1-Day Arashiyama Itinerary: How To Spend ONE Full Day
Last Updated on November 11, 2025 by Audrey
Wondering what should be in your Arashiyama itinerary?
I’ve visited Kyoto three times now, and exploring Arashiyama has always been one of the highlights. You’ll find beautiful temples, the famous bamboo forest, and can even feed wild Japanese monkeys here.
While there are enough attractions here to warrant two days in Arashiyama, most of the time you can only dedicate one day to visiting since it’s a bit far from Kyoto’s city center, and that’s totally okay!
I’ve compiled a full 1 day itinerary in Arashiyama based on my experience here. While Arashiyama is technically in Kyoto, it still takes some time to travel here so ideally plan to start your day early around 7-8 AM!
Don’t miss out on my top picks!
Where to Stay in Arashiyama: I recommend Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho for its longstanding history as a ryokan, incredible food, and private outdoor onsen.
Best Arashiyama Tour: The tour I recommend booking ASAP is this full day Arashiyama Tour! You get to visit all the sites of this itinerary with included transportation for a great price!
Visiting a lot of cities in Japan? Click here to book your JR Pass.
Map of Arashiyama Itinerary
1 Day Arashiyama Itinerary
Breakfast: Onigiri To Go
To be totally honest, to beat the crowds and enjoy Arashiyama while it’s still relatively quiet, you don’t really have time for a full breakfast. There are also not many places in Arashiyama that are open super early.
I personally recommend you pop into a konbini and grab some convenience store food before jumping on the train to Hankyu Arashiyama Station or JR Saga-Arashiyama Station.
Morning: Arashiyama Monkey Park
- Time spent: 90 minutes
The Arashiyama Monkey Park is home to 120 wild monkeys, where you can enjoy meeting Japanese macaques in their natural habitat. While they are wild, they are very used to humans and aren’t dangerous. Try not to look them in the eye though, just in case.
There are designated areas where you can feed them peanuts and apples, and they grab the snacks right out of your hand!
🐒 This full-day tour takes you to the Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, and the charming backstreets and temples of Kyoto with a local guide! Check out over 800+ 5-star reviews and see Arashiyama for an affordable price. 🙉
Keep in mind you’ll have to hike for about 20-30 minutes up the mountain to reach the Monkey Park! I recommend wearing comfortable clothes for this visit, because it’s pretty uphill. My friends did the trek in kimonos, and they do not recommend it.
At the top, there is a playground and a cute photo area where you have a great view of Kyoto City next to a giant banana.
Cross Togetsukyo Bridge
- Time spent: 10 minutes
After you come back down from Monkey Park, make your way up the Katsura River, and you’ll find Togetsukyo Bridge, a wooden bridge originally built in 83,6 famous for beautiful views of Arashiyama mountain and Kyoto’s natural scenery.
It’s a narrow path along the river, where you can watch rickshaws pass by. I got some stunning photos of seasonal cherry blossom trees here.
Lunch in Arashiyama
- Time spent: 1 hour
After you cross Togetsukyo Bridge, you’ll find yourself in a bustling area with lots of restaurants and shops. There are a couple of unique themed cafes here, like Miffy Kitchen and the Rilakkuma Tea House.
There are tons of restaurants along Togetsu Bridge where you can enjoy authentic cuisine overlooking the river, like Arashiyama Yoshimura and Tai Sho Hanana.
We wandered into Arashiyama Gourmet Yokocho, a large food court with a variety of dishes including curry, udon, and donburi. I got a salmon tuna donburi and also tried out Mont Blanc ice cream!
While you don’t want to spend too much time here, as most attractions here close at 4-5 PM, it’s worth wandering around a little bit and choosing any restaurant that catches your eye. Don’t forget to try some delicious matcha tea with lunch!
Tenryu-ji Temple
- Time spent: 1 hour
This stunning temple is just a few minutes walk away from all the restaurants in Arashiyama, so you can head over quickly after lunch.
