Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 嵐山竹林

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto's most iconic sights, and a walk through it will be one of your most lasting impressions of this city.

The grove is a 10-minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line.

Located in the village of Sagano on the west side of the city, the path through the Arashiyama bamboo grove is short yet immersive. There's something almost magical about the light dappling on the forest floor. For maximum effect, approach the grove from the side gate of Tenryu-ji Temple .

You may also want to consider a visit to Okochi-Sanso Villa at the top of the grove. The villa is a fine alternative to visiting one of the Imperial villas, with magnificent gardens and offering some of the best views of Kyoto. It's also generally free of crowds.

The admission fee for Okochi-Sanso includes a Japanese sweet and hot matcha tea in the villa's teahouse.

An additional section of the grove extends to nearby Nonomiya Shrine, where daughters from the Imperial family used to purify themselves before becoming shrine maidens at Ise Jingu, regarded as the most important shrine in Japan.

Nonomiya Shrine may be quite busy with yukata-clad young women who come here to pray for a love match, while thick-calved rickshaw drivers pause to explain a bit of history to their riders.

Walking in the direction of Randen Saga Station brings you to an array of shops that sell goods made from bamboo. At the station is a charming trolley car that will bring you back to the center of Kyoto.