Opening Hours & Access: The Bamboo Grove Never Closes
Planning your visit?Timed slots are limited, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Reserve today, decide later.
Check ticket availabilityThe grove is a public road, not an attraction
The path runs between Nonomiya Shrine at the south end and the Ōkōchi Sansō gate at the north end. It is not owned by a shrine, not managed by a tour operator, and not a ticketed destination. It is a public road through Sagano, western Kyoto. Nobody can close it to you. You can walk it at 6 a.m., noon, or midnight. You do not need permission, a reservation, or a guide. The entry is free because there is nothing to enter.
What 'open 24 hours' actually means in practice
The path itself is open. The paid attractions around it are not. Tenryū-ji closes in the afternoon and evening; Iwatayama Monkey Park closes by early evening; the restaurants and gift shops on the Randen street are mostly dark by 5 or 6 p.m. If you show up at 11 p.m., you can walk the grove. You cannot visit Tenryū-ji or get coffee. The path is open; everything else has business hours.
Night walks: legal, unlit, nearly empty
Walking the grove after dark is legal. The path is not lit. You will need a phone flashlight or a headlamp. You will be nearly alone. Some visitors do this; most do not. If darkness matters to you, there is a guided night tour that includes a solo walk in the dark and a shrine visit.
The bamboo grove itself never closes. But if you want to visit the temples and gardens and eat while you are in Arashiyama, everything closes by evening. Plan your morning or early afternoon if you want to do more than just walk the path.
Plan your full Arashiyama day
The path takes 30–45 minutes. If you have half a day, you can see Tenryū-ji, Nonomiya, and the bridge. If you have a full day, add the Monkey Park and the Sagano Romantic Train.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Arashiyama bamboo forest open 24 hours?
The path is free and open 24 hours as a public road. But Tenryū-ji, shops, and cafés close in the afternoon and evening. Night walks are legal and real, but you need your own light.
Do you need a ticket or reservation to enter?
No. The grove is a free public road. There is no gate, no ticket office, and no entrance fee. You can walk it any time.
Are there lights on the path at night?
No. The path is not lit. A night walk is dark and nearly empty, and you will need a light from your phone or a headlamp.