Arashiyama
Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
http://kanko.city.kyoto.lg.jp/
While a visit to Arashiyama is usually done in conjunction with Kyoto, a day-trip from Osaka is actually very possible as well. We left Shin-Imamiya station and transferred to a local train at Kyoto Station heading for Umahori Station. From Umahori Station, walked to The Kameoka Torokko Station (one of the terminus station for the Sagano Scenic Railway). This is one of the few ways to enter Arashiyama. While you can alight at Saga-Arashiyama Station to get to the famed Bamboo Grove, this option is recommended if you intent to take a trip on the Scenic Train.
Having pre-booked our tickets (¥620 one way per adult) at the JR-Ticketing Counter at Kyoto Station on the second day that we arrived in Japan (highly recommended to pre-book your tickets to avoid disappointment), the station was packed with similar-minded tourists who chose to board the train from this station. This train is not covered by the JR-Pass.
The conductor at the station did a great job ushering the passengers on the platform and he even performed a song as the train was about to pull into the next station.
The Sagano Scenic Railway (or more affectionally recognised by the locals as the Romantic Train) runs along the Hozugawa River between Kameoka and Arashiyama. The Hozugawa River bears a strong resemblance to Taiwan’s Taroko Gorge. While the Sagano Scenic Railway certainly provides one with a much clearer view of the Hozugawa River as compared to being on board a JR-Train, romantic would not be a word that I would use to describe the train ride.
The retrofitted steam train was packed with eager tourists who were very excited to see the Hozugawa River. The relatively noisy crowd bears a striking difference to the serene surroundings that we were surrounded with. Though the train runs along side the river, sights of the river were often blocked by vegetation that runs on the banks of the undeveloped surroundings.
We alighted at the Arashiyama Torokko Station (1 station away from the terminus station) together with most of the other tourists on the train. From the station, it is just a very short walk towards the entrance of the much-famed bamboo grove.
Bearing a similar resemblance to Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, we saw more tourist than nature here as well.
The actual stretch route where bamboo were lined up was actually really short.
We also visited the Tenryū-ji, the head temple of Tenryu-ji branch of Zen Buddhism. There is an admission fee of ¥500 per pax for garden access and an additional ¥100 per pax if you want to visit the inner buildings as well.
While you can easily cover most of the touristy spots of Arashiyama by foot, you can also go for a ride on the rickshaws pulled by Japanese guys.
After visiting the Tenryū-ji, we headed to Saga-Arashiyama Station for a train to Kyoto Station, and hopped on a transfer train to get back to Osaka.
