Have lots of lovely time in "Arashiyama"! Togetsu-kyo, Bamboo forest, Hozu river and Torokko train, fully enjoy Arashiyama!

In Kyoto, Arashiyama is one of the most popular sightseeing place.
In Heian era, Arashiyama had a lot of vacation house of Heian nobles.
Now, Arashiyama is known as the beautiful place for Cherry blossom and Autumn leaves.

For example, Togetsu-kyo, Bamboo forest, Hozu river and Torokko train. There are many sightseeing places in compact area of Sagano and Arashiyama so you can enjoy this area efficiently in a whole day. Also there are many Kyoto style unique shops. It is good for coming with family or lover also good for walking around by yourself.

Though away from the main court in central Kyoto you can access easily by Train or Bus. Then, we focus on the popular sightseeing place and show you How to enjoy Arashiyama.

Table of contents for this article

１，Basic information
２，Useful information
３，Map
４，Best point of Arashiyama!
５，Access information

１，Basic information

Name： Arashiyama
Name in English： ARASHIYAMA
Prefecture： Kyoto
Area： Kyoto city (Arashiyama・Takao)
Address(Togetsu-kyo)： Fudo #29 line, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-shi
Car Parking： 〇 (toll parking a lot)

２，Useful information

Enjoyjapan! recommendation level： Don't miss it!
Less than 10 min walk from a station： ◯
Accompanied with： friend／date／family／alone
Staff who can speak foreign language： Unknown
Free Wi-Fi： Unknown
Duration： Half day ～ one day

３，Map around Arashiyama

There are lots of popular sightseeing places and activities in Arashiyama including Togetsu-kyo, Bamboo forest, Hozu gawa river rafting, Torokko train and Tenryu-ji (Word Heritage). So before start visiting, please watch the map and think your itinerary.
Here is the basic map of Arashiyama.


Source by： JR Tokai web site／http://souda-kyoto.jp

▶Download the map from here（PDF）
Source by： Kyoto sightseeing official web site／http://kanko.city.kyoto.lg.jp/

In the central of the map, island between the rivers is Arashiyama Park Nakanoshima area. There is Togetsu-kyo between this island and the bank of the river. And upper reaches of the river is called Ooi river (Hozu river) , lower reaches is called Katsura river.
From Hankyu line "Arashiyama" staion to Tenryu-ji takes about 15 min by walk (1.0 km), to Bamboo forest takes 20 min by walk (1.5 km).

４，Best point in Arashiyama!

We show you the best selection places in Arashiyama!

"Togetsu-kyo" Let's start from here!

The name of "Togetsu-kyo" comes from an anecdote that is "It is seen like moon cross the bridge". This bridge is near from Hankyu Arashiyama station and lots of tourist start their tour from here. The length of this bridge is 155 m and roadway is in the middle and both sides are sidewalk.
From on the bridge is the best photo spot for Hozu river and Arahiyama.

And "Cherry blossom in spring", "Autumn leaves in fall" you can enjoy seasonal beautiful view from Togetsu-kyo.




Togetsu-kyo with cherry blossom in spring

Ride on a Jinrikisha and see the extraordinary view!

If you want to have special Kyoto's experience, Jinrikisha is the best way to enjoy.

In the north side of Togetsu-kyo, there is the main Jinrikisha stop and many rickshaw man is waiting for the tourists. The price is about ¥2,000 ～¥3,000 and available from around 9:30 to Sunset.

Jinrikisha is very comfortable to ride. Watching the Kyoto's view and talking with rickshaw man will be good memory.

Popular souvenir shop "Marun" Smallest Konpeito! (small colored sugar candy)

Walk to the north from Togetsu-kyo, you can find the "Marun". This shop is famous for the smallest Konpeito(small colored sugar candy) in the world.
Just looking at the many lovely Japanese sweets in the shop is also fun. "Smallest Konpeito" is ¥411. This is good for souvenir.




"Marun"'s smallest Konpeito in the world


There are many Japanese sweets in the shop.

Freshly fried "Sagano Korokke(croquette)

Eat the delicious food and get more energy to enjoy walking in Arashiyama. "Sagano Korokke" is very famous restaurant and it is just 100 m from Togetsu-kyo. They sell several kinds of Korokke but most popular one is "Kinsho(Golden Award) Korokke", and second one is "Sagano Korikke".
It is nice to eat the freshly fried korokke in outside.


Freshly fried, crispy korokke!


Best one Korokke, "Kinsho(Golden Award) Korokke"!


Their Korokke has other flavors. "Sagano Korokke", "Takenoko(Bamboo shoot) Korokke", "KurogeWagyu Menchi (fried caked of minced meat".
Try to compare the tastes of these Korokke!

World Heritage Site "Tenryu-ji" Watch the huge dragon on the ceiling!

"Tenryu-ji" is the only one World Heritage Site in Arashiyama. On the ceiling in the hall of this temple, huge dragon( 9 m diameter) is painted. Your gaze meet the dragon from every side.

