If you are researching for a trip to Japan, then you have likely seen images of this iconic forest of towering bamboo shoots: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

Along with the endless gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine and the golden Kinkakuji Temple, the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of the top attractions in Kyoto. After checking the other two off our list, we knew we had to visit this famed bamboo grove during our time in Kyoto. The gently rustling leaves and tranquility of this forest are other-worldly and not to be missed.

Table of Contents Show

Subscribe

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

WHERE: Saganonomiyacho, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8394, Japan

COST: Free!

HOURS: Open 24 Hours

Getting There

Like much of Japan, you can reach Arashiyama using its impressive train system. Getting to Arashiyama is quick and easy and free if you have your Japan Rail Pass! From Kyoto Station, take the JR San-In line all the way to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about a 15 minute ride). If you don’t have a Japan Rail Pass, the ride will cost ¥240.

From Arashiyama Station, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the bamboo grove. Just follow the crowds of people to the entrance of the famous bamboo-lined, narrow pathway.

The Bamboo Forest

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of Japan’s top natural landmarks for good reason. The peace and beauty of this place is not something one gets to experience everyday. The path to the forest leads you uphill until you reach the edge of the forest. This initial entrance was crowded with visitors, but the further we moved into the forest the more serene and uncrowded it became. It was as if a hush came over everyone that entered as they walked in awe, admiring the grove and taking in the feeling of calm.

Along this pathway, the sun was blocked by the tall, towering bamboo. A light breeze rustled the leaves of the bamboo creating an orchestra of melodic tranquility. A feeling of peacefulness enveloped me. Much like the Fushimi Inari shrine, this felt like a truly magical place. I almost expected to see a guardian of the forest like that of a Ghibli film to cross our path.

There are a number of trails and roads that wind through the thick bamboo, some more crowded with tourists than others. Some trails are lined with a fence of dried grass, while others allow you to come in direct contact with the bamboo shoots. Many trails are narrow and while others are the width of a road.

You can spend as much or as little time strolling these trails as you wish. It was easy to lose ourselves in the peaceful strolling of these trails, taken away from the hustle and bustle of reality for even a brief moment. We ended up spending a couple hours here before heading back towards town.

Exploring Arashiyama

Once you’ve had your fill of the tranquil bamboo grove, be sure to explore the town itself. The charming town of Arashiyama boasts many cute shops and restaurants that are worth checking out.

Erica and I perused a number of shops including a cat-themed goods store, a Japanese fabrics shop selling bags and purses, and a chopstick store. The fact that the shops weren’t just touristy shops but had quality goods in a range of niches really appealed to me. I ended up getting an adorable coin purse featuring red torri and Inari foxes and we both purchased personalized, high-quality chopsticks.

If you have time, you can also check out the Monkey Park Iwatayama in Arashiyama. Unfortunately poor planning led us to miss the closing time at 4pm, so Erica and I did not get the chance to visit during our trip. But for 550 yen, you can enjoy an open park with hundreds of Japanese macaque monkeys roaming free! Just learn from us and keep in mind the early closing time.

Snacks in Town

After hours of walking around the bamboo forest and through the town, we were beginning to feel a growling in our stomachs. Luckily Arashiyama had plenty of restaurants and food stands to choose from. Since we would be meeting up with a friend later for dinner, we stuck to a few small snacks. Right outside of the train station there were a number of shops selling quick bites to go. We got a pork steam bun, a stick of sesame dango, a cup of milk tea, and some Italian soda.

On our way back to the train station, we also stumbled upon a counter selling Cremia ice cream. I had heard about how incredibly creamy and excellent this Japanese ice cream was from my research before the trip, so we just had to try it. Everything I had heard was true. It IS the creamy perfection that I was promised. And the cone is made from a type of shortbread cookie which pairs perfectly with the silky smooth ice cream. If you don’t get the chance to try Cremia ice cream in Arashiyama, fear not because it is sold all over Japan. Now I just have to wait until it hits the USA…

The Kimono Forest

Before jumping on the next train out at Arashiyama Station, we took a small detour to the Kimono Forest. This installation was just off of the station itself and free to enjoy. Keep your eye open for these glowing poles of traditional Japanese fabric designs as soon as you get off the train at the station, leading you to the entrance of the little “forest”.

The forest gets its name from the Japanese fabric designs used on Kimonos that each pole displays. A variety of colors and patterns depict cranes, lanterns, flowers, and more. While the Kimono Forest is a relatively small area, it is easy to spend some time here admiring the intricate patterns and taking pictures of the poles. At night they even light up, adding to the magical experience and providing the perfect lighting for pictures.

The vibrant cylindrical poles lining the pathway twist around and eventually lead to a beautiful fountain. This fountain is made up of an infinity pool of sorts, featuring a marble ball in the center into which the image of a dragon is carved. It is called the “Pond of the Dragon”. The dragon is meant to serve as a guardian of the Arashiyama station and ensure that everyone has a safe journey to and from the station. Definitely worth strolling through this forest, especially because it’s free!

Are you going to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest?

If you enjoyed this post, share it with your travel buddy using the social share buttons below. Or use the Pinterest image to save it to refer back to when you’re planning your own trip to Kyoto!

Stay tuned for more posts from my Japan trip as I attempt to catch up this blog to my YouTube videos… Until then you can watch all the videos from the trip on my YouTube channel and consider subscribing if you enjoy them!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about Arashiyama. Thanks for stopping by my blog. See you again soon!

Other things to do in Kyoto:
First Night in Kyoto: Eating ALL the Desserts (and Gyoza)
Visiting Fushimi Inari-taisha: The Most Magical Place in Kyoto
Trying CoCo Curry in Kyoto + a hidden hipster cafe
Visiting Kinkakuji Temple (The Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, Japan

More awesome things to do in Japan:
10 Things To Do in Japan | One Week in Kyoto & Tokyo