Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

scenic spot

Getting there from central Kyoto: take the Hankyu Line directly from Kawaramachi — faster and less crowded than the bus. Transfer at Katsura Station to the Arashiyama-bound train; about 20 minutes total.

Onward to Kinkaku-ji: go straight from Arashiyama. Take the JR Sagano Line from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Enmachi, then catch a bus. Watch the 205 — it runs as a loop, so boarding on the wrong side sends you the opposite direction.

Crowded? Try Kodaiji instead. Arashiyama draws big crowds and tourist prices. For a near-identical bamboo grove without the crush, the Kodaiji Temple Bamboo Forest in Higashiyama is a quieter alternative, a 5-minute walk from Yasaka Shrine.