Arashiyama is more than one walk
The bamboo path is free, about 400 m long and a public road. The walk itself is short. The district around it holds a garden temple, a scenic railway, a river, a monkey park and a row of quiet temples in Sagano. This page lists twelve of them, with the numbers you need to plan.
Start the path in the morning. Before 9 a.m. is the usual advice for the bamboo, and it also leaves the afternoon for the rest. Two of the biggest activities are bookable products: the Hozugawa river boat ride and Arashiyama rickshaw rides each have their own page with prices and timing.
Twelve ideas, from the temple garden to the hills
Prices are 2026 admission or fares. Opening hours can change on ceremony days.
1. Tenryū-ji garden
The Sōgenchi is a pond garden by the founding abbot Musō Soseki, with the hills behind it as part of the view. Admission is JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for elementary and middle school pupils. The halls cost JPY 300 on top of the garden. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4:50 p.m. A path leads through Hyakka'en to the north gate and straight onto the bamboo path.
Tenryū-ji guide →2. Sagano Romantic Train
A tourist train from Torokko Saga through Torokko Arashiyama and Hozukyō to Torokko Kameoka, about 7 km and 25 minutes. Car 5 is open and can get wet in rain. Seats are reserved online from 1 month ahead at midnight Japan time. Adults paid JPY 880 and children JPY 440 as of September 2025, so check the current fare.
Sagano train guide →3. Hozugawa river boat ride
The boat runs downriver from Kameoka to Arashiyama. Adults pay JPY 6,000 and children JPY 4,500 (2026). Plan on about 2 hours, depending on the water level. Everyone wears a life jacket. Winter boats are not heated, and there is no toilet on board.
Boat ride guide →4. A rickshaw ride
Rickshaw prices are per rickshaw, not per person. At one operator, 12 minutes cost JPY 4,000 with one adult and JPY 5,000 with two, and 30 minutes at JPY 9,000 or JPY 10,000. Longer tours run to 60 minutes at JPY 16,000 or JPY 20,000. Decide on the length before you step in, since the route is not fixed by the duration alone.
Rickshaw guide →Our pick: the bamboo forest after dark
An evening idea that the daytime list does not cover.
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.
Arashiyama tours and day trips
Guided walks, river cruises and Kyoto day trips with live prices and availability.
Ideas 5 to 8: monkeys, the bridge and the hills
Walks with a view, a climb and a garden with a tea break.
5. Iwatayama Monkey Park
Admission is JPY 800 for adults and JPY 400 for children from age 4 through junior high (2026). Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with irregular closing days. The entrance is about 5 minutes from Hankyu or Randen Arashiyama, then comes the climb: about 10 to 20 minutes uphill, with stairs and slippery ground in rain. Do not stare at or touch the monkeys. Feeding is only from the caged hut. There is no parking and no wheelchair access.
Monkey park guide →6. Togetsukyō Bridge and the riverbank
The bridge crosses the Katsura in front of Arashiyama mountain and is busy in cherry blossom and autumn leaf season. A rowing boat costs JPY 2,000 per boat for up to 3 people including babies, for up to 1 hour, in cash. From 1 July to 23 September there are also evening cormorant fishing boats at JPY 3,000 for adults and JPY 1,500 for children up to 12. Wear a life jacket on the water and watch the weather, since the river can rise quickly.
Bridge guide →7. Ōkōchi Sansō garden
The garden of the film actor Ōkōchi Denjirō on Ogura mountain took about 30 years to build, with views toward Arashiyama, the Hozu and Kyoto. Adults pay JPY 1,000, which includes matcha and a sweet. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4:30 p.m., so arrive before 4:30. It is about 15 minutes on foot from JR Saga-Arashiyama and about 25 from Hankyu.
Ōkōchi Sansō guide →8. Jōjakkō-ji
A hillside temple known for its autumn colour. The leaves start to turn around the second week of November, peak from mid to late November and linger into the first week of December. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m., no regular closing days and no reservation. Admission is between JPY 400 and JPY 600, so check the price at the entrance. No tripods, and stairs limit wheelchair access.
Sagano temples →Ideas 9 to 12: quieter temples in Sagano
These sit north and west of the bamboo path, each with its own hours.
9. Giō-ji
Admission is JPY 500 for adults and JPY 100 for school pupils. Entry is 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and you can stay until 4:50 p.m. Tripods are not allowed, and the statues in the thatched hall may not be photographed. There is no visitor toilet and only 3 car spaces.
10. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji
Stone figures and small towers remember the dead. Adults pay JPY 500, middle and high school pupils JPY 400, and younger children with an adult enter free. Doors open at 9 a.m., last entry 4:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. in January, February and December. A separate bamboo path with steps runs behind the grounds. It is not the free main path.
11. Ōtagi Nenbutsu-ji and Saga-Toriimoto
Admission is JPY 1,000, hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Wednesday and Saturday. Take bus 94 toward Kiyotaki to Otagi-dera-mae, or a taxi from Saga-Arashiyama of about 5 minutes and JPY 1,500. Walking uphill takes around an hour. The temple suggests visiting here first and then walking downhill through the preserved old street of Saga-Toriimoto to the bamboo path and the bridge.
12. Seiryō-ji
Since 1 April 2025 adults pay JPY 500, middle and high school pupils JPY 400 and elementary pupils JPY 300. The main hall with the Reihōkan museum costs JPY 900, JPY 700 and JPY 500. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no regular closing days apart from ceremonies. The Reihōkan opens specially in April and May and again in October and November. Parking is JPY 800 per car per day.
Combining the ideas
What fits into a half day, by cost and effort.
| Idea | Cost (2026) | Time to plan | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo path | Free | 30 to 60 minutes | Flat walk |
| Tenryū-ji garden | JPY 500 | About 1 hour | Easy |
| Monkey park | JPY 800 | Half a day with the climb | Steep stairs |
| Ōkōchi Sansō | JPY 1,000 with matcha | About 1 hour | Hill walk |
| Rickshaw | From JPY 4,000 per rickshaw | 12 minutes and up | None |
| Hozugawa boat | JPY 6,000 adults | About 2 hours | None |
| Sagano train | JPY 880 adults (last published) | About 25 minutes | None |
For most first visits, take the bamboo path early, add the Tenryū-ji garden and Ōkōchi Sansō, and keep the river or the monkey park for the afternoon. Visitors who prefer to sit should choose the train and the boat. Further sights in Kyoto, such as Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera, fit better on a separate day. The Kyoto day tour page shows how Arashiyama combines with them.
Plan the rest of your visit
Where to go next on this site.
Things to do in Arashiyama: frequently asked questions
How long do I need in Arashiyama?
The bamboo path alone takes 30 to 60 minutes. A day gives room for the bamboo, the Tenryū-ji garden and Ōkōchi Sansō, plus one river activity or the monkey park.
What can I do in Arashiyama for free?
The bamboo path is free, as is the walk along the Katsura and across Togetsukyō Bridge. Gardens, temples and the monkey park charge admission.
Which activity is best in the rain?
Car 5 on the train is open and can get wet, and umbrellas are not allowed in that car. Boat passengers cannot use umbrellas either. The path up to the monkey park is slippery in rain.
Can I do Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari in one day?
It is possible, but each needs time. A guided Kyoto day tour of 8 to 9 hours visits both with other sights. On your own, give Arashiyama the morning and keep the afternoon for the rest.
Are there things to do for children?
The rickshaw, the train and the monkey park suit children, and the train and boat have children's fares. The Hozu boat requires a life jacket and has a minimum height of 80 cm.