Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at a glance
The bamboo path, called Chikurin-no-Komichi, runs from the Nonomiya shrine past the north gate of Tenryū-ji towards Ōkōchi Sansō. It is about 400 m long, it is a public road, and walking it costs nothing. A guided tour, a rickshaw ride or an evening event is a different product with its own price.
From Randen Arashiyama station it is about 10 minutes on foot, from JR Saga-Arashiyama 13 minutes and from Hankyu Arashiyama 21 minutes. The three stations are not interchangeable, so choose the line that fits the rest of your day.
This guide covers the best time to go, tours, rickshaw rides, Tenryū-ji, the Sagano Romantic Train, the Hozugawa river boat, Monkey Park Iwatayama, Togetsukyō Bridge, Ōkōchi Sansō, the temples of Sagano, Kyoto day tours, getting there and where to stay. Prices are in Japanese yen (JPY) for 2026 and can change.
Our picks: Arashiyama tours
Our take: the morning bike tour gets you into the bamboo before the crowds and includes the entries. The small-group walk with three paid stops suits most first visits, and the bus tour is the easy way to see Kyoto's main sights in one day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kyoto in one day by bus with the bamboo grove
- Temple tickets incl. Kinkaku-ji
- Air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi
- Multilingual audio headsets
The most booked day tour: Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama with temple tickets. Lunch is only part of the matching option.
Check availability →
Morning bike tour through the bamboo forest
- Bike and helmet
- Entry fees
- Native English-speaking guide
An early start in a group of up to eight, before the main crowds arrive. Bike, helmet and entries are covered.
Check availability →
Bamboo forest, temples and Ōkōchi Sansō
- Ōkōchi Sansō, Tenryū-ji and monkey park tickets
- Bilingual local guide
- Green tea
Five hours with a bilingual local guide, and the tickets for three paid stops are already in the price.
Check availability →Arashiyama tours and Kyoto day trips
Guided walks, rickshaw rides, boat trips and day tours from Kyoto, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Arashiyama visit
Every page of this guide in one place.
Arashiyama tours
A 4 km guided walk, a version with a local boat and a Kyoto bus tour, side by side.
Best time to visit
Early morning, cherry blossom, autumn colour and a monthly climate table.
Rickshaw rides
Prices per rickshaw from 12 minutes to 3 hours, for one or two adults.
Sagano Romantic Train
Seven kilometres through the Hozu gorge: booking, seats and the open car.
Hozugawa river boat
From Kameoka to Arashiyama, with prices, season and combination with the train.
Kyoto day tours
One day with Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari and more.
Tenryū-ji
Garden, halls, opening times and the north gate exit to the bamboo path.
Monkey Park Iwatayama
The climb, the feeding hut and the rules for visitors.
Togetsukyō Bridge
The bridge over the Katsura, rowing boats and evening views.
Ōkōchi Sansō
A hillside garden at the end of the bamboo path.
Temples of Sagano
Jōjakkō-ji, Giō-ji, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and more, away from the main path.
Things to do
Twelve ideas beyond the bamboo itself.
How to get to Arashiyama
JR, Randen, Hankyu, buses and parking.
Where to stay
Areas to sleep in and the Kyoto accommodation tax.
Many visitors pair Arashiyama with the torii gates of Fushimi Inari or with Kiyomizu-dera and Gion on another day. The Kyoto day tour page shows how the bus tours combine them.
A few things to know before you go
Short facts that save time on the day.
The bamboo path is free
It is a public road of about 400 m. The hours of 09:00 to 17:00 that appear online belong to a separate bamboo walkway run by the city, not to this road. Carving words or symbols into the stalks damages them and can be punished with a fine of up to JPY 300,000.
Best time to visit →Hozu boat prices
The boat ride from Kameoka costs JPY 6,000 for adults and JPY 4,500 for children in 2026, tax included. Boats are open and have no heating in winter.
Hozugawa river boat →Bamboo light-up in 2026
The evening light-up runs from 30 September to 8 November 2026, 18:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:40. It costs JPY 1,500 in cash at the gate and JPY 2,000 online with guaranteed entry. Children up to 12 enter free. Heavy weather cancels it.
Season by season →Booking the Sagano train
Online sales open one month ahead at 00:00 Japan time. Car 5 is open, so rain can reach you, and you can choose it online. New trains replace the current ones from spring 2027.
Sagano Romantic Train →Hotel budget
Since 1 March 2026 Kyoto charges an accommodation tax in five steps from JPY 200 to JPY 10,000 per person and night. It is not a flat fee per room.
Where to stay →Small temples have their own days
Ōtagi Nenbutsu-ji charges JPY 1,000 and is closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Check each temple before you walk up.
Temples of Sagano →More independent guides to Kyoto
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one Kyoto sight.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: frequently asked questions
Is the Arashiyama bamboo forest free?
Yes. The main path, Chikurin-no-Komichi, is a public road and has no entry fee. Tenryū-ji, Ōkōchi Sansō, tours, rickshaw rides and the evening light-up are separate and have their own prices.
How long is the bamboo path?
About 400 m, from the Nonomiya shrine past the north gate of Tenryū-ji towards Ōkōchi Sansō. The walk itself is short, so most visitors combine it with a temple, the bridge or a ride.
When is the best time to go?
Early in the morning, before 09:00, is the usual advice. It lowers the odds of a crowd but does not promise an empty path. The best time page covers seasons, weather and the evening light-up.
How do I get to the bamboo path?
Walk about 10 minutes from Randen Arashiyama, 13 minutes from JR Saga-Arashiyama or 21 minutes from Hankyu Arashiyama. From Kyoto Station the rapid train on the Sagano line takes about 11 minutes. See getting there.
Can I walk through Tenryū-ji to reach the bamboo?
The garden charges JPY 500 for adults, and a free walk through it is not offered. Its north gate leads onto the bamboo path for visitors who have paid. Details are on the Tenryū-ji page.
Is this an independent guide or the official Arashiyama website?
This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the city of Kyoto, of Tenryū-ji or any other temple, of JR West or the Sagano Scenic Railway, and it is not run by a tour or rickshaw operator.