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Discover the enchanting Arashiyama district in Kyoto with our detailed itinerary! Explore Tenryu-ji Temple, wander through the famous Bamboo Grove, and ride the scenic Torokko train. Get insider tips for your 2026 trip!
Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Travel
Arashiyama Itinerary Recommendations
(Tenryu-ji, Chikurin Bamboo Grove, Sagano Scenic Railway)
Photos & Writing © Yappi
Hey there! Yappi here.
Today, I’m sharing the second story of our
May trip to Arashiyama, Kyoto,
which I visited with my husband!✈️
From the perfect route and pro tips to shopping and food,
I've packed this post with everything you need,
so keep your eyes wide open and follow along!
1. The Vibrant Greens of Early Summer, Tenryu-ji Temple
✅Daily 08:30~17:00, Cash only
✅Admission: 500 yen for garden only, 800 yen for garden + main hall
After checking out Yusai-tei,
our next plan was to take the Torokko train
over to Kyoto.
So we headed to Tenryu-ji,
which made the most sense for our route.😉
📌 Tenryu-ji Visitor Information
✔️Garden only: 500 yen
✔️Garden + Main Hall: 800 yen
We bought tickets just for the garden and headed inside!
Here’s a super important tip:
Tenryu-ji only accepts 'cash'!
If you're planning to visit, make sure to bring some cash with you.
It had that serene, peaceful atmosphere
so characteristic of Japanese temples and gardens.
I heard that if you go into the main hall,
you can stroll through the inner gardens or sit on the tatami mats
to quietly admire the scenery outside.
They say the autumn foliage here is absolutely stunning,
but since we visited in early summer and had
a train to catch, we had to do a quick walkthrough.😂
There was a spot where you could toss a coin to make a wish,
so my husband and I tossed a 1-yen coin
just for fun and made our wishes.
(Please let us strike it rich... haha 🙏)
Since we visited on a Friday,
there were a lot of local students on school trips.
Seeing them in their school uniforms
felt so nostalgic and cozy,
almost like visiting Gyeongju back in Korea.
After a great time exploring, exiting through the North Gate
connects you naturally straight to
the famous Chikurin Bamboo Grove!
2. A Lush Green Sanctuary, Chikurin Bamboo Grove
The Chikurin Bamboo Grove,
leading directly from Tenryu-ji's North Gate!
Since we don't have many massive bamboo forests like this
back home, it felt incredibly
unique and exotic.
Every time a gentle breeze blew,
the soft rustling of the bamboo leaves whispering together
sounded so beautiful... 💚
If you could have the place to yourself,
it would be the perfect spot to completely
immerse in nature and heal.
But in reality, it was a global gathering of tourists!😂
With so many people around,
taking your time to enjoy the grove or snapping
that perfect "life shot" was practically mission impossible.
When my husband and I were taking photos of each other,
we had to sweat a bit trying to find the perfect angles
just to keep the crowds of passersby out of the frame! 💦
3. A Must-Do in Arashiyama: Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko)
✅ Make sure to check the daily schedule (closed on Wednesdays)
✅ Tickets: Adults 880 yen, Children 440 yen
For our journey back to Kyoto, we rode Arashiyama's famous
Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko)! 🚂
We booked our tickets for the 3:02 PM train
in advance via Klook.
Our route was set to depart from Torokko Saga Station (Arashiyama)
-> arrive at Torokko Kameoka Station (Kyoto), and then
transfer to a regular train bound for Kyoto at Kameoka Station.
Many people do a round trip,
but we figured there was no need to see the exact same view twice,
so we just booked a one-way ticket!
We booked on Klook for about ~$5 per adult,
while on-site purchase is 880 yen for adults
and 440 yen for children (ages 6 to under 12) one-way.
Since tickets on-site sell out super fast,
booking in advance is highly recommended for your peace of mind!
(The official website is a great option too!)
👇Book on Klook👇
Kyoto Sagano Romantic Train Ticket (Kyoto Station Pick-up) - Klook
👇Book on the Official Website👇
Sagano Scenic Railway - Torokko Train
💡 Insider Tip: Best Seats on the Torokko Train!
