The Arashiyama district lies to the west of the central Kyoto but despite its distance from the centre of the city, boasts some of its most popular attractions including the Sagano Bamboo Grove. Also referred to as the ‘Arashiyama Bamboo Forest’, a series of paths allow visitors to move through thick bamboo groves that sway in the breeze while filtering the light an creating an often dream-like atmosphere.

Highly photogenic, the bamboo groves attract many visitors each day so don’t expect to be by yourself. The good news is however that the paths are accessible at all times of day and night and can be enjoyed free of charge, allowing you to visit in the early morning or in the evening to avoid the worst of the crowds.

A popular route is to follow the trail from Tenryu-ji Temple to Nonomiya Shrine – a walk for around one hour that allows plenty of opportunities of what promise to be some of your favourite photos of Japan. Each December, for a ten day period, the grove is illuminated from 17:00 until 20:30. The dates can change between years but the illumination typically runs from around December 10 to 19 –  an especially beautiful time of visit. For accommodation listings in this area, see our ‘Kyoto: Arashiyama Station Area’ hotel page.