My Summer Day Trip to Kyoto's Arashiyama: A Guide to an Easy-Going Hike! 🌸

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I've always heard that Arashiyama is best for fall foliage, but my recent summer visit gave me so many pleasant surprises! I decided to try a "not tiring" route that took me from the top of the hill and all the way down, and it was a fantastic way to see everything.

My Easy-Going Transportation Plan

The key to a relaxed trip is the bus route. From Shijo in Kyoto, I took bus #91 to the "Saga Shakado-mae" stop. From there, I was supposed to take bus #94 to the top, but since that bus only runs once an hour, I missed it. Instead of hiking up the hill, I discovered a small temple next door, Kiyomizu-dera, and decided to take a quick stroll there before catching the next bus. This was a great way to save energy for the rest of the day!

My Arashiyama Highlights

My first stop was Adashino Nembutsu-ji, which I highly recommend. It’s a smaller temple, but it's filled with 1,200 adorable little Buddha statues in every corner. They're all so unique and expressive! After that, I followed a peaceful path downhill through a quiet forest of lush green trees, which is called Saga Toriimoto. I even stopped at a restaurant on the way down for a surprisingly delicious curry.

From there, I went to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which is a direct path down the hill. After walking through the impressive bamboo forest, I arrived at Tenryu-ji, which is famous for its large Zen garden. The garden was stunning and I can imagine it being even more beautiful in autumn.

Shopping and a Final Stroll

My day ended with a stroll down the Arashiyama Shopping Street. I loved the cute Miffy Bakery and also picked up some delicious Kujoya chili oil, which is a popular local souvenir. Finally, I walked across the landmark Togetsukyo Bridge, which connects the park and the main shopping street, and it was the perfect end to my day.

My Top 3 Tips for Your Trip

Bring Cash: Many of the temples in Arashiyama only accept cash for tickets, so make sure you have some on hand.

Know Your Tickets for Tenryu-ji: My route took me to the North Gate, where I bought a ticket for the garden only. If you want to see the main hall as well, you'll need to re-enter from the South Gate and buy another ticket.

Use the Buses: The bus route I took was the key to making this trip so enjoyable and not tiring. It saves you from having to hike up the hill in the summer heat!

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