🕓 2025/5/11
#Sightseeing
Is It True You Can Enter the Popular Kyoto Attraction “Arashiyama Bamboo Grove” Anytime?
Table of Contents
- About the Opening Hours of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Recommended Visiting Hours: The Charm of Early Morning Walks
- Recommended Visiting Hours: The Charm of Nighttime Walks
- How to Access the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Introduction
The “Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Chikurin no Komichi)” is one of the most popular spots in Kyoto tourism.
With every gentle breeze, the bamboo leaves rustle softly, and the sight of being surrounded by countless bamboo stalks stretching straight up to the sky is a world of tranquility that makes you forget reality.
However, many people may have questions like these before actually visiting:
“What hours can you enter the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove?”
“What time should you go to avoid crowds?”
“How about access methods and admission fees?”
In this article, we will thoroughly explain the opening hours, access, admission fees, and the charm of early morning and nighttime walks at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove to answer these questions.
About the Opening Hours of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The “Chikurin no Komichi” (Bamboo Grove Path) is a popular tourist destination synonymous with Arashiyama in Kyoto. With every gust of wind, the bamboo leaves gently sway, and the scenery of being surrounded by bamboo stretching straight into the sky feels like wandering into another world. Many travelers from both Japan and abroad come to visit this enchanting place.
Before visiting this bamboo grove, the first thing many people wonder about is:
“What hours can you enter the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove?”
To give you the conclusion right away — the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Chikurin no Komichi) is open 24 hours a day and can be freely explored at any time. There are no opening or closing times like typical tourist facilities. This is because the path is maintained as a “public road,” making it accessible 24 hours a day.
This path is used not only by tourists but also as a daily route for local residents, and is treated as a place where anyone can freely pass through. Spanning approximately 400 meters, this path lined with beautiful bamboo is an extremely precious spot where you can enjoy fantastical scenery day and night.
However, it is important to note that adjacent tourist facilities — such as “Tenryu-ji Temple” and “Okochi Sanso Garden” — have their own visiting hours and closing days. If you wish to visit surrounding temples, shrines, and gardens along with your bamboo grove walk, it is important to check the opening hours of each facility in advance.
Recommended Visiting Hours: The Charm of Early Morning Walks
The early morning Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is wrapped in silence as if the daytime bustle were a lie. During the hours when almost no tourists have yet arrived — around 7:00 to 8:00 AM — there is a fantastical and sacred atmosphere as if you are walking through your own private bamboo grove.
The sight of morning sunlight streaming through the gaps in the bamboo, with each leaf sparkling as it catches the light, is a breathtaking view that can only be experienced during this time. In a space where only natural sounds echo — birdsong and the sound of bamboo swaying in the wind — you will feel your mind becoming clear and refreshed.
This early morning time slot is especially recommended for those who enjoy photography. The soft natural light enhances the green of the bamboo, providing the best lighting for both landscape and portrait photography.
For those who want to avoid tourist crowds and quietly savor the beauty of the bamboo grove, the early morning Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is truly the ideal time. Please experience this special moment that is worth waking up a little early for.
Recommended Visiting Hours: The Charm of Nighttime Walks
At night, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove transforms completely from daytime, becoming a quiet and fantastical space enveloped in stillness. Tourists become sparse, and the bamboo shadows illuminated by moonlight and faint street lamps emerge as if from a picture scroll.
Source: https://kyoto-option.com/blog/19333/
In the bamboo grove at night, wrapped in silence, even the sound of bamboo swaying in the wind and footsteps echo impressively, providing a special experience that cleanses the soul. Since you can enjoy a mystical beauty different from daytime, quite a few travelers attempt nighttime walks.
However, there are points to be cautious about. The bamboo grove path has virtually no permanent lighting equipment, making the ground very dark. Therefore, when visiting at night, be sure to bring a flashlight or smartphone light and walk carefully, watching your step.
Additionally, the Arashiyama area is a quiet region surrounded by nature. Actions such as shouting loudly or playing music late at night would disturb surrounding residents and other visitors, so please maintain good manners and keep your walk quiet.
As long as you take proper safety precautions, a nighttime bamboo grove walk should be an extremely romantic and memorable experience. Please enjoy the “world of bamboo in silence” that cannot be experienced during the day.
How to Access the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is accessible by various modes of transportation including train and bus. Below we introduce each route and estimated travel times in detail.
[Walking Routes from Nearest Stations]
| Station Name | Walking Time | Notes |
| JR Sagano Line “Saga-Arashiyama Station” | Approx. 10-15 min | “Arashiyama Station” Approx. 5-10 min Exit the station and go left 。. There are many souvenir shops and restaurants near the station, making it easy to explore. |
| Randen “Arashiyama Station” | Approx. 5-10 min | A route via Togetsukyo Bridge , allowing you to enjoy beautiful scenery on the way. It is about 8-10 minutes on foot from the station to Togetsukyo Bridge. |
| Hankyu “Arashiyama Station” | Approx. 15-20 min | Approx. 3-4 min Convenient when using the Sagano Romantic Train, but please note the operating period and schedule. |
Sagano Scenic Railway | Approx. 3-4 min | Convenient when using the Sagano Romantic Train, but please note the operating period and schedule. |
[Access by Bus]
There are several bus stops around the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The main bus stops and estimated walking times to the bamboo grove path are as follows 。
| Bus Stop Name | Main Routes | Walking Time |
| Nonomiya | Kyoto Bus 、Kyoto City Bus | Approx. 3-7 min |
| Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae | Kyoto City Bus | Approx. 10 min |
| Arashiyama | Kyoto City Bus、Kyoto Bus | Approx. 13 min |
Summary
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Chikurin no Komichi) is one of the few natural landscape attractions in Kyoto that can be freely visited 24 hours a day. Different charms await depending on the time of your visit — enjoying the tranquility in the crisp morning air or being enveloped in the fantastical nighttime atmosphere.
Admission is free, and access options are abundant. It is a pleasant bonus that you can visit using JR, Randen, Hankyu, bus, or even the Sagano Romantic Train, choosing according to your travel style.
A moment away from the daily hustle and bustle, listening to the sound of bamboo leaves swaying.Please walk the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at your own preferred time and enjoy a special journey wrapped in tranquility and beauty.