Tenryu-ji was one of my favorite stops the first time I went to Kyoto. It’s a Zen temple that was even used as a detached palace at one point in time, and is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto.
The outdoor gardens are serene and tranquil, and it’s a great way to explore the quiet beauty of Arashiyama forest.
Tickets to just the gardens are 500 yen, and if you want to see the buildings, it’s an additional 300 yen. You can buy tickets when you get there, so don’t worry about purchasing in advance.
⭐ Check out over 900 5-star reviews and book a tour to Tenryu-ji here! ⭐
Arashiyama Bamboo forest
- Time Spent: 20 minutes
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of Kyoto’s most famous sightseeing spots, a 0.3-mile road lined with scenic rows of fully grown bamboo. It’s a popular photo spot, and is just as busy as it is popular.
Personally, if you visit at any time other than early in the morning, it gets horribly crowded, but I can't deny it's a prime photo spot.
It’s a quick 15-minute walk through to snap a quick photo, and from here you can either take a taxi to our last temple or take a 30-minute walk through the forest.
Afternoon: Otagi Nenbutsuji
- Time spent: 1 hour
Otagi Nenbutsuji is a temple famous for its collection of over 1,200 unique stone Buddhist statues. It’s definitely off the beaten path, but due to that, the temple is super empty and you get to see the beauty in all its glory!
The “rakan” statues, representing Buddha’s disciples, were added between 1981-1991 and have naturally been covered with moss. Each statue is completely unique and was hand-carved by a different person, so they all have their own whimsical characteristics and all sorts of distinct facial expressions.
It’s fun and exciting to walk around and look at all the different faces, because some of them are scared or mad, and honestly, look pretty funny. A fun thing to do is to find the statue that looks most like you!
Late Afternoon: Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
- Time spent: 30 minutes
If time permits, you can make one last stop at Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street before all the shops close at 5 PM.
This conserved street is on the way back south when you come back from Otagi Nenbutsuji. You’ll be swept up in the historic atmosphere of rustic Kyoto when you visit this hidden gem and walk through the traditional machiya (townhouses).
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is also around here, which is often mistaken for Otagi Nenbutsuji.
Dinner: Izusen Sagano
Most of the restaurants in Arashiyama close early, so you’ll have more options if you go back to central Kyoto. However, Izusen Sagano is open until 9 PM in Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street in case you want to enjoy dinner in Arashiyama.
This low-key kaiseki restaurant serves traditional Japanese course meals in a cozy, quiet setting. If you want to try authentic cuisine away from the tourist crowds, this is a great option. They have a lot of vegetarian options too!
Got more time in Arashiyama?
Arashiyama is filled with amazing spots and temples, so it was really hard to cram all my favorite spots into a single day. Here are a couple more things to do in Arashiyama that you might want to check out.
Hozugawa Boat Tour
The Hozugawa Boat Ride is a popular activity that showcases Kyoto’s natural landscapes in a relaxing two-hour river route. The best time to visit is mid to late April for cherry blossom season, and November for vibrant foliage in autumn.
⭐ With over 80,000 bookings and 1,500 reviews, this boat ride sells out fast! Book your tickets here. ⭐
The boat ride is super peaceful, and the boatmen are fun and point out landmarks all along the way. I recommend grabbing an early morning ticket and booking at least 1-2 months prior because it does sell out.
The boat ride ends in Arashiyama, but to get to the starting point, you’ll have to take a train ride to Kameoka, which can take 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on where you’re staying in Kyoto.
💡 Pro tip: Make sure to check the official website before arriving, as there can be cancellations based on weather conditions.
Arashiyama Yusei-Tei Gallery
This gallery has a longstanding history from the Meiji era, approximately 150 years ago, and exhibits works made from a unique dyeing method called ‘Yume-kôrozome’ by the host Yusai.
In this tranquil space, guests are invited to admire the beauty of Japan’s changing seasons paired with detailed works of dyed art.
