Arashiyama bamboo grove and the Golden Pavilion

1 dayOsakaBalanced paceSakto2 travelers

₱6,450

per person, flights not included

Day 1 of 1 · Osaka

Day trip: Arashiyama bamboo grove and the Golden Pavilion

Early morning in the towering bamboo, a Zen garden at Tenryu-ji, the river at Togetsukyo, then Kinkaku-ji's gold-leafed pavilion reflected in its pond.

Pocket money

¥7,960

~₱3,200

Transport

¥3,360

Tickets

¥3,100

Food

¥1,500

At a glance

7 stops · 8 rides, about 2h 43m · 4 short walks

3 tips for today

Be at the bamboo grove by 8:30. By 10:00 it's shoulder to shoulder.
Kyoto's autumn leaves peak from mid to late November and cherry blossoms in early April. Book Osaka hotels early for those weeks.
Kinkaku-ji is on the other side of Kyoto from Arashiyama. The Randen tram plus a short bus or taxi is the easiest link.

Step by step

Trains, exits and fares. Tap a stop for directions and tips.

Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
M20NambaM16Umeda
4 stops8 min¥240
JR Kyoto Line
Osaka (JR-A47)Kyoto (JR-A31)
29 min¥580
Special Rapid
JR Sagano Line
KyotoSaga-Arashiyama
16 min¥240
Walk
10 min
08:30
嵐山竹林の小径
Walk the path through towering green bamboo. Free and open all day, and magical when it's quiet.
Stay 45 min
Open in Maps
Walk
2 min
09:15
天龍寺
A UNESCO-listed Zen temple whose 700-year-old garden borrows the Arashiyama hills as its backdrop. The north gate opens right onto the bamboo grove.
Stay 1h¥500 ~₱200garden
Open in Maps Directions
Walk
10 min
11:00
渡月橋
The 'moon-crossing bridge' over the Katsura River. Rent a rowboat, or have lunch on the main street: yudofu (simmered tofu) or Arashiyama's famous croquettes.
Stay 1h 15m¥1,500 ~₱610lunch
Open in Maps Directions
Randen (Keifuku Arashiyama Line)
ArashiyamaKitano-Hakubaicho
25 min¥250
Randen tram, flat fare
Taxi
Kitano-HakubaichoKinkaku-ji
8 min¥1,000
Or city bus 204 (¥230)
13:00
金閣寺
The Golden Pavilion: three stories, the top two covered in gold leaf, reflected in Mirror Pond. The path is a one-way loop; allow 45 minutes.
Stay 1h¥500 ~₱200
Open in Maps Directions
Walk
20 min
14:30
龍安寺
Japan's most famous rock garden: 15 stones on raked gravel, placed so you can never see all of them at once.
Stay 45 min¥600 ~₱240
Open in Maps Directions
Kyoto City Bus 205
Kinkakuji-michiKyoto Station
40 min¥230
16:00
京都駅
Kyoto Station's giant atrium has a free skywalk and rooftop garden. Shop for yatsuhashi, matcha KitKats and Kyoto pickles, then slurp a bowl at Kyoto Ramen Koji on the 10th floor.
Stay 1h 30m
Open in Maps Directions
JR Kyoto Line
Kyoto (JR-A31)Osaka (JR-A47)
29 min¥580
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
M16UmedaM20Namba
4 stops8 min¥240
17:45
難波
JR Special Rapid back to Osaka, then the Midosuji Line to Namba.
Stay 10 min
Open in Maps Directions

What to wear

Typical weather

Loading weather

Suggested

Outerwear: Light windbreaker
Top: Long-sleeve tee
Bottom: Joggers
Shoes: Trail sneakers with grip
Bag: Small backpack
Bring: Water bottleSocks for shoes-off hallsPower bankFoldable tote

Mild: a light layer you can take off.
Nature stop: pants and shoes with grip.
Temples and shrines: cover shoulders and knees.

