Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park: Perfect Day Trip from Kyoto
- Anju Chandna
- Nov 29, 2025
- 5 min read
An Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park day trip is one of the most popular experiences in Japan. In this blog, I'll give you all the relevant details about planning a day trip to this beautiful region.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park: Things to know for your day trip
There are 8 main attractions to see on your day trip to Arashiyama. I have discussed each one of them in detail in this blog.
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tenryu-ji Temple, part of 'Historic Monuments of Kyoto'
- Sogenchi Garden, designated as a 'Special Place of Scenic Beauty'
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Katsura Riverfront
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Iwatayama Monkey Park
- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
- Nonomiya Shrine
Start early. As early as possible. Try to catch the sunrise at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and see the magic that makes this forest special. We reached there quite early, 9:00 am, as far as I can remember, and still we encountered such a heavy surge of tourists that it was tough to get a single picture without heads popping up everywhere.
The easiest way to get to Arashiyama is by train. Take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Central Station and get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station. There is a separate platform for the JR Line in Kyoto Station. Like all touristy trains in Japan, this too was very crowded. It takes less than 20 minutes to reach Saga-Arashiyama Station.
Entry to the forest is free. You can enter it either through the Tenryu-ji Temple pathway or straight from the town side of the Nonomiya Shrine. The way from Tenryu-ji Temple will take you through the stunning Sogenchi Garden, a designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This breathtakingly beautiful 14th-Century garden is one of the finest examples of Zen landscape design in Japan, and a sight no one visiting Arashiyama should miss!
We started our day in Arashiyama by walking to the Tenryu-ji Temple from the Saga-Arashiyama Station. The temple is about a kilometre away.
En route, you will come across many shops that rent out kimonos for hire. If you're interested in wearing a kimono, this is a good place to hire one. You will have enough photo opportunities around the area to take great photos.
Spending a day at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park...
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tenryu-ji Temple, part of 'Historic Monuments of Kyoto'
We started our day by entering the Tenryu-ji Temple complex, which is free of charge. If you wish to go inside, then you need to buy tickets for both the Temple and Gardens, or buy a ticket for the Gardens only.
We opted for the Garden only ticket since we wanted to get to the bamboo forest as quickly as possible and wanted to come back to the temple later in the evening (which never happened), but if you can make it, then the main attraction in the temple is the Dharma Hall, known for its Cloud and Dragon painting that is much talked about.
Sogenchi Garden, designated as a 'Special Place of Scenic Beauty'
The Garden only ticket will take you on a scenic path from the Tenryu-ji Temple to the Bamboo Forest through the stunning 700-year-old Sogenchi Pond Garden.
The garden is so picture-perfect that words cannot do justice to the way it blends man-made beauty with the borrowed scenery of the surrounding mountains.
You can easily spend about an hour in this beautiful haven of peace and beauty before walking along its many trails towards the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a 500-metre-long path that winds through tall, dense bamboo stalks lining both sides.
The bamboo stalks create an ethereal environment as the sunlight filters through them, and they emanate a buzzing sound when the wind blows, earning this grove a spot in the '100 Soundscapes of Japan'.
As I've mentioned earlier in this blog, try to reach the bamboo forest as early as possible. The experience of seeing these tall bamboo shoots in the early morning light is magical.
Seeing the Katsura Riverfront from Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Keep walking along the bamboo corridor, past beautifully landscaped gardens for about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the stunning waterfront of the Katsura River.
Remember, the Katsura River is also called the Oi River or the Hozu River at different stretches along the route.
You will see small boats floating on the river, ferrying locals and tourists. There is a beautiful promenade along the river where you can sit and enjoy the serene beauty of this riverfront and see colourful autumn foliage on the hillsides all around.
Walking over the famous Togetsukyo Bridge
A leisurely walk along the river promenade will take you towards the famous Togetsukyo Bridge.
The original 9th-century Togetsukyo Bridge was made of wood in the scenic Saga Arashiyama region. The bridge was replaced with a concrete structure in 1930, but the scenic beauty of the surrounding region is very much intact.
You can walk over the bridge for free. It spans 155 metres across the Katsura River, and on the other side of the river is the famous Iwatayama Monkey Park.
Hiking up the Iwatayama Monkey Park in Arashiyama
The hike up to the Iwatayama Monkey Park was the most fun thing we did on our day trip to Arashiyama. You will come across small streams of water gushing through a thick forest cover, which makes this hike very pleasant and scenic. There is a small play area for children and lots of benches for people to sit and relax.
Once you reach the mountain top, you will see about 120 Japanese wild monkeys roaming freely around the park.
Splendid views of the city of Kyoto from the top...
There are strict rules in place for seeing and feeding the monkeys in the park. Touching the monkeys is strictly prohibited.
Entry to the Monkey Park costs 800 yen per person, and tickets can be purchased at the counter at the foot of the hiking trail, only in cash.
The park is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily, subject to the weather conditions.
The path is moderately steep and is about 1.4 kms to the top.
Don't forget to sit on this giant banana to get your picture clicked...
Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
About 2 km from the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is this quaint street called Saga Toriimoto.
If you have time and wish to see the calmer side of Kyoto, then you must visit this street, which is lined with traditional houses and old craft shops.
Nonomiya Shrine
Very close to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is this small shrine, which people throng to invoke blessings for marriage and childbirth.
The shrine is small but always very crowded; there is a famous turtle rock, which is believed to grant one's wish if you touch it.
We were running short on time and did not have the energy to jostle through the thick crowds, so we had to skip entering the shrine, but if you have extra time, then don't forget to visit it.
To sum up, a day trip to Arashiyama is a must-do on your Japan itinerary, with the promise of a wholesome Japanese experience, with a beautiful temple, a stunning Japanese garden and mesmerising nature trails!!