How do I get to Arashiyama from Kyoto Station?
Take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama. It takes about 15 minutes and is covered by the JR Pass. The Bamboo Grove is about a 10 minute walk from the station.
Which Arashiyama station should I get off at?
Three stations are called Arashiyama or Saga-Arashiyama. They belong to different railways and are up to 20 minutes' walk apart.
- JR Saga-ArashiyamaJR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station. Covered by the JR Pass. About 10 minutes' walk to the Bamboo Grove.
- Randen ArashiyamaThe Randen tram from Shijo-Omiya. The station is on the main street, about 5 minutes from the grove. Not covered by the JR Pass.
- Hankyu ArashiyamaHankyu Line from Kawaramachi or Osaka-umeda, changing at Katsura. South of the river, about 20 minutes' walk across Togetsukyo Bridge. Not covered by the JR Pass.
Which train should I take from where I am staying?
| From | With a JR Pass | Without one |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station | JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama, about 15 min | The same train |
| Kawaramachi or Gion | The pass does not help here. Take the Hankyu Line | Hankyu Line to Arashiyama, changing at Katsura |
| Shijo-Omiya | Randen tram to Arashiyama, about 25 min | The same tram |
| Osaka | JR to Kyoto, then the Sagano Line | Hankyu from Osaka-umeda, changing at Katsura |
Journey times are approximate and do not include waiting or changing trains.
Which way in is least crowded?
Randen Arashiyama puts you straight onto the main street, which is the busiest part of town from late morning. JR Saga-Arashiyama is north of it, so you start your day away from the main street.Quieter ways into the Bamboo Grove
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.
Getting there questions
Is Arashiyama covered by the JR Pass?
The JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama is. The Hankyu Line and the Randen tram are separate companies and are not.
Which Arashiyama station is closest to the Bamboo Grove?
Randen Arashiyama, about 5 minutes on foot. JR Saga-Arashiyama is about 10 minutes. Hankyu Arashiyama is on the far side of the river, about 20 minutes away across Togetsukyo Bridge.
Can I get to the Bamboo Grove before the crowds by train?
Our estimates put the grove at Quiet before 7:30 am every day of the year. Check the first train from where you are staying the night before, since early trains are less frequent.