Kyoto Station To Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
How to Get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove from Kyoto Station
From Kyoto Station, you can take the train, the bus, or a taxi to get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, if you do not plan to rent a car in Japan.
Planning a trip to the famous grove? Visit our Arashiyama Bamboo Forest home page for the complete rundown on every single detail!
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Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by Train
There are three train lines from which to choose to get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove from Kyoto Station (and nearby stations).
By the JR Sagano / San-in Main Line
The best choice is to take the JR Sagano / San-in Main Line at Kyoto Station. Trains leave every 15 minutes or so.
Get off at the JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, from where the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is about a 10- to 12-minute walk. The train ride is 16 minutes, and, if you take the rapid train, it’s just 12 minutes.
This is the most direct option for getting to the famous bamboo forest by train, and you can use your Japan Rail Pass if you plan to purchase one.
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By the Hankyu Main Line / Hankyu Arashiyama Line
Another choice is to take the Hankyu Main Line to Katsura Station, where you can transfer to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line. Get off at the Arashiyama Station and then walk to the grove, about a 15-minute walk.
This train departs from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, and the train ride from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station to Katsura Station is about 16 minutes. The ride to the Arashiyama Station from Katsura is about 7 minutes.
Note that this train option is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass and is a less direct way of traveling from Kyoto to Arashiyama.
In Kyoto, the subway connects Kyoto Station with Kawaramachi Station.
By the Keifuku Railway (Randen)
Yet another option is to take the Keifuku Arashiyama Line that connects Arashiyama with Omiya Station in Kyoto. This train ride takes 20 minutes.
It is about a 10-minute walk from the Randen Arashiyama Station to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. The Randen Station is the closest to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
The subway connects Shijo Omiya Station with Kyoto Station in Kyoto.
Note that this option is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The train is unquestionably the best way to get around Japan. Click to get your Japan Rail Pass now!
Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest by Taxi or Uber
The quickest way to get from Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is to take a taxi or an Uber.
You can get a taxi using the Japan Taxi app. You will also likely see taxis waiting for fares at the taxi stand outside the station.
Expect to pay around 4,500 yen (USD 30.00) for the one-way ride.
While a taxi (or Uber) is not an inexpensive option, it is a great choice for visitors with mobility issues or if you want to visit super early or late at night when trains may not be running.
The taxi or Uber ride takes about 12 minutes in normal traffic, but traffic jams can cause delays.
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Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest by Bus
Finally, you can arrive at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest from Kyoto Station by public bus.
Take Kyoto City Bus #28 at the bus terminal at Kyoto Station and alight at the Arashiyama-Tenryuji Mae bus stop.
The bus stops right at Tenryu-ji, and you can walk from the temple grounds onto the path at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
The bus ride from Kyoto Station to Tenryu-ji Temple takes about 30 minutes, but note that traffic jams are routine, making the train the more efficient choice to get from Kyoto to Arashiyama.