Hi there!
So the Arashiyama torokko station is one of 4 train stations that are on the Sagano scenic railway line.
All of the train stations that are on this train line are called “torokko” stations:
- Saga torokko station
- Arashiyama torokko station
- Hozukyo torokko station
- Kameoka torokko station
If you’ll be taking the Sagano scenic train, you’ll choose to take the train from Saga, Arashiyama, or Kameoka.
Which one you’ll want will depend on how you want to plan the rest of your day’s activities.
The Arashiyama station can be a convenient station to start or end your Sagano scenic train ride because of its proximity to other Arashiyama attractions.
It’s located a few minutes walk from the Okochi Sanso Gardens (and teahouse), and it’s also a few minutes walk to get to the path of the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest.
Arashiyama torokko station as part of one day Kyoto itinerary
I took the Sagano scenic train as a part of my one day in Arashiyama and Sagano:
- Went to Kameoka torokko station to get on Sagano scenic train
- Got off scenic train at Arashiyama torokko station
- Walked around Arashiyama
So I did the scenic train ride first and I took it from the far end of the railway line (Kameoka torokko station) to take the train TO Arashiyama.
This left me with the rest of the day to roam around Arashiyama.
You can also take the scenic train in the opposite direction too, to go from Arashiyama to the end of the line… and you can also take it both ways.
I only took the scenic train one way which meant I got to near Kameoka torokko station by taking a JR train to nearby Umahori JR station. (You can get such a train from Kyoto station.)
Here’s a bit of what this part of my day looked like!
Kyoto Station to Sagano scenic railway
So my torokko boarding station of choice was Kameoka station.
This meant I would start by taking a JR train from Kyoto station to Umahori station.
At Kyoto station, you’ll find a platform for trains bound for Saga-Arashiyama.
You can get on the JR train to Saga-Arashiyama no matter which torokko station you’re trying to get to.
I actually made a side trip and stopped off at Hozukyo Station before continuing onward to Umahori. (So I went from Kyoto station to Hozukyo, and then Hozukyo to Umahori.)
But all the same, I ended up at Umahori! You can get from Kyoto station to Umahori direct. It’s the same JR train line.
Then it was about a 10 minute walk to get from Umahori JR station to Kameoka torokko station.
And from there, I boarded the Sagano scenic train to Arashiyama!
Sagano scenic train to Arashiyama
Walk from Arashiyama torokko station to Saga-Arashiyama JR train station
To walk directly from the Arashiyama torokko station to the JR station would be about a 20 minute walk.
But there are also places to stop at that are directly on the walking route to the Saga-Arashiyama JR station.
For the visual on a map, have a look at this walking route.
Okochi Sanso Gardens
…and Okochi Sanso teahouse!
Arashiyama bamboo grove
And then there are also other nearby places to visit in Arashiyama although not on the direct route from torokko train station to JR train station.
Tenryuji Temple
Arashiyama monkey park
Taking the scenic train from Arashiyama torokko station
And then if you want to take the Sagano scenic train in the opposite direction from Arashiyama to Kameoka, you can do that too.
Your starting point can be the Arashiyama torokko station!
You can also do the walk above in the opposite direction once you arrive at the Saga-Arashiyama JR station from Kyoto station.
Otherwise, the Saga Torokko station is another option when you will be taking the train from the Arashiyama area. The Saga torokko station is right next to the Saga-Arashiyama JR station.
HAPPY ARASHIYAMA SCENIC TRAIN RIDE!
Use this Kyoto tourist map to plan out your 5 days in Kyoto with the Sagano scenic train!
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
- Day 3: Philosopher’s Path walk
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass