My Ultimate Guide to Arashiyama: Beyond the Bamboo Forest

Hey guys! I just spent an incredible day exploring Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most popular (and honestly, most unique) destinations. While most people know it for the famous Bamboo Grove, I’m here to tell you that this area is SO much more than just bamboo. You could easily spend over a day here, and today I’m going to walk you through the best spots, the overhyped places you might want to skip, and the hidden gems that deserve way more love.

Getting There & First Stop: The Bamboo Forest

When you arrive at one of Arashiyama’s two train stations, you’ll need to walk about 12 minutes to reach the bamboo forest. I know, I know, when I first visited, I thought I’d step off the train and be immediately surrounded by bamboo. Nope! But don’t worry, it’s a pleasant walk with lots of cute shops along the way (which I’ll totally get back to later for snacks).

Pro tip: Get here early! I arrived at 9:35 AM, and while it wasn’t deserted, it was way more peaceful than it would be later. The earlier you come, the better your experience will be.

Should You Bike Through the Forest?

People always ask me about renting bicycles for the bamboo forest. Here’s my take: it’s a great idea if you’re planning to spend more time exploring the wider Arashiyama area. If you’re just here for a quick bamboo photo op, maybe skip it. But I rented one later in the day to explore some hidden spots, and I’ll tell you all about that adventure!

The Hidden Gem: Nonomiya Shrine

As you walk through the bamboo forest and round the corner, you’ll come across what looks like an unassuming little shrine. Don’t walk past it! Nonomiya Shrine has such a fascinating history.

This shrine was where the Saiō, ritual princesses chosen from the Imperial family, would come for purification ceremonies. These girls, usually only 9-12 years old, would be selected and sent here for cleansing before being dispatched to Ise Shrine, where they’d stay for years performing rituals to connect our world with the spiritual realm.

What Makes This Shrine Special

One of the coolest features is the torii gate made from an actual tree. While you’ll see tons of red torii gates across Japan (and plenty made from concrete or PVC these days), this one maintains the traditional style from hundreds of years ago, an actual tree with specially treated bark. It’s incredibly rare!

The shrine is also known for romance and love. My partner and I came here when we were just starting to date, and hey, it worked out pretty well! If you’re feeling hopeful about your love life, you can:

• Write wishes on heart-shaped ema (wooden plaques)
• Draw an omikuji (fortune) for just 100 yen, and they have English translations, which is super rare!
• Visit the beautiful mossy garden that represents Arashiyama itself, complete with a mini version of the famous bridge
• Rub the turtle stone for good luck after making your wish

Picture-Perfect Spots in the Bamboo

After leaving Nonomiya, keep walking through the bamboo forest. Cross the train tracks, and you’ll find another fantastic photo spot. Every time I visit, the bamboo looks slightly different, sometimes greener, sometimes bluer. I can’t quite explain it, but I love how the sun filters through.

My favorite area for photos is where you can actually stand among the bamboo and touch it (gently and respectfully, please! No carving your initials!). It was only 9:53 AM when I got here, and look, barely anyone around!

Shopping & Snacking

Back on the main street, there’s a whole world of shops to explore. I passed the Snoopy Chocolate store (Japanese people love Snoopy for some reason), udon restaurants if you need a quick meal, and chopstick shops where you can get custom engraving, super fun for souvenirs! I actually made custom wedding chopsticks with our names engraved for our guests.

About Tenryu-ji Temple (The Overrated Stop?)

You’ll inevitably pass Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1339 by a Shogun. It features a beautiful garden designed by a famous landscape artist. But here’s my honest opinion: you can probably skip it.

Don’t get me wrong, the garden is lovely. But Kyoto has SO many incredible gardens, and I don’t think this one stands out enough to warrant the stop, especially when you have limited time. If you’re a serious garden enthusiast, go for it! But for most visitors, your time is better spent elsewhere.

The Kimono Forest at Arashiyama Station

Before lunch, make a stop at the other Arashiyama station to see the Kimono Forest. It’s hard to miss; you’ll see these stunning illuminated poles everywhere. There are 600 of them, each designed to represent a style of kimono-making from the 17th century, in which artists painted fabric directly rather than dyeing it.

Come back at night if you can. When all these poles light up, it’s absolutely magical!

Lunch at My Favorite Spot

I stumbled down an alley and found this renovated traditional Kyoto building that’s now a cafe and bar. The aesthetics alone are worth the visit, but the food? Even better.