Estimated per person

₱6,450

¥15,960 · flights not included

Pocket money: ₱3,200
Hotel share: ₱3,250

₱0.405 per JPY · checked 2026-10-30

Where to stayNamba / Dotonbori

Day 1 · Osaka · 1 night
Namba / Dotonbori
~₱6,500 per room per night
Booking.com Agoda

Day trip: Arashiyama bamboo grove and the Golden Pavilion

Early morning in the towering bamboo, a Zen garden at Tenryu-ji, the river at Togetsukyo, then Kinkaku-ji's gold-leafed pavilion reflected in its pond.

Pocket money

¥7,960

~₱3,200

Transport

¥3,360

Tickets

¥3,100

Food

¥1,500

At a glance

7 stops · 8 rides, about 2h 43m · 4 short walks

3 tips for today

Be at the bamboo grove by 8:30. By 10:00 it's shoulder to shoulder.
Kyoto's autumn leaves peak from mid to late November and cherry blossoms in early April. Book Osaka hotels early for those weeks.
Kinkaku-ji is on the other side of Kyoto from Arashiyama. The Randen tram plus a short bus or taxi is the easiest link.

Step by step

Trains, exits and fares. Tap a stop for directions and tips.

Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
M20NambaM16Umeda
4 stops8 min¥240
JR Kyoto Line
Osaka (JR-A47)Kyoto (JR-A31)
29 min¥580
Special Rapid
JR Sagano Line
KyotoSaga-Arashiyama
16 min¥240
Walk
10 min
08:30
嵐山竹林の小径
Walk the path through towering green bamboo. Free and open all day, and magical when it's quiet.
Stay 45 min
Open in Maps
Walk
2 min
09:15
天龍寺
A UNESCO-listed Zen temple whose 700-year-old garden borrows the Arashiyama hills as its backdrop. The north gate opens right onto the bamboo grove.
Stay 1h¥500 ~₱200garden
Open in Maps Directions
Walk
10 min
11:00
渡月橋
The 'moon-crossing bridge' over the Katsura River. Rent a rowboat, or have lunch on the main street: yudofu (simmered tofu) or Arashiyama's famous croquettes.
Stay 1h 15m¥1,500 ~₱610lunch
Open in Maps Directions
Randen (Keifuku Arashiyama Line)
ArashiyamaKitano-Hakubaicho
25 min¥250
Randen tram, flat fare
Taxi
Kitano-HakubaichoKinkaku-ji
8 min¥1,000
Or city bus 204 (¥230)
13:00
金閣寺
The Golden Pavilion: three stories, the top two covered in gold leaf, reflected in Mirror Pond. The path is a one-way loop; allow 45 minutes.
Stay 1h¥500 ~₱200
Open in Maps Directions
Walk
20 min
14:30
龍安寺
Japan's most famous rock garden: 15 stones on raked gravel, placed so you can never see all of them at once.
Stay 45 min¥600 ~₱240
Open in Maps Directions
Kyoto City Bus 205
Kinkakuji-michiKyoto Station
40 min¥230
16:00
京都駅
Kyoto Station's giant atrium has a free skywalk and rooftop garden. Shop for yatsuhashi, matcha KitKats and Kyoto pickles, then slurp a bowl at Kyoto Ramen Koji on the 10th floor.
Stay 1h 30m
Open in Maps Directions
JR Kyoto Line
Kyoto (JR-A31)Osaka (JR-A47)
29 min¥580
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
M16UmedaM20Namba
4 stops8 min¥240
17:45
難波
JR Special Rapid back to Osaka, then the Midosuji Line to Namba.
Stay 10 min
Open in Maps Directions

What to wear

Typical weather

Loading weather

Suggested

Outerwear: Light windbreaker
Top: Long-sleeve tee
Bottom: Joggers
Shoes: Trail sneakers with grip
Bag: Small backpack
Bring: Water bottleSocks for shoes-off hallsPower bankFoldable tote

Mild: a light layer you can take off.
Nature stop: pants and shoes with grip.
Temples and shrines: cover shoulders and knees.