A visit to Arashiyama is incomplete without checking out the bamboo grove. This is one of the most iconic locations in Arashiyama and has a popularity across the world. This bamboo grove is open round the clock, so you can check out this place at any time of the day. It is up to 600 metres long and passes through the Arashiyama station and the Tenryuji temple.
If you are planning to check out this place, so do be prepared for crowds, but it is absolutely worth it. The best part of this forest is that it is open throughout the year and is one of the go-to places for those visiting Kyoto. For those who love getting themselves clicked, the Arashiyama bamboo forest is the go to place for getting yourself clicked. The towering height of the bamboo tree creates a very picturesque sight and continues to attract tourists. Include a visit to the Arashiyama bamboo forest in your Japan tour packages to capture unforgettable moments amidst this natural wonder.
Highlights
• Check out the tall and lush green bamboo trees in the bamboo forest that remain open 24/7.
• Immerse yourself in the spiritual vibes of the Tenryuji temple and check out its architecture.
• Play with the monkeys at Arashiyama monkey park and know what it is like to interact with these adorable creatures.
• Head to the moon crossing bridge and marvel at the best of cherry blossom trees during the peak cherry blossom season.
• Understand the cultural significance of the moon crossing bridge in the local culture while you check it out.
How To Reach
- By Car: The Arashiyama bamboo forest is 10 km from the city centre, it will take 30 min via Route number 162.
- By Train/ Metro: Take a train to Kokedera Suzumusidera station which is 3.3 kilometres away from the Arashiyama bamboo forest. You can reach the Arashiyama bamboo forest from the train station with a 45-minute walk
Best Time To Visit
Arashiyama is open throughout the year, so you can plan your visit to this place at any time of the year.
- The best season to visit Arashiyama will be the summer season from March to June because this is the time when the climate is pleasant.
- The best day in the week will be the weekdays due to less crowds regardless of any time of the year.
- The best time of the day to visit Arashiyama will be in the morning due to less crowds and a favourable temperature.
Other Essential Information
- Head to the top of the Iwatayama Monkey Park for the best views of the Higashiyama mountains.
- We recommend buying a JR pass to get around as you will get free travel in and around Kyoto.
- The local train and rapid train are the 2 types of trains that operate in Kyoto.
- Cherry blossoms in the Arashiyama season are definitely worth checking out, but be prepared for a lot of crowds.
- Try getting to the places early in the morning to get the best pictures of places without crowds
Explore Tenryuji Temple
This temple is one of the most popular Buddhists Temples and was founded in 1339. This temple is one that was recently awarded with a status of world heritage site by UNESCO due to its cultural and historical significance. It has a beautiful pond that tourists visit for even despite the presence of nice ponds with running water all year. Besides simple exploring, the tourists could also attend such activities as sutra writing and tasting Buddhist cuisine. As expected in any other temple, this one can be very busy, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
Visit Arashiyama Monkey Park
This is a famous tourist attraction area in Arashiyama where you can glimpse lots of Japanese macaque monkeys relocating around the stretch overlooking Kyoto. It is good for the family because there is no reason to be concerned because even the monkeys are not vulgar. In fact, they are cute when meeting them face to face, especially knowing that they’ll melt your hearts. Even if they look friendly, do mind them because you are not supposed to feed them. Well there are certain regions where they are expected to appear so you have to confine yourself to those regions.
Yakatabune Boat
This is considered as a non active kind of boat in Kyoto but mostly used for boating. Here you will have to travel on a traditional boat, which is built of wood and can be propelled only with the help of the bamboo pole. It’s a one-kilometre path and could take anywhere from 30 minutes or less for the journey to complete. To get a feel of this experience, then one has to book one’s pass way ahead of time. Picking points for this boating experience are from the right side of the Togetsukyo bridge to the other side of the bridge.
