Arashiyama bamboo forest map
The grove is the green pin, and it costs nothing. Everything in red charges admission. Tap any pin for what it is, what it costs and how far it is.
Free — no gate, no ticket
- The bamboo path (Chikurin-no-michi)The grove itself. Gravel, gently uphill, 10–15 minutes end to end. No gate and no closing time — the hour you arrive is the only thing that changes the experience.
- Nonomiya ShrineAt the grove’s south end. The torii is built from unstripped black-bark timber rather than painted wood, and appears in The Tale of Genji.
- Togetsukyō BridgeFive to ten minutes downhill from the grove. The Hozugawa river boats finish their run just upstream of it.
Where the money actually goes
- Tenryū-jiThe major temple beside the grove. The garden is the part worth paying for, and most guided tours bundle the admission.
- Ōkōchi SansōA film actor’s garden villa at the top of the grove, reached by a side path. Admission includes tea, which is why the price looks steep until you are sitting down.
- Iwatayama Monkey ParkTicket office at the foot of the hill; the macaques and the view over Kyoto are a 15–20 minute climb above it. Not a stroll.
- Jōjakkō-jiHillside temple ten minutes north of the grove, built in terraces. Half the crowd, and the November maples people queue elsewhere for.
- Adashino Nenbutsu-jiAround 8,000 small stone images gathered from unmarked graves, plus a bamboo path of its own with almost nobody on it.
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji1,200 carved rakan statues, each one different, on the far edge of Sagano. Too far to walk from the grove — bus or a tour transfer.
Stations & the two rides
- JR Saga-Arashiyama StationThe fastest arrival: about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station on the Sagano Line. Ten minutes on foot to the grove.
- Randen Arashiyama StationThe tram terminus in the middle of the shopping street. The Kimono Forest — the pillars wrapped in printed textile — stands on the platform and is free to walk through.
- Hankyū Arashiyama StationSouth of the river. Useful if you are coming from Osaka; add about ten minutes to cross Togetsukyō.
- Torokko Saga StationWhere the Sagano Romantic Train starts. The ride up the gorge takes about 25 minutes, and seats sell out in autumn.
- Torokko Arashiyama StationA halt on the bamboo path itself — you can join or leave the Romantic Train without walking back to Saga.
Tours whose meeting point is fixed
- Bamboo, Matcha, Monkeys & Temple TourMeets in front of the Tully’s Coffee at Randen Arashiyama Station. Four hours, temple and monkey park entry included.
- Ghost Tour: Bamboo Forest at NightMeets at the round window inside Saga-Arashiyama Station. Minimum age 16, and arriving more than five minutes late means you are not going.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a map of the Arashiyama bamboo forest?
Yes — the interactive map above. The grove is the green pin at the centre; the path runs roughly north-west from Nonomiya Shrine up to Ōkōchi Sansō. There is no official visitor map at the grove itself, because there is no gate and nobody handing anything out.
How big is the bamboo grove?
Smaller than the photographs suggest. The walkable path is a few hundred metres and takes 10–15 minutes end to end at a normal pace. How long people actually spend here.
Which station is closest to the bamboo forest?
JR Saga-Arashiyama is closest to the north end of the grove, about ten minutes on foot. Randen Arashiyama is closer to the shops and the bridge. Hankyū Arashiyama is on the far side of the river. All three routes compared.
Can I walk between the grove and the monkey park?
Yes. It is about 15 minutes on the flat from the grove down to the ticket office by Togetsukyō Bridge — then a further 15–20 minutes of genuine uphill to reach the macaques. Tours that include it.