Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Togetsukyo Bridge: Access, Half-Day Route & How to Beat the Crowds (2026)

Arashiyama, on the western edge of Kyoto along the Katsura River, packs the bamboo grove, Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryu-ji temple into one walkable area. The grove itself is free and never closes — and by mid-morning it is wall-to-wall people. This guide covers how to get there from Kyoto Station, a half-day route, the hours when you can photograph the bamboo without a crowd, and how to book the Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa river boat.

Quick facts

How to get to Arashiyama from Kyoto Station

1. JR Sagano Line (San-in Line) from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station: about 16 minutes, ¥240. The grove is a 10-minute walk from the station. Fastest and most reliable.
2. Randen tram (Keifuku Line) from Shijo-Omiya to Arashiyama Station: about 20 minutes, ¥250. Use this from Kinkaku-ji or Ninna-ji. The station is right by Togetsukyo Bridge.
3. Hankyu Arashiyama Line from Osaka, changing at Katsura. The station is on the south bank; cross the bridge to the main area.
4. City Bus 28 from Kyoto Station, about 45 minutes — slow in traffic, take the train instead.

Half-day route

1. 8:00 Arrive at Saga-Arashiyama Station, walk to the Bamboo Grove while it is still quiet
2. 8:30 Nonomiya Shrine (a small shrine for love and marriage inside the grove)
3. 9:00 Tenryu-ji (World Heritage; the Sogenchi garden borrows the mountains as backdrop). Enter from the north gate, which connects directly to the grove
4. 10:30 Cross Togetsukyo Bridge and stroll along the river
5. 11:00 Arashiyama Monkey Park (a 20-minute uphill walk; wild Japanese macaques and a view over the city)
6. 12:30 Lunch near Randen Arashiyama Station (yudofu, yuba, soba)
7. 14:00 If you have time, the Sagano Romantic Train or Hozugawa boat ride, or head to Kinkaku-ji

When the grove is empty

• 7:00–8:30: early morning is everything. Tour groups start arriving around 8:30 and after 10:00 every photo will have people in it.
• After 17:30: crowds thin as the light fades, but it gets dark quickly.
• Rainy days: the bamboo turns a deeper green and far fewer people come. Worth it with an umbrella.
• The grove is about 400 m long. The densest, tallest section is the middle, between Nonomiya Shrine and the Okochi Sanso villa.

Sagano Romantic Train & Hozugawa boat

• Sagano Romantic Train: 7.3 km from Torokko Saga to Torokko Kameoka in about 25 minutes, ¥880 one way. In autumn-leaf season it sells out a month ahead on release day — book on the official site.
• Hozugawa River Boat: about 2 hours from Kameoka back down to Arashiyama, ¥4,500. The classic combination is train out, boat back.

[Affiliate slot: Arashiyama Romantic Train, Hozugawa boat, kimono rental — Klook / KKday]

Tips

• Coin lockers at Saga-Arashiyama and Randen Arashiyama stations.
• Bicycles are banned in the grove; rickshaws are allowed (from about ¥3,000 for 10 minutes).
• Togetsukyo photographs better in morning front-light than in the afternoon backlight.
• Autumn leaves: late November to early December. Weekends then mean a packed train and a packed grove.
• Kimono rental shops sit by Randen Arashiyama Station — see our kimono rental guide.

Nearby

• Kinkaku-ji — Randen tram + walk, about 40 minutes
• Nijo Castle — JR Sagano Line to Nijo, about 10 minutes
• Nishiki Market — Hankyu to Karasuma, about 25 minutes

See also the full list of things to do in Kyoto and the 3-day Kyoto itinerary.

Official information: Arashiyama Hoshokai · Tenryu-ji · Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · Google Maps