Arashiyama is a place where history and spirituality meet almost at every turn. The district center is home to several well-known temples as well as quiet, charming cemeteries, which are an important part of the landscape and culture of this part of Kyoto.
TEMPLES
There are around 15–20 temples in Arashiyama, though the exact number depends on which smaller shrines and affiliated complexes are included. The most famous and frequently visited include:
- Tenryū-ji – the main Zen temple, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Jojakko-ji – a picturesque temple on a hillside
- Nison-in – with historic buildings and gardens
- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji – known for its thousands of stone statues
- Daikaku-ji (part of the district) – a palace-temple complex with gardens
In addition, there are many smaller temples and shrines, often hidden along narrow streets or among the hills of Arashiyama.
CEMETERIES
Between the temples and narrow streets, traditional Japanese cemeteries can be found. These are quiet, well-maintained places where local families and monks are buried. Surrounded by trees, stone lanterns, and moss, they often serve as contemplative spaces as well.
ARASHIYAMA MONKEY PARK IWATAYAMA
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is one of the most unusual attractions in this part of Kyoto and a great change of pace from temples and gardens. The park is located on the forested Iwatayama Hill, which offers one of the best views over the entire city. Its main residents are Japanese macaques, also known as “snow monkeys.” To reach the park, be prepared for a short but fairly steep uphill walk along a forest trail, which takes about 20–30 minutes. Unfortunately, this was the reason we skipped the attraction, as in the heat we faced, we weren’t up for the climb, and we had already seen monkeys in various other parts of the world.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- LOCATION: Monkey Park Iwatayama
- OPENING HOURS: 9:00 – 16:00
- TICKET PRICES: ¥800, children (4–15) ¥400
- VISIT DURATION: About 30–45 minutes is enough to feel the magic of the place and take a few photos.
- DETAILS ON THE WEBSITE: Monkey Park
ACCOMMODATION IN KYOTO
When planning accommodation in Kyoto, it’s worth considering different districts and types of lodging. You’ll find everything here—from traditional ryokan to modern hotels. Kyoto offers a very diverse range, so you can choose a place that fits your needs: close to attractions, in a quiet area surrounded by nature, or in a luxurious style.
- Gion and Higashiyama – classic Kyoto
- Arashiyama – nature and tranquility
- City center / around Kyoto Station
- Shijo Kawaramachi & Downtown
We stayed near Omiya Station, which was a pleasant and quiet district, yet conveniently close to public transport and fairly near the main attractions. When booking, we recommend using a trusted portal we’ve used multiple times:
- Booking.com
- Agoda , which works particularly well in Asia (it’s worth checking both).
Through any link on this page, you can book accommodation with a 15% discount!
Simply enter your desired dates and book safely:
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