What other travelers are saying about Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is an amazing and peaceful place. It brought back childhood memories for me, as I grew up around bamboo — but this felt different.
The bamboo here is uniquely beautiful, and the whole area has a calm, quiet vibe. Parking is limited, so I’d recommend using public transport. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the nearby gardens, temples, and the charming village too. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Kyoto.
Beautiful but Busy — Get There Early!
The bamboo forest was absolutely beautiful, but as many have mentioned, it does get very crowded. What surprised us, though, is that the bamboo grove is actually just a small part of a much larger, stunning park.
If you’re an early riser, it’s definitely worth heading there first thing in the morning to enjoy the peaceful surroundings before the crowds arrive.
The town itself is super charming, but most shops don’t open until around 10 a.m. One highlight for us was visiting the former home of an old Japanese actor — admission was only 1,000 yen and totally worth it. The gardens were gorgeous, and there were plenty of great photo spots.
I visited the bamboo forest on a regular day (not a holiday or weekend), and while the beauty of the towering bamboo is absolutely worth seeing, be prepared for a lot of people. The path through the grove is stunning—peaceful in theory—but hard to fully enjoy with the constant crowd.
It’s still magical to walk beneath the swaying green stalks and hear the rustling leaves, but if you’re hoping for quiet moments or photos without people, you’ll need to arrive very early—like sunrise early.
Still, it’s a must-see when in Kyoto. Just go with the mindset that you’re sharing the experience with many others!
Really beautiful shaded walk. The path takes you straight through the forest and past the river and other scenic sites. Recommend as something to do that gets you out of the sun, however on a humid day. In the forest it feels even more humid. Make sure to bring lots of drinks, there are also lots of vending machines for this too. There are trash cans regularly on the route.
A stunning and serene experience to absolutely see, despite the crowds you’re sure to bump into. If you can, go early in the morning like we did and you’ll get a much more intimate ALMOST crowd free experience. As time went on, more and more people poured in, even by 9AM. We enjoyed picking a bench and just breathing in the fresh air and admiring how towering the bamboo was. Don’t let the crowds completely dictate whether or not you come here, this place is magical even with lots of people in my opinion. If that’s the case though, just know that your photos will not be crowd-free. If you go into it knowing that, I think you’ll have a great time. Or, go very early 😉