Where to stay in Arashiyama
Mid-range: Arashiyana Onsen Kadensho ($$$)
- Rating: 8.8/10 (8,000 reviews)
This amazing ryokan is highly sought after, and if you manage to book your stay here, you won’t regret it!
I love staying in traditional ryokan whenever I visit Japan because they’re so different from regular hotels, and the hospitality is unbeatable.
You’ll get to soak in a private open-air onsen while relaxing in the beauty of Arashiyama forest, and enjoy delicious kaiseki meals made with local ingredients.
While this is my top choice, there are a few other ryokan in the area. Click here to view the best ryokan in Arashiyama, and click here for the ultimate list of top ryokans in Kyoto.
Check out over 8,000 reviews and book your stay here!
Budget: Arashiyama Yado ($$)
- Rating: 9.0/10 (520 reviews)
This hotel is only 3 years old, with brand new modern rooms and fantastic amenities. Despite being new, it’s already racked up over 500 5-star reviews!
It’s close to Arashiyama Monkey Park, so you’ll be able to start your day early and explore Kyoto’s amazing temples and bamboo forest with ease.
You can reserve a queen bed for as low as $90 a night in certain seasons, so this hotel is a great value option.
Click here to book your stay with free cancellation!
Renting a Car in Japan
While Japan's trains are incredible, and you can get by most of the time with public transportation, you can’t beat the convenience of a car.
I loved renting a car and exploring Japan's scenic routes, and Kyoto is spaced out enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed.
We personally used Orix with Booking and were able to rent our car easily. You can check prices, filter for the type of vehicle you want, and add affordable full coverage insurance.
Tips for Renting a Car in Japan
- Drive on the left: In Japan, you’ll be driving on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right. It’s not too difficult to get the hang of, but go easy to have some time to adjust before driving in the city.
- Learn the rules: I recommend watching a YouTube video about the rules. You have to come to a FULL stop at the stop signs, big red signs that read “止まれ”. Always remember that pedestrians have the right of way, and make sure everyone in the car wears a seatbelt.
- Get car insurance: Between tiny parking spots, winding mountain roads, and the occasional wildlife sighting, it’s worth the peace of mind. When you use Booking, you have the option to add insurance at checkout.
- Pick a car that fits: Japan isn’t exactly known for wide open roads, especially in the countryside or older towns. A small or mid-sized car is usually best. Booking lets you filter by size, transmission, and even luggage space, so you know what you’re getting.
- Watch out for toll roads: If you’re planning to use the expressways, it’s best to include an ETC car,d as Japan has a lot of toll roads. The card makes paying tolls way faster and way less stressful than having to look for cash.
What you need to rent a car in Japan
- Bring your valid license from your home country.
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the 1949 Geneva Convention (Japan won’t accept anything else!) We got ours in 20 minutes with AAA in the States before we left for Japan.
- A credit card under the driver’s name for the deposit.
- Most rentals require you to be at least 18, but some might want you to have had your license for a year. If you're under 25, there might be a young driver fee.
Ready to give left-sided driving a spin? Click here to book with Booking!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
While traveling in a foreign country, it's essential to get full coverage trip insurance just in case of an accident or illness. I recommend VisitorsCoverage for affordable prices and great insurance benefits.
Additionally, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card, you get automatic trip insurance!
Thanks for reading!
Hope you have a better idea of what to visit in Arashiyama!
Visiting Arashiyama is a perfect introduction to Japan’s lush landscapes and deep history, and I loved visiting the iconic temples and picturesque bamboo forests. This area of Kyoto is packed with so many incredible places that it can be hard to choose a few, but you can’t go wrong with these places.
I love Kyoto, and it has a special place in my heart. If you want more ideas of what to do while you’re here, check out my Japan itinerary where I share all my favorite places and tours.
If you ever need any help with your trip, feel free to reach out to me at audrey@getlostinjapan.com or drop a comment below!
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