Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Walk through a cathedral of bamboo on the edge of Kyoto.
The bamboo grove at Arashiyama is a short corridor of towering moso bamboo on the northwestern edge of Kyoto, connecting Tenryu-ji temple to the Okochi Sanso villa. The bamboo reaches 20 metres or more, and when the wind moves through the canopy, the sound — a creaking, rustling chorus — is designated by the Japanese government as one of the '100 Soundscapes of Japan'. The path itself takes only ten minutes to walk, but the quality of the experience depends entirely on timing. Early morning (before 8 AM) or late afternoon on weekdays offers the best chance of relative solitude. Midday on weekends is a different experience entirely — dense crowds that break the spell. Combine the grove with Tenryu-ji's garden (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the walk along the Oi River toward the Togetsukyo Bridge. The whole area rewards an unhurried half-day, especially in autumn when the maples surrounding the bamboo turn gold and red.
Good to know
- Towering moso bamboo reaching 20+ metres
- Designated as one of Japan's 100 Soundscapes
- Free and open at all times
- Best experienced early morning or late afternoon
- Adjacent to Tenryu-ji temple and Togetsukyo Bridge
Location
- Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8394
- Nearest station: Kyoto Station
- From Tokyo: ca 2 h 15 min med shinkansen
- Best time to visit: Morning