Hi there!
So getting to Arashiyama from Kyoto station can be pretty easy.
One option is to go by bus, as there’s a bus that goes to Arashiyama.
And there are a few different rail lines that also go to Arashiyama, and you could take any of them.
That said, I think taking the JR train is a convenient way to get there with or without a JR pass.
There’s a JR train station in a convenient part of Arashiyama and it’s a pretty short ride.
Arashiyama as part of a one day Kyoto itinerary
I started off at Kyoto Station for one day in Arashiyama and Sagano:
- JR train from Kyoto station
- Visit to Hozukyo station
- Sagano scenic train from Kameoka torroko station to Arashiyama torokko station
- Visit to Okochi Sanso Garden and teahouse
- Walk through Arashiyama bamboo forest
- Visit to Tenryuji Temple (world heritage site in Kyoto)
- Walk across Togetsukyo bridge
- Visit to Arashiyama monkey park
- JR train back to Kyoto station!
JR train at Kyoto Station
What makes taking the train to Arashiyama easy?!
There’s a sign with Arashiyama on it!
So you are looking to take the train that is bound for Saga-Arashiyama.
Then…
Head to the platform and get on the train!
Which train station to get off at?!
Saga-Arashiyama station
This is NOT the last stop on the train line so you’ll have to pay attention.
But there’s a good chance there will be tons of other people who will be getting off at Saga-Arashiyama too so it will probably be hard to miss!
It’s about a 15 minute train ride from Kyoto station to Arashiyama.
And then once at the Saga-Arashiyama station…
How long does it take to get to the popular Arashiyama attractions?!
You can walk to all of these places!
Google maps can help guide the way, and you’ll likely come across signs to the popular sites once you’re in the area too.
To Arashiyama bamboo forest
It will be about a 10 minute walk to get to the start of the bamboo grove walking path.
To Okochi Sanso Garden
You’ll go through the bamboo forest to get to the garden. The garden is right near the far end of the bamboo forest when coming from the JR train station.
So it will depend on how slowly you walk through the forest, but from the train station to the garden might take you around 20 minutes.
You can visit the teahouse while you’re there too!
To Hozugawa River boat ride
If a Hozugawa River boat ride is your first activity once you get to Arashiyama, it will be around a 10-15 minute walk from the train station to get to the area to take the boat.
To Togetsukyo Bridge
It will be about a 10-15 minute walk to get to the famous Togetsukyo Bridge.
To Arashiyama monkey park
You’ll cross over the Togetsukyo Bridge to get the monkey park.
Once past the bridge, it’s a few minutes walk.
From the train station to the entrance of the monkey park will likely be around a 15-20 minute walk. (Then you have another 20-30 minutes of uphill walking to get to the monkeys and the summit with city views!)
What about to the Sagano scenic railway?!
So another tourist activity in this part of Kyoto is taking the Sagano scenic railway aka the Sagano romantic train.
In order to take this train, you need to go to one of the train stations that are on this railway.
There are 3 main train stations that you would catch this train from, and they are called “torokko” stations:
- Saga torokko station
- Arashiyama torokko station
- Kameoka torokko station
Which train station to take the scenic train from?!
This depends on how you want to plan out your day, and whether you want to take the scenic train FROM Arashiyama or TO Arashiyama. (You can also take it both ways.)
The Saga torokko station is right next to the Saga-Arashiyama JR train station.
So this can make it a convenient station to start the scenic train ride.
The Arashiyama torokko station is closest to one end of the bamboo forest (it’s a few minutes walk), so it could be convenient to take the scenic train from here after you walk through the bamboo grove.
It can also make the Arashiyama Torokko station a convenient place to end your scenic train ride, if you opt to take the train in the opposite direction.
To end your scenic train ride at the Arashiyama torokko station, you would board the train at the Kameoka torokko station.
Getting to the Kameoka torokko station is pretty easy too. You would take the same JR train from Kyoto station, but you’ll stay on the train for longer.
HAPPY KYOTO STATION TO ARASHIYAMA TRAIN RIDE!
Use this Kyoto tourist map to plan out your 5 days in Kyoto with Arashiyama!
- 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