Arashiyama Riverside, Temples and Mountain Trails in Kyoto

Arashiyama (嵐山) is a 382‑metre mountain on the western edge of Kyoto and the name commonly applied to the immediate foothills and riverside district. The area commonly called Arashiyama includes