The views vary wildly depending on where you sit,
so the battle for the best seats is real! 🔥
We sat next to each other in
even-numbered rows, seats C and D of 'The Rich Car No. 5,'
which is the windowless open-air carriage.
But the absolute best seats
are said to be even-numbered rows, seats 'A and D'
because they let you sit facing your travel companion.
Keep this in mind when you book!
If you book in advance, you can board super easily
using a QR code.
Seeing other tourists lining up in a massive queue at the ticket counter
made me so glad we booked ahead! (Slightly proud of myself, not gonna lie) 😏
Since we were in even-numbered row seats C and D,
all we saw was a retaining wall right at the start.
I was momentarily worried, thinking, "Oh no, did we fail the seat lottery?"
But just a few moments later, the view completely opened up
to a breathtaking vista of the gorgeous Hozu River!
After getting off at Torokko Kameoka Station,
you need to walk for about 5 minutes
to transfer to the regular train back to Kyoto!
(What was the name of that station again... my memory is a bit hazy... 🙄)
Shopping and Foodie Heaven, Aeon Mall Kyoto
✅ Open Daily: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Not quite ready to head back to our hotel just yet,
we decided to check out Aeon Mall, a massive shopping center
located just a 10-minute walk from Kyoto Station!
⭐ Gindaco (Takoyaki)
Come to think of it, even though we were in the Kansai region,
we hadn't had a single piece of takoyaki yet!
The moment we saw the "Gindaco" sign at Aeon Mall,
we were drawn to it like magnets and ordered right away.
Crispy on the outside, incredibly soft and creamy on the inside—the absolute gold standard of texture!
You know that familiar, irresistible taste you just can't get enough of? It was absolutely delicious.
⭐ Nintendo Gacha!
Fully energized after our snack, we were wandering around
when we noticed a long queue in front of a Super Mario gacha machine.
Wondering if it was a limited edition, we quietly joined the line
to try our luck and get one each!
My husband and I pulled Yoshi and Mario,
and we actually scored the secret "Golden Mario"! 🤩
But... honestly, the classic Mario is way cuter... Hmph...
⭐ Montbell
A must-visit shopping spot for travelers in Kyoto!
We stopped by the store in Aeon Mall to look around,
and just as we were thinking the designs were a bit too simple,
we spotted the Kyoto-exclusive t-shirts
featuring the "Montbell KYOTO" print!
The display sample was gray,
but we grabbed a matching couple set in sleek black! 🖤
They were 3,600 yen each, and since we bought two, the total was over 5,000 yen,
which meant we easily qualified
for that sweet tax-free discount!
We both wear them as activewear when playing tennis.
Since they're black, they aren't see-through at all, and the breezy,
mesh-like material has made them our absolute favorite workout shirts lately!
⭐ Aeon Mall Sports & Tennis Shop
While wandering around, we stumbled upon a paradise for tennis lovers!
They had the latest rackets lined up by weight (g),
along with an incredible selection of shoes, apparel, grips, and accessories.
The temptation to buy everything was so real,
but since we didn't urgently need anything, I had to hold back with tears in my eyes... 🥲
If you play tennis, you definitely need to check this place out!
(By the way, they have a great selection of On Running gear too!)
On our way to Yodobashi, right near the station,
we were completely drawn in by some
canelés and apple pie! We just had to devour them~ haha!
Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Kyoto
Lopia Kyoto Yodobashi Store
✅ Open Daily: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
After wrapping up our Aeon Mall exploration and before heading back to our accommodation,
we headed to the huge basement supermarket in Yodobashi Camera.
None other than Lopia!
📍 Lopia Kyoto Yodobashi Store
590-2 Higashishiokōjichō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216 Japan
Lopia seems to be more famous in Fukuoka,
but they have one here in Kyoto too! haha
It has a vibe similar to a massive discount supermarket,
but the variety is incredible. Best of all,
the prices in the sushi section are unbelievably cheap!👍
Before we knew it, our shopping cart was about to burst...
We saw locals picking up boxes of pizza, so we
randomly grabbed a supermarket pizza that cost only about ~$2(?).
