# Arashiyama, Kyoto > Arashiyama is a scenic district on Kyoto's western edge, by a river and wooded hills. It has the famous Sagano Bamboo Grove (free), Tenryu-ji Zen temple with its garden (¥500), Togetsukyo bridge and a monkey park. It's about 15 minutes by JR train from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama. Arrive by 8 am: by 10 the grove is packed. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/arashiyama - City: [Kyoto](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto), Japan - YesGo score: 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 - Opening hours: Grove always open; Tenryu-ji 8:30–17:00 (garden from 7:30, 14–30 November 2026) - With kids: Fine with kids - Bamboo grove: Free, always open - Tenryu-ji garden: ¥500; elementary and middle school ¥300 - Tenryu-ji buildings: Plus ¥300; Cloud Dragon painting ¥500 extra - Tenryu-ji hours: 8:30–17:00, last entry 16:50 - November 2026: Sogen garden opens at 7:30 (14–30 November) - Getting there: JR Sagano line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama ≈ 15 minutes - Coordinates: 35.00958, 135.66639 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **'Storm Mountain'** — what the name Arashiyama means (source: en.wikipedia) - **Protected** — the district is a national historic site and place of scenic beauty (source: en.wikipedia) - **Tenryu-ji** — head temple of one of the 15 Rinzai branches, a UNESCO site (source: tenryuji.com) - **Togetsukyo** — the 'Moon Crossing Bridge' — cherry and maple views (source: en.wikipedia) - **170+** — monkeys live in Iwatayama park on the slope (source: en.wikipedia) - **Okochi Sanso** — the home and gardens of film actor Denjiro Okochi (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥500** — Tenryu-ji garden entry (source: tenryuji.com) - **≈ 15 min** — by JR train from Kyoto Station (source: travel guides) ## What is Arashiyama? **Arashiyama** ('Storm Mountain') is a scenic district on Kyoto's western edge, by the Oi River and the mountain of the same name, and a national historic site and place of scenic beauty. People come for Kyoto's most recognisable view — the **Sagano Bamboo Grove**, where a path runs between towering green stalks. Nearby is the Zen temple **Tenryu-ji**, head of a branch of the Rinzai school and a UNESCO site, with its garden by Sogen pond. The **Togetsukyo** ('Moon Crossing') bridge spans the river, **Iwatayama Monkey Park** sits on the mountainside, and beyond the grove is **Okochi Sanso**, a villa with gardens and city views. > **The bamboo grove — early morning** The grove is free and always open, but by 10 am it's jammed. Arrive by 8 am or earlier and you can walk it almost alone. The path itself is short, about 10 minutes. Stay on it and don't touch the bamboo: carving the stalks is forbidden. According to the official site, from 14 to 30 November 2026 the Tenryu-ji garden opens early, at 7:30. ## How the district works From **Saga-Arashiyama** or **Arashiyama** (Keifuku) station it's a short walk to the main shopping street and **Tenryu-ji**. According to the official site, the temple opens 8:30 to 17:00; garden entry is **¥500** for high-schoolers and adults, ¥300 for elementary and middle-school pupils, and free for preschoolers; the buildings are ¥300 more. The **Cloud Dragon** ceiling painting in the Hatto hall costs ¥500 separately and is shown only in seasonal exhibitions: in autumn 2026, from 19 September to 6 December. The garden's north exit leads straight into the **bamboo grove**. Beyond are Okochi Sanso, the **Sagano** romantic train along the gorge and boats on the **Hozu** River. To the south are Togetsukyo bridge and the monkey park on the mountainside. ## What to see - **Sagano Bamboo Grove** — the district's signature view. - **Tenryu-ji temple** and its Sogen pond garden. - **The Cloud Dragon painting** in the Hatto hall. - **Togetsukyo bridge** over the river. - **Iwatayama Monkey Park** on the mountainside. - **Okochi Sanso villa** with gardens and Kyoto views. ## How to get to Arashiyama 1. **JR Sagano line** — from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 minutes. 2. **Keifuku (Randen) line** — tram to Arashiyama station, on the main street. 3. **Hankyu line** — to Arashiyama station, across Togetsukyo bridge. 