A Mini Guide to Kyoto Bamboo Forest: Is It Worth It + Best Alternative in 2026

The Kyoto Bamboo Forest, or officially the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, is without a doubt one of the most popular and iconic sights in the city.

The whole area is filled with huge bamboo, cute little walkways, and loads of temples. It has always been a popular spot, but with social media and Instagram lately, it’s become even more overrun with crowds.

I went to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest myself, obviously, and spent quite some time exploring the surroundings and the temples. I’m leaving with very mixed feelings, that doesn’t mean it was bad, but I definitely have some thoughts.

I’ve put together this mini guide to tell you if it’s even worth visiting, what to actually expect, and a great alternative I found if you want a quieter, more unique experience.

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A Mini Guide to Kyoto Bamboo Forest: Is It Worth It + Best Alternative in 2026

Kyoto Bamboo Forest – My Experience

I headed to the bamboo forest fairly early, around 8:00 or 9:00 AM. Since I was with a group of friends, we just took an Uber. It worked out fairly cheap between us, and honestly, I just couldn’t be bothered to deal with public transport that morning.

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I got there, maybe my expectations were just a little too high, but we got dropped off at a big shopping street lined with restaurants, found the small entrance, and then we were just there along with crowds of people.

To be honest, I wasn’t super impressed. We started wandering around, and I quickly realized I didn’t really need to be there. It didn’t feel like anything special; it was just bamboo and a walkway, which felt a little sad.

That’s when I started “Plan B” and headed toward Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. It’s a great alternative only about a 20-minute walk from the main forest.

The walk there was actually beautiful and so peaceful, winding through the woods and past little local neighborhoods. I even stumbled upon Jojakko-ji Temple by accident! I randomly popped in and it was so gorgeous that it turned out to be one of my favorite temples in all of Kyoto. I’m so happy I just happened to find it.

By the time I arrived at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, I was so glad I made the effort. The temple itself was stunning, but it also has its own small bamboo forest. It was way less crowded and absolutely perfect for taking that iconic bamboo forest picture.

I was really happy with how my day turned out in the end, but only because I explored those temples. If I had just stayed at the main bamboo grove, I definitely would’ve left feeling disappointed.

How to Get to the Bamboo Forest in Kyoto?

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is actually a bit of a trek from the main part of town, which is another reason I’m so on the fence about it. Depending on where you’re staying in Kyoto, it takes a fair amount of effort just to get out there.

Since I was traveling with a group of friends at the time, we were feeling pretty lazy and decided to just split an Uber. Honestly, Uber in Japan is actually fairly affordable when you’re dividing the cost!

But if you aren’t feeling the splurge, there’s a great public transport alternative. The most convenient way is taking the JR Sagano/San-in Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station. It takes about 15–20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk to the entrance.

You can also find tours that include transport and a guide to show you around the bamboo forest and nearby temples. This is something I’d definitely recommend if you actually want to learn the history behind the temples instead of just wandering around taking pictures!

Book Here: Guided Tour Kyoto Bamboo Forest

Is Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Kyoto Worth Visiting? (What to Expect)

Is the bamboo forest in Kyoto worth visiting? Honestly, I’m kind of on the fence with this one, and it’s hard for me to give a straight “yes” or “no.”

As I mentioned before, if I had only visited the bamboo forest and nothing else, then yes, I would’ve been disappointed.

If you only plan on doing the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and then leaving, I’d say it’s not worth it. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve traveled a fair bit throughout Asia and I’ve seen tons of bamboo, so a walkway with some bamboo stalks just doesn’t really blow my socks off.

That being said, if you do what I did, I think it is worth it.

Start at the bamboo forest, walk through it to Jojakko-ji Temple, and then continue on to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. I loved that whole journey because it had me walking through forests, fields, and cute little neighborhoods. That entire experience was well worth it, to be honest.

Also, the bamboo forest is free, so it’s not like you’re losing out on any money. I just personally wouldn’t have it as your only destination for the day. Visit the temples I mentioned afterward, that’s what actually makes the trip worth it.

Things to Do at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Bamboo Forest)

Take pictures in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

I mean, the obvious thing to do here, and the reason most people come, including me, is taking pictures in the bamboo grove. I definitely would’ve done more of this if there weren’t about a million other people wandering around!

Jojakko-ji Temple

I know I’ve mentioned this temple about 100 times now, but it’s honestly one of my favorite temples I’ve been to in Kyoto. I thought it was so special because I just stumbled across it, and there were barely any other people there. It has a beautiful garden and amazing views over the whole Arashiyama area.

Tenryu-ji Temple

Another temple is Tenryu-ji. I actually haven’t been there myself because I hadn’t even heard of it at the time, but apparently, it’s beautiful and has its own lake. You should totally check it out if you’re into temples!

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

The monkey park is about 15 minutes from the entrance of the bamboo forest. It’s full of wild monkeys, and if you haven’t seen them in the wild before, it’s definitely worth checking out. Just be warned, they can be cheeky!

Best Alternative – Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

Since I’m not the biggest fan of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, I do have a fantastic alternative for you.

One huge thing about the main bamboo forest that I didn’t like was just how busy it was. I’m not blaming anyone for being there, I’m a tourist myself, so I guess crowds are just part of the deal, but I also just don’t love them, especially when I’m trying to take pictures.

An amazing alternative I found is Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. It’s only a 20-minute walk from the original bamboo forest, and the temple actually has its own mini bamboo forest! It’s not as huge or as wide as Arashiyama, but it definitely does the job for a good picture. Plus, the temple itself is actually really cool and unique, too.

What I did worked out the best for me: I started at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove just to see it, and then from there, I made my way on foot to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji. That’s where I ended up taking all my pictures, and it worked out really well!

FAQs About Is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Worth Visiting

What is the most famous bamboo forest in Japan?

I would say the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto is definitely the most famous one, especially since it has become such a massive hit on social media. However, I personally wasn’t that impressed with it. At the end of the day, it’s just bamboo and a walkway, which isn’t that special in my opinion, sorry for being a hater!

Is the bamboo forest in Kyoto worth visiting?

Based on what I’ve shared in this article, I’d say if you are only planning on visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then no, I don’t think it’s worth it. However, if you plan on combining it with the nearby temples like I did, then it can actually be an amazing day.

How much is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest?

The entrance is entirely free! I was actually super surprised about that and I loved it. So, you basically only have to pay for your transportation and the entrance fees to certain temples if you choose to go inside.

How to get to Arahiyama Bamboo Forest?

I personally took an Uber because I just couldn’t be bothered to deal with public transport that day. However, it’s actually super easy to get there, there is a JR line that goes from Kyoto Station almost directly to Arashiyama.

Final Thoughts on Should I Visit Kyoto Bamboo Forest

To wrap this up, I’ll be quick because I feel like I’ve said it 100 times already: I personally don’t think visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is worth it if that’s the only thing on your agenda. Unless you’ve literally never seen bamboo in your life before, it’s honestly a little overrated.

However, I highly recommend doing what I did! I visited the popular forest first, and then I walked from there to Jojakko-ji Temple (I think I paid about $5 USD for the entrance).

From there, I walked to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, which was super unique and has its own mini bamboo forest. That whole walk through the local neighborhoods and the journey between the temples was actually super fun and totally worth the effort.