Togetsukyo Bridge

Visited Togetsukyo Bridge during my Kyoto trip — truly a must-see spot! The scenery around the bridge is stunning with the river, bamboo forest, and mountain view in the background. During autumn and spring, it looks even more colorful. Many small shops, cafes, and local food stalls nearby make it a perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon.

This bridge stretches across the river and provide access to the other side after we alighted from our bus. There are plenty of places to visit over there but we wanted to kick start our morning with the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest first via the traditional entrance. There are really good views from the birdge especially when we arrive early in the morning during sunrise. I had my breakfast nearby, enjoying the vista displayed before me in all it's splendour.

22nd November 2025 Part 2 of my Arashiyama trip review. Once you follow the sea of people, located not too far away from the station, os the Togetsukyo Bridge, where you'll be greeted with even larger and longer lines of crowd. The slow walk across the bridge accompanied by the mountainous view and flowing water dotted with geese, ducks and cranes. It was spectacular! See you in the next part !

The Katsura River isn’t deep, but it stretches wide through the Arashiyama valley. It looks as if it has been slowly carving its path through stone for millennia, patient and persistent. The basin below is littered with smooth boulders and rounded pebbles, polished by time and water. The surrounding greenery feels almost soft to the eye — pillowy, rolling, and restless in the wind. What little water moves does so quietly, as if whispering through the stones. The mighty Mississippi this is not. The Togetsukyo Bridge, whose name means “Moon Crossing Bridge”, spans roughly 155 meters across this tranquil river. The first version was built in the Heian period, more than 800 years ago, though the current structure dates back to 1934 when it was reconstructed in wood and reinforced with concrete. The bridge connects the Saga-Arashiyama district on the north to the Arashiyama Park area on the south, leading to cafés, shops, and even the trail that winds up toward the monkey park. Crossing it on foot takes only a few minutes, but the view of the mountains reflected in the river makes it easy to slow down and forget time altogether. We didn’t cross. Our guide advised against it since our stop was brief, and what looked close would have taken too long to return from before the bus departed. True to form, a few adventurous souls ignored the warning. They had to find their own way back to Kyoto. My dad had a saying: “Hard head makes soft behind.” It fits here. Listening to your guide isn’t about obedience — it’s about respect for everyone’s time, not just your own. There’s beauty in that too. Sometimes discipline is what lets you enjoy the moment fully. Arashiyama teaches that in its own quiet way: the bridge, the river, the wind, all reminding you that serenity and structure can coexist.

Cute bridge design. Everyone crowds around the entrance so walk along a lot more and head for the middle. You'll get great views of the mountains on one side and the plains and water on the otherside.