When we heated it up at our accommodation, it tasted like
an authentic wood-fired pizza with an amazing smoky flavor! A total success!
Highly recommend grabbing a supermarket pizza if you need a break from sushi.
We also peeked around the Nintendo section in Yodobashi,
but they only sell models made for the domestic Japanese market,
so there wasn't much of a benefit for us as foreigners to buy them there.❌
Rumor has it we ended up treating ourselves and buying one
at Hyundai Department Store after we got back to Korea. (^0^)
Aside from that, there are popular fast-fashion brands like Uniqlo and GU,
so we browsed around for a long time before
dragging our tired feet into a taxi to head back to our place!
(As expected, Japanese taxi fares are quite steep...
so make sure to check if there are any Uber promo codes available!)
Yakiniku 'Issho'—Chateaubriand that Melts in Your Mouth
✅ Open Daily: 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Since we had been walking all day, we were absolutely starving
and quickly looked up a great yakiniku spot near our accommodation in the Gion-Shijo / Kawaramachi area called 'Issho (一升)'.
We visited quite late in the evening,
so we got to eat comfortably without any wait,
but it's usually super popular, so we highly recommend making a reservation!
📍 Issho
237-9 Sendōchō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8019 Japan
Here is what we ordered 👇
✔️ Today's 4-Cut Rare Beef Set
✔️ Today's 5-Cut Beef Set
✔️ Horumon (Offal) & Premium Mountain Tripe
(For some reason, we don't have photos of the offal and tripe... haha)
The staff kindly explained that the premium cut 'Chateaubriand'
was included in our rare cuts and beef of the day sets.
(We were so incredibly hungry that we inhaled it all mindlessly,
so I can't quite remember exactly which cut was which... 🤤)
Wow... but the moment you put the Chateaubriand in your mouth,
it literally melts away like magic!
The first two bites were absolute heaven,
but since it's quite rich, it can get a little heavy if you keep eating it.
Right at that moment, we switched things up with the chewy
mountain tripe (special offal) to refresh the texture,
and finished strong by grilling the highly anticipated beef intestines (horumon)!🔥
I saw so many blog reviews saying the beef intestines are an absolute must-order,
so I ordered them with a bit of skepticism...
but I instantly understood why they were raving about it!
If you dip it generously in the tangy ponzu sauce
and lay it over warm white rice... the combination of rich, savory fat
and carbs is absolutely insane.
It was a wonderful meal where all the fatigue
accumulated throughout the day just melted away in an instant.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was so upscale,
and the quality of the meat was highly satisfying,
so I am definitely visiting again next time I'm in Kyoto!
Strolling through the peaceful Kyoto night after dinner
was also such a wonderful experience.
It was absolutely packed during the day,
but at night, it was incredibly quiet and peaceful.🐰
I even saw fireflies for the first time in my life~
and while walking along the cool breeze of the riverbank,
I wrapped up the day with my husband.💙
A day where I completely fell for the charms of Arashiyama, Kyoto!
I hope you use my itinerary as a guide
to have a happy and wonderful trip to Kyoto!
See you in the next post, bye!
It is 500 yen to visit the garden only, and 800 yen to visit both the garden and the main hall. Payment is cash only, so you must prepare cash before your visit.
We recommend the 'Rich Car No. 5,' which is an open-air train carriage without windows. Among its seats, the even-numbered A and D seats are the best, as you can face your companions and enjoy an unobstructed, breathtaking view.
Yes, you can receive a tax-free benefit if your total purchase amount is 5,000 yen or more. The Kyoto-limited t-shirts cost 3,600 yen each, so you can apply for the benefit if you purchase two or more.
We recommend the sushi, which is reasonably priced and offers a wide variety. Also, if you buy a supermarket pizza worth ~$2 and heat it up, you can enjoy the smoky flavor of a wood-fired pizza.
We recommend the Chateaubriand, a premium cut with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the chewy special beef tripe. In addition, we highly recommend grilling the beef intestines, dipping them in a tangy ponzu sauce, and eating them with white rice.
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