4. **Buses 61, 72, 83** — to the Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae stop. 5. **From Kansai airport** — Haruka to Kyoto Station, then the JR Sagano line. ## The grove or Tenryu-ji | | Bamboo grove | Tenryu-ji | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Garden ¥500 | | Hours | Always | 8:30–17:00 | | Time | ≈ 10–20 minutes | ≈ 45–60 minutes | | Crowds | Very heavy by day | Busy but roomier | ## How long do you need? Arashiyama takes **half a day**: the grove, Tenryu-ji, the bridge and a stroll along the main street. With the romantic train, boats or the monkey park, a full day. A good order is the grove early in the morning, Tenryu-ji at opening, then Togetsukyo bridge and lunch. In autumn, from mid-November, the maples on the slopes are at their best — and the crowds at their biggest. ## Is Arashiyama worth visiting? Yes: the bamboo grove, a Zen garden and the river with its mountains make one of the loveliest trips from central Kyoto, just 15 minutes by train. The YesGo take: by day the grove is one of Japan's most crowded places, and it's shorter in person than it looks in photos. Arrive by 8 am, be sure to visit the Tenryu-ji garden, and carry on past the grove to Okochi Sanso, where it's much quieter. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Arrive by 8 am — the grove without crowds - [ ] ¥500 for the Tenryu-ji garden - [ ] Cloud Dragon — check the exhibition dates - [ ] Comfortable shoes — lots of walking - [ ] Sagano train ticket booked ahead ## Kyoto nature and views: compare and choose Natural sights and views in Kyoto rated by YesGo. - [Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 - [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥500 - [Arashiyama](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/arashiyama) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 ## Western Kyoto in a day The bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji in Arashiyama in the morning, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji in the afternoon, and the Ryoan-ji rock garden towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Arashiyama](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/arashiyama) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 2. [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥500 3. [Ryoan-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/ryoan-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥600 ## Good to know Kyoto's Arashiyama is not places of the same name in other prefectures. Saga-Arashiyama (JR), Arashiyama (Keifuku) and Arashiyama (Hankyu) are three different stations. ## Tips - Reach the grove by 8 am. - Tenryu-ji's garden exits straight into the grove. - Past the grove, by Okochi Sanso, it's quieter. - Autumn maples from mid-November. - Next: [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji). ## Questions ### How much is the bamboo grove? It's free and always open. ### How much is Tenryu-ji? Garden ¥500, buildings ¥300 more, the Cloud Dragon ¥500 separately. ### What are Tenryu-ji's hours? 8:30–17:00, last entry 16:50. ### When should I visit the grove? By 8 am or earlier — it's very crowded by day. ### How do I get there? JR Sagano line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 minutes. ### How long do you need? Half a day, a full day with the Sagano train or boats. ### What is Iwatayama park? A park on the mountainside that's home to more than 170 monkeys. ### When is it most beautiful? In autumn from mid-November, and in spring at cherry-blossom time. ## How we checked Tenryu-ji's hours and prices, the Cloud Dragon exhibition dates, the November 2026 early garden opening and buses are from the temple's official site. The district, grove, bridge, monkey park, Okochi Sanso and transport are from Wikipedia. Prices for the monkey park, Okochi Sanso, the Sagano train and boats change, so we don't give them. Journey times and tips are from guides. ## Sources - Tenryu-ji official site (tenryuji.com/en) — hours, prices, Cloud Dragon, early opening in November 2026, buses (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Arashiyama — name, status, grove, bridge, monkey park, Okochi Sanso, transport - Travel guides — journey time, grove tips (unofficial) - Wikidata Q2859566 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.