Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour Notes

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour

Introduction to Arashiyama

  • Located approximately 7km west of downtown Kyoto.
  • A popular sightseeing district in Kyoto.
  • Features the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, characterized by numerous tall bamboo plants.
  • The "Bamboo Alley" is formed by a paved walkway running through both sections of the grove and is a highly photographed location.
  • Crowds have increased in recent years, especially during high season.
  • This walking tour is designed to avoid the most crowded areas.

About the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

  • Composed of two separate bamboo groves.
  • Located between Tenryu-ji Temple grounds and the JR Sagano-Saiin line train tracks.
  • The combined length of the groves is approximately 500500 meters, and the width is about 140140 meters.
  • Nonomiya-jinja Shrine, a Shinto Shrine, is situated in the middle of the eastern section, near the main street.
  • The beautiful gardens and halls of Tenryu-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple, are located on the southern edge of the western section.

Historical Context and Purpose

  • The bamboo grove is primarily decorative.
  • Arashiyama was a favored location for imperial and noble villas and temples during the Heian Period.
  • Bamboo was a common element in the gardens of these villas.
  • During the Edo Period, bamboo was cultivated for use in Japanese crafts and as a food source (bamboo shoots).
  • In 1967, the government acted to protect the remaining bamboo groves due to economic changes that led to abandonment or conversion into residential areas.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour Route

  • The suggested route enters the Bamboo Grove via the north exit of Tenryu-ji Temple to avoid crowds.
  • The route includes visiting Okochi-Sanso Villa and Kameyama-koen Park.
  • The route then descends to the Katsura-gawa River and follows it back to the main street of Arashiyama.
  • The walk can take approximately one hour without stops or three to four hours at a more leisurely pace.
  • Consider buying picnic supplies to eat in Kameyama-koen Park.

Route Details

  • Start at the main street of Arashiyama near Keifuku Arashiyama Station and walk north (away from the river).
  • Enter Tenryu-ji Temple through the main entrance (or the alternate entrance a bit further along).
  • Walk toward the temple, following signs, and continue straight toward the temple, bypassing the ticket booth for the main hall.
  • Turn left to visit the garden only.
  • Purchase a ticket at the ticket booth.
  • Walk past the pond in the garden and uphill toward Tahoden Hall.
  • Exit the temple via the North Exit.
  • Turn left and walk uphill through "Bamboo Alley".
  • At the top of the slope, the entrance to Okochi-Sanso Villa will be diagonally across to the right.
  • Follow the marked route through the garden at Okochi-Sanso.
  • Take a break at the tearoom.
  • Exit the villa and turn right at the bottom of the slope, walking south toward Kameyama-koen Park.
  • Enter Kameyama-koen Park and take the cobblestone path uphill to the summit.
  • Enjoy the views from the viewing area at the summit.
  • Walk downhill, sticking to the pathways on the right (the southern edge of the park).
  • Take the narrow footpath branching off to the right.
  • Descend the cobblestone steps.
  • Continue downhill, passing the sign for Shorai-an tofu restaurant.
  • Head down the paths to the Katsura-gawa River.
  • Turn left onto the flat walkway along the Katsura-gawa River and follow it downstream.
  • Walk a few hundred meters to return to the heart of Arashiyama and the main road.
  • Keifuku Arashiyama Station is to the left; Hankyu Arashiyama Station is across the Togetsu-kyo Bridge to the right.