Is Arashiyama crowded right now?
Very busy across Arashiyama.
Calmer from 4:30 pm. Quietest right now: Saga-Toriimoto street.
All of Arashiyama, 6 am to 8 pm
Bamboo Grove
Very busy Calmer from 5 pm.
Today in Arashiyama
- Sunrise
- 6:08 am
- Sunset
- 5:14 pm
- Weather
- Mostly clear, 18°C
- Rain chance
- 0%
Weather from Open-Meteo, updated 1 pm. Rain chance is the highest between now and 8 pm.
Today's quiet route
Each stop shows how busy it should be when you get there.
- 1:45 pmAdashino Nenbutsu-ji QuietGood time for this one.
- 2:45 pmOkochi Sanso Garden QuietGood time for this one.
- 3:45 pmDaikaku-ji Temple QuietGood time for this one.
- 4:45 pmBamboo Grove ModerateGood time for this one.
- 7 amBamboo Grove QuietWalk the full path before tour groups arrive around 9 am.
- 7:36 amNonomiya Shrine QuietSmall shrine at the edge of the grove.
- 8 amTogetsukyo Bridge QuietRiverside walk while the bridge is still empty.
- 8:30 amTenryu-ji Temple ModerateEnter at opening. The north gate leads back to the grove.
- 9:36 amOkochi Sanso Garden QuietHilltop garden with views of the city.
- 10:36 amAdashino Nenbutsu-ji QuietQuiet bamboo and stone statues, uphill to the north.
- 2 pmDaikaku-ji Temple ModerateStart away from the centre while it is busiest.
- 3:15 pmTenryu-ji Temple BusyGarden first, before it closes at 5 pm.
- 4:30 pmBamboo Grove BusyTour groups have left by now.
- 5:15 pmTogetsukyo Bridge ModerateStay for sunset over the river.
- 8 amBamboo Grove ModerateFlat paved path. Easy with a stroller.
- 8:36 amTogetsukyo Bridge ModerateFlat riverside walk.
- 9 amTenryu-ji Temple BusyGarden paths are gravel but level.
- 10:15 amSagano Romantic Train station BusyBook seats ahead. Kids love the open car.
The rest of Arashiyama right now
Busiest first. If a spot is closed, it drops to the bottom.
| Spot | Now | Quieter |
|---|---|---|
| Main shopping street | Very busy | From 5 pm |
| Togetsukyo Bridge | Very busy | From 5:30 pm |
| Sagano Romantic Train station | Very busy | From 4 pm |
| Tenryu-ji Temple | Very busy | From 4 pm |
| Nonomiya Shrine | Busy | From 3:30 pm |
| Iwatayama Monkey Park | Busy | From 2:30 pm |
| Daikaku-ji Temple | Moderate | Now |
| Okochi Sanso Garden | Moderate | Now |
| Adashino Nenbutsu-ji | Quiet | Now |
| Saga-Toriimoto street | Quiet | Now |
Check it yourself
Official live cameras from the Kyoto City Tourism Association. They open in a new tab.
- Bamboo Grove pathKyoto City Tourism Association
- Togetsukyo Bridge, north endShows the road to Randen Arashiyama station. Streams 24 hours.
- Daikaku-ji, Osawa PondKyoto City Tourism Association
- Seiryo-ji temple groundsKyoto City Tourism Association
- Saga-Toriimoto old streetUsually the quietest corner of Arashiyama
Grove too packed? Go here instead
Bamboo and old streets a 10 to 25 minute walk from the crowds.
- Okochi Sanso Garden ModerateIts own bamboo, inside a paid garden. Tea is included. 5 min past the top of the grove.
- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji QuietA short bamboo path behind thousands of stone statues. About 20 min north.
- Saga-Toriimoto street QuietThatched houses on a preserved old street. About 25 min north.
- Daikaku-ji Temple ModerateA large pond and covered corridors, rarely full. About 20 min, or a short bus ride.
Which station to get off at
Three stations are called Arashiyama or Saga-Arashiyama. Pick by where you start.
| From | Take | Walk to the grove |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station | JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 min. Covered by the JR Pass. | About 10 min |
| Kawaramachi or Gion | Hankyu Line to Arashiyama, changing at Katsura. Not covered by the JR Pass. | About 20 min, across the bridge |
| Shijo-Omiya | Randen tram to Arashiyama, about 25 min. | About 5 min |
| Osaka | With a JR Pass: JR to Kyoto, then the Sagano Line. Without one: Hankyu from Osaka-umeda, changing at Katsura. | 10 or 20 min |
Journey times are approximate. Check the first train if you plan to reach the grove before 7 am. More on getting to Arashiyama
Book these before you go
- Sagano Romantic TrainSeats often sell out on autumn weekends. Reserve online in advance.
- Hozugawa River Boat RideAbout two hours down the gorge from Kameoka to Arashiyama. Pairs well with a one-way train ride.
- Kimono rentalBook ahead in autumn and cherry blossom season. Return times are fixed.
- Rickshaw rideNo booking needed. Some routes go through quieter bamboo you can't walk into.
Travelling with a suitcase?
The main street and the grove path are narrow and packed for most of the day, and wheeling a suitcase through them is hard going. If you fly home from Kansai Airport, you can send your bags ahead instead. Bag2Gate stores them in Osaka and sends them to the Yamato counter at KIX, where you collect them before check-in.
Arashiyama Today is run by Bag2Gate.
Crowd levels are estimates from typical daily patterns, weekends, holidays, seasons and the weather forecast. They are not live counts. How the estimates work