Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path

The information about Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path is presented here. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path (Chikurin-no-Komichi) is located in Arashiyama Sagano area, northwest of Kyoto Station. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path is very popular not only among Japanese tourists but also among foreign tourists because of its Japanese scenery. By the way, if you want to feel the Japanese scenery, it is recommended to visit in the morning when there are fewer tourists. Especially early in the morning is the best time to take pictures. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path is also called Arashiyama Bamboo Path, Sagano Bamboo Grove, Bamboo Grove Trail, Bamboo Forest Road, Chikurin-no-Komichi, Chikurin-no-Michi, etc.

• Spot Location Map ＆ Directions
• Spot Brief Overview
• Spot Events

【Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Sagano Nonomiya-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Nonomiya bus stop (about 2 minutes on foot), Randen Arashiyama Station (about 8 minutes on foot), JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 12 minutes on foot), Hankyu Arashiyama Station (about 22 minutes on foot), Sagano Trolley Arashiyama Station (about 2 minutes on foot), Arashiyama bus stop (about 15 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 24 hours (Arashiyama Sagano area is a tourist destination, so there are not many tourists at night. There are not many street lights along the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Free

【Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path Brief Overview】

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path (Chikurin-no-Komichi, 竹林の小径, 竹林の道, 嵐山竹林の小径, 嵯峨野竹林の道) is located in the area between Sagano Trolley Train and JR Sanin Line (Sagano Line) running on the north side and Tenryu-ji Temple (天龍寺) built on the south side. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path connects the area around Nomiya Shrine (野宮神社) on the east side with the area around Okochi Sanso Teien (大河内山荘庭園) on the west side. It is about 400 meters long. It is said that Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path was a villa area for aristocrats during the Heian period (794-1192). Although today Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path are distributed by moso bamboo, which is native to China, there used to be a large number of madake bamboo, which is said to be both native to China and Japan. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path has the bamboo grove on both sides, and you can feel the sunlight filtering through the trees on a sunny day and the sound of leaves on a windy day. Incidentally, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path becomes dim even in the daytime on rainy or cloudy days. Arashiyamaa Sagano area, including Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path, held the Arashiyama Hanatouro every December, where the bamboo grove along Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path was illuminated and lanterns were placed along the path. The illumination of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path was very popular, but due to Kyoto City’s financial problems, it will be discontinued after 2021. There is also Bamboo Grove Walking Path on the north side of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path. Bamboo Grove Walking Path was maintained in the fall of 2015. Bamboo Grove Walking Path was developed and maintained with donations from Jinrikisha-ya (rickshaw pullers) born in Arashiyama Sagano area.
★The east side of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path: Nonomiya Shrine is derived from “Nonomiya” where Saio, who serves Ise Grand Shrine, purified herself before going to Ise. Saio was selected from unmarried princesses and queens, and after purifying themselves for 1 year at Shosaiin and 1 year at Nonomiya, they went to Ise Grand Shrine. The location of the “Nomiya” was determined for each accession to the throne of an emperor and was initially different each time, but from the time of the 10th princess of the 52nd Emperor Saga, Jinshi Naishinno, the “Nomiya” was built at the Nomiya Shrine. However, due to the military fires during the the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392), Saio system was abolished, and “Nonomiya” became Nonomiya, Shrine.
★The west side of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path: Okochi Sanso Teien (Okochi Sanso Garden) is a walking Japanese garden of about 6,000 tsubo (about 20,000 square meters) .Okochi Sanso Teien was created by Okochi Denjiro, a famous actor of the Showa period (1926-1989). Okochi Denjiro was fascinated by the magnificent scenery of Arashiyama and Sagano, and spent about 30 years painstakingly creating the garden from a wasteland. Incidentally, It is said that Denjiro Okochi spent most of his movie salary on the garden. In Okochi Sanso Teien, there are Jinenbutsu-do, Daijoka-ku, Tekisu-an, Kogetsu-tei, Chu-mon, Okochi Denjiro Museum, and trees such as maple, cherry blossom, and pine are planted.
*reference・・・Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path website

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Saigu-goretsu (Saigu Procession, 斎宮行列) at Nonomiya Shrine held every year on the 3rd Sunday in October. In Saigu-Goretsu, a procession of Saigudai, Kansoshi-Chokan, Nyokan, Bunkan, chigo, and etc, dressed in Heian period (794-1185) costumes, parades around Arashiyama Sagano area.
★Hasaku-sai (Hasaku Festival,八朔祭) at Matsunoo Taisha Shrine is held every year on the first Sunday of September. In Hasaku-sai, Onna-Mikoshi (portable shrine) visits to Nomiya Shrine, and the ritual is held at Nomiya Shrine. In some cases, a boat parade of Onna-Mikoshi may be held.

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-213-1717（Kyoto City Tourism Association）

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path is via Tenryu-ji Temple to Togetsu Bridge over Katsura-gawa River. The scenery created by Togetsu Bridge, Katsura-gawa River, and Mt. Arashiyama is one of the most famous sights in Kyoto. By the way, Mt. Arashiyama is famous for its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, so it is recommended to visit during the cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】

If you plan to visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Path, be sure to check the latest information.
Sagano Trolley Train run on the north side of Bamboo Forest Path, but you are not allowed to enter the tracks to take pictures. It is a violation of the Railway Operation Law.