A trip to Kyoto is not complete without making a pilgrimage to Arashiyama to visit its temples and bamboo grove. The beautiful district is at the far west of Kyoto and it takes about 15 to 30 minutes to get there by train or bus. It’s the perfect day trip to get out of the busy city and surround yourself with the tranquillity of nature.

How to get there: From Kyoto Station, take the JR Sagano/San-in Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station (15 min train ride). If you have more time to spare, you can also take the subway from central Kyoto via the Hankyu Line as far as Omiya Station and then transfer to the Keifuku Randen tramline. The old fashioned trolley car will take you on a pleasant 20-minute scenic route to Arashiyama.

Alternatively, you can catch the Kyoto City Bus #28 from Kyoto Station and get off at Arashiyama-Tenryuji-mae (about 30 minutes).

Togetsukyo Bridge

Originally built during the Heian Period (794-1185) and most recently reconstructed in the 1930s, Togetsukyo literally translates to “Moon-Crossing Bridge.” The poetic name was given by the Emperor Kameyama who was inspired by a shimmering moon rising above the surface of the river, making it look like the moon itself was crossing the bridge.

Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama’s central landmark with small shops and restaurants nearby. Once you exit Saga-Arashiyama station, you will have to cross the bridge to get to Tenryu-ji Temple and the bamboo forest. It’s particularly crowded during the cherry blossoms and autumn foliage seasons as the views from the bridge are incredibly stunning.

Tenryu-ji Temple

Steeped in a history of struggles and triumphs, Tenryu-ji Temple is a must-see destination in Arashiyama. After crossing Togetsukyo Bridge, you will walk along a pathway with restaurants on one side and the river on the other. Along the way, you’ll be greeted by rickshaw drivers cheerfully ferrying tourists, and as you get closer to the entrance of the temple, you’ll encounter stone statues of the followers of Buddha guarding the pathway to the temple grounds.

Tenryu-ji Temple is designated the first among Kyoto’s five main Zen temples and is now registered as a UNESCO world heritage site. Built in 1339 by the ruling shogun Ashikaga Takauji, Tenryu-ji was dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo who had just passed away.

The temple was rocked by eight major fires in the years from 1358 to 1864 and several buildings had to be rebuilt. Miraculously, the temple’s garden remained in its original form for hundreds of years. It was created by a famous garden designer and the temple’s first head priest, Muso Soseki, and features a central pond surrounded by rocks and pine trees with the gorgeous backdrop of the Arashiyama forested mountains.

The garden has a separate entrance and an additional admission fee, and is connected to the bamboo groves.

Opening Hours: Summer 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (The north gate closes at 5:00 p.m.)

Winter (Oct. 21 – Mar. 20) 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (The north gate closes at 4:30 p.m.)

Admission Fee: Garden Only ¥500, Garden & Temple Buildings ¥800

Bamboo Grove

The Tenryu-ji Temple garden is connected to the entrance of the bamboo grove which makes it very easy to go from one attraction to the next. I was there in the afternoon and it was crowded with tourists so the best time to go is early in the morning or late evening. Even though I was surrounded by fellow gawking visitors, the trees were still a sight to behold! The bamboo trees looked otherworldly as they swayed majestically in the wind.

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Admission Fee: Free

Sagano Romantic Train

The Sagano Romantic Train is an old fashioned sightseeing train that travels along the Hozugawa River gorge with gorgeous views of lush greenery and mountains. If you’re starting your day with the train ride, you can take it from Saga Torokko Station which is right next to Saga Arashiyama Station. But if your ride is scheduled for later in the day, you can also start your journey from Arashiyama station that’s right next to the bamboo grove.

During peak periods like the cherry blossoms and autumn foliage seasons, the trains will be fully booked months ahead of time. The views are spectacular during those periods so it will be particularly crowded with locals and tourists.  Unfortunately, you can’t purchase tickets from its official website but can check for ticket availability and train schedules. If you happen to have friends in Japan, you can ask them to buy tickets for you at any JR West ticket office or you can try reserving tickets at any major travel agency. If you’re visiting at an off-peak period, you won’t have any problems purchasing tickets on the day itself.

It’s a 25 minute journey to Kameoka Torokko station and after exploring the area, you may take the Sagano train back to Arashiyama or a regular train to any other destination. Another way to get back to Arashiyama is a two-hour journey traversing down the river in a small rowing boat! Hozugawa River Boat Ride is your guide to this river boat adventure.

Opening Times: March 1 – Dec. 29. Closed Wednesdays unless it’s during peak periods.

Ticket Prices: ¥620 (adult), ¥310 (child younger than 12 years)

Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion is in northern Kyoto and not walking distance to the other attractions. It’s about the same amount of time (40 minutes) getting there from Kameoka station or Kyoto station so you can decide which is more convenient for you. It’s definitely worth a visit even though it’s a little out of the way!

The Zen temple is famous for having its top two floors completely covered in gold leaf. Built overlooking a large pond, the temple shimmers above the waters, illuminating the area with its golden rays. It can get extremely crowded with tourists during the late morning and afternoon so you should time wisely. If you head there during winter, the temple looks particularly luminous covered in snow. There also are little food stands in the temple grounds selling mochi treats and ice cream so you will never go hungry.

Opening Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission Fee: ¥400 (adult), ¥300 (child)

From Kameoka Station: JR San-In Line to Emmachi Station. Take bus 205 to Kinkakujimichi Bus Stop.

From Kyoto Station: Take bus 205 to Kinkakujimichi Bus Stop. (45 minutes)

When taking the bus, remember to board from the rear door, and exit and pay (tap your card) at the front door. If the bus is very crowded, you can exit from the back but run up to the front to tap your card!

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSMyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.