■Official web site of Tenryu ji
▶http://www.tenryuji.com/

Beautiful and mysterious Bamboo Forest!

When we ask someone "Where is the best place for sightseeing in Arashiyama?" most of people answer this Bamboo forest. In the both sides of pavement, there is thousand of bamboo trees grow up in a straight. Step into the bamboo forest, it as if we were in the another world. Filled with mysterious air and it has cool air even in the daytime in summer.


Fantastic place covered 360 degree with bamboo tree.


Feel relax in the fresh air.

Kyoto's specialty "Yuba Soft Ice cream"

After long walk in Arashiyama, let's have a break with "Yuba Soft Ice cream". Yuba is a delicacy composed of fresh layers of the skin of soy milk.
"Saga Tofu Ine" sales 3 flavors Soft Ice cream, Macha, Yuba and Mix(Macha & Yuba).


3 flavors of Soft Ice cream


Size is good for walking and eating

【"Saga Tofu" shop information】

Saga Tohu Ine (head store)
〒616-8384
19 Tsukuri michi-cho, Tenryu-ji, Sagan, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Open：11：00〜19：00（L.O）
Closed day： Open through the year

Saga Tofu Ine (Kita store)
〒616−8374
46-2 Tsukuri michi-cho, Tenryu-ji, Sagan, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Open：11：00〜19：00（L.O）
Closed day： Open through the year

"Sagano Torokko Train" This is the Japanese magnificent view! Enjoy the seasonal brightness.

Source by ： Sagano tourist traion Torokko Train Facebook site／https://goo.gl/tBbNgT

"Sagano Torokko Train" runs along Hozu river from Sagano to Tanba Kameoka, Total 7.3 km and 25 min. This train is old style locomotive with five cars, and you can see and feel the seasonal beauty of the nature.

Especially the season of Cherry Blossom and Autumn Leaves are excellent. Magnificent view which you have to see before you die goes by from the train window. Tickets are available at the each stations of Sagano Torokko Train but it is better to make a reservation in advance.

You can buy the ticket and the seat reservation ticket at "Midorino Madoguchi" in the JR West Japan stations or at the travel agency in Japan.

●Check the Train schedule and Time table at the Official web site
▶http://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/schedule.html

【"Sagano Torokko Train" information】

●Fee （One way）
Adult／¥620
Child／¥310
※ Child：age 6～ age 12（elementary school students）
※ Free for children under 5 years old




Source by： Hozu gawa River Rafting Facebook site／https://goo.gl/WVyHuz

"Hozu gawa River Rafting" is going down from Tanba Kameoka to Arashiyama by boat ferry. It is 16 km and it takes 2 hours.

At one moment you feel the time pass slowly with the plenty nature of Hozu Valley, listening the song of birds but another moment you feel the full of thrills slipping between the rocks like above photo. The pier for the ferry boat is little be far from central of Arashiyama but after finishing the river rafting you can come back to Arashiyama. In this activity you can enjoy beauty of Japanese mountains and rivers.

● Hozu gawa River Rafting Map

Source by： Hozu gawa River Rafting official web site／http://www.hozugawakudari.jp/coursemap

Price：
Adult／¥4,100
Child／¥2,700(age 4 ～Elementary school student）

Access to the ferry boat pier：
8 min walk from JR "Kameoka" station
15 min by bus or 25 min by Kyobasha(carriage) from Torokko train "Kameoka" station
40 min by keihan bus from Hankyu "Katsura" station

●Hozu gawa River Rafting official web site
▶http://www.hozugawakudari.jp/access

"Randen Arashiyama Station" Secret beautiful night illumination place!

After sightseeing in Arashiyama when the sky is getting dark, let's go to "Randen Arashiyama station".

In this station, there are poles made of Yuzen prints (Kyoto's traditional crafts). They look like a grove and they give gentle and beautiful lights inside the station. There are 600 poles and every poles have different Japanese design. There are also souvenir shops, food stand and coffee shop and also "Foot Bath" inside the station. Why don't you drink a little while taking the foot bath? This station is in front of the gate of Tenryu-ji so it is easy to access.




Beautiful poles made of Yuzen prints


Inside the Arashiyama station is tasteful and clean.


Take a break at TULLY'S COFFEE SHOP.


Foot bath is popular for tourist.

Storage baggage service in the station!

Furthermore, in the Randen Arashiyama station there is the Yamato Transport Office which offer the tourist information too.

Off course we can send the luggage, also they keep the baggage and they give the tourist information in English and Chinese.
¥500 for the Storage baggage service. When you have lots of baggage it is nice to use this service.

５，Access information

Address(Togetsu-kyo)： Fudo #29 line, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-shi
Transportation：

(by Train)
●5 min from Hankyu "Arashiyama" station
●Short walk from Randen "Arashiyama" station

(by Bus)
●Take the Kyoto city bus from JR "Kyoto"」station, get off at "Randen Tenryu-ji mae"