I ordered the special breakfast set (available weekdays 9-11 AM), which came with dango that you grill yourself! There’s something so satisfying about grilling your own dango, the crispy outside, soft inside, and sweet sauce… perfection.

Togetsukyo Bridge: The Moon-Crossing Bridge

Walking past even more shops (and resisting a lot of ice cream, or not resisting, your choice!), I reached the famous Togetsukyo Bridge. This particular bridge has been here for about 400 years, though bridges have existed at this spot for much longer.

Emperor Kameyama named it “Togetsukyo” (Moon-Crossing Bridge) because he thought the moon looked like it was traveling across the bridge as it moved through the night sky. How poetic is that?

The scenery here is absolutely stunning. It’s wild to think this area dates back to the 800s when emperors and aristocrats built countryside villas here to escape city life.

The Secret Adventure: Biking to Hidden Temples

Here’s where most tourists miss out. Instead of immediately heading to Monkey Park, I rented a bicycle to explore the quieter, more residential parts of Arashiyama. This area is only about 5 minutes away by bike, but it feels like a different world, peaceful, beautiful, and way less crowded.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

My first stop was Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (entrance: 400 yen), and WOW. This place is famous for having 1,200 adorable stone statues scattered everywhere throughout the grounds.

The temple originally dates back to the late 700s, but after being destroyed, it was rebuilt here. The statues were created starting in 1981 by the head priest, Kocho Nishimura (a famous Buddha sculptor), along with parishioners. Seeing all 1,200 unique statues is absolutely charming.

One particularly special feature: Nishimura created a Kannon statue specifically designed for people who are blind; you can actually touch it! This is incredibly rare in Japan, and it’s such a beautiful way to make art accessible to everyone.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple & Secret Bamboo

Next, I visited Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, which sits along the beautiful Saga Preserved Street, a historic street that honestly deserves more attention than it gets!

This temple was built by the monk Kukai (you’ll hear his name a lot in Kyoto) as a proper burial ground with about 8,000 stone images commemorating the dead. Before Kukai, bodies were simply left to the elements here; he wanted to honor them properly.

But here’s the real reason I brought you here: the secret bamboo forest! Behind the temple is a narrow bamboo path that’s so much more intimate than the main forest. It was 12:30 PM, and barely anyone was there. If you visit the main bamboo grove during peak hours and find it too crowded, THIS is your answer.

About That Sagano Romantic Train…

Quick side note, since people ask me this constantly: Should you take the Sagano Romantic Train?

My honest answer? I don’t think it’s worth it. At around 880 yen each way per person, you’re essentially paying for a hard wooden seat to see scenery that you can see for free just by being in Arashiyama. Unless you have a specific desire to ride a train through nature, save your money and time for other experiences.

I know that might be unpopular, but I believe in being honest with you. You have limited time and money, and I want you to have the best experience possible!

The Final Adventure: Monkey Park Iwatayama

After returning my bike (the ride from the top temple back to the bridge took 10-17 minutes), I grabbed a popsicle and crossed Togetsukyo Bridge, making a right along the river until I saw the monkey sign.

Admission is 600 yen for adults, and they’re open until 4 PM. Now, I need to be real with you: this is a legit hike. You’ll be climbing stairs for about 20 minutes. If you’re not in decent shape, go slowly or consider skipping it. But if you can manage it.

Is It Worth the Sweat?

YES. Even if you don’t care about monkeys (though they’re adorable), the view from the top is spectacular. You can see the whole river valley, with mountains surrounding Kyoto like a bowl—which, by the way, is why summers here are so brutally hot and humid. The heat just sits in this natural bowl.

At the top, monkeys roam freely around a big park area. You can go inside a building and buy food to feed them. I got apples since apparently monkeys prefer them in summer. These spoiled little guys have standards! Watching them delicately accept apples through the fence was honestly the highlight of my day. So cute!

Final Thoughts

By the time I finished at Monkey Park, I’d walked over 6,000 steps (not counting the biking), and I was hot, sweaty, and completely satisfied. That’s essentially the gist of a full Arashiyama day!

There are tons of great restaurants and cafes I didn’t cover here, but definitely check out that grilled dango spot I mentioned earlier. And remember: Arashiyama is what you make of it. You can hit the main tourist spots and leave, or you can dig deeper to find those hidden bamboo groves, peaceful temples, and secret spots that make this place truly special.

Don’t forget to explore, take your time, and soak it all in. See you next time!