Sagano bamboo forest or Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is located in a nature reserve about 16 hectares wide, in Arashiyama district, western suburbs of Kyoto city – Japan.
From the Heian period (794-1185) , the aristocratic elit chose this as their favorite vacation spot. In the 13th century, Emperor Go-Saga had Yoshino’s famous cherry trees moved here, making the area popular for cherry blossom viewing.
The Sagano bamboo forest of Arashiyama , here Visitors can walk along paths lined with endless rows of bamboo. The experience has been described as “something from another world, incomparable and dreamlike.”
The Arashiyama district is located at the base of the so-called “Storm Mountains” in northwestern Kyoto. Its main street and Togetsu-kyo Bridge have been baptized as the “tourist circus” but, beyond this area, Arashiyama offers an authentic and unforgettable Japanese experience.
The Sagano Bamboo Forest is one of Japans most popular tourist attractions , Arashiyama bamboo forest is ranked by CNN in the top 100 best roads in the world. The sound of the forest is included in the list of 100 sounds of Japan by the Japanese Ministry of Environment, and encourages people to feel the distinctive natural sounds of the land of the rising sun.
Since 2015, the city government has allowed visitors to visit bamboo forests for free at all times of the day..
The bamboo itself is used in local crafts that you can find in shops along the main street in Arashiyama.
Don’t Miss :
- You can watch the famous Arashiyama fishing method, known as Ukai, where expert fishermen practice an ancient tradition in which trained cormorants are used to catch trout.
- the winter illumination event known as Hanatoro during the winter time
Access : Coordinates: 35.009465, 135.666772 / Address : 6 Sagakamenoocho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu 616-8386, Japan / By train : From Kyoto station, take the JR San-in or Sagano lines to Saga-Arashiyama station. The train journey takes approx. 20 minutes. Trains stop at the following stations: Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station , Tambaguchi Station , Nijo Station , Emmachi Station , Hanazono Station
From JR Saga-Arashiyama station, you can take a bus – every seven minutes- . Alternatively, you can walk about 15 minutes to the bamboo forest.
BY Bus :
Take the Kyoto City Bus 28 departing from Kyoto Station bus terminal to Arashiyama-Tenryuji-mae bus stop – 30-min bus ride.
This forest is open 24 hours a day and admission is completely free
Activities : photo opportunities- photography trips / sightseeing / walking / cycling : rental shops within walking distance of Hankyu Arashiyama Station / stroll through Kyoto’s bamboo forest / snapping selfies / Guided private walks : Four hours duration. Price: 25,000 Yen / Arashiyama Boat Rental / rickshaw ride.
Nearby attractions : monkey park of Iwatayama ,also known as the monkey park of Arashiyama / Kameyama-koen Park / Arashiyama temples / the Okochi Sanso Villa / The Nonomiya Shrine! / Tenryu-ji temple / Togetsukyo Bridge.
