What is the best time to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest?

How busy is it at each hour?

Estimated level by hour, without rain. Peak means the autumn leaves and cherry blossom periods below.

Does the season change the best time?

Yes. The autumn leaves and cherry blossom periods bring the most visitors, so the quiet window in the morning is shorter and the busy hours run later. The actual peak of the leaves and the blossoms moves by a week or more from year to year.

What time is sunrise in Arashiyama?

Sunrise sets the earliest you can see the bamboo well, and in winter sunset ends the day before the crowd has gone. Times are for the 15th of each month, rounded to 5 minutes.

Common questions

What is the best time to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest?

Early morning. On an ordinary weekday it stays quiet until about 8:30 am. At weekends, and on any day in the autumn leaves or cherry blossom periods, arrive before 8 am.

How early should I get to the bamboo grove?

Around sunrise, if you want the path close to empty. The path is a public road open 24 hours, so you can walk it as soon as it is light.

Is the bamboo forest less crowded in the late afternoon?

Yes, the crowd thins out late in the day. On an ordinary weekday it is busy from 10 am to 5:30 pm. From November to January, though, the sun sets at about 5 pm or earlier, so the quiet hours after the crowd leaves are mostly in the dark.

Is it quieter when it rains?

Usually a little. When rain is forecast for an hour, our estimate for that hour is 20% lower. Rain does not empty the path.

Which day of the week is least crowded?

Weekdays. In our estimate, weekends and Japanese public holidays are about 18% busier, and Monday to Friday are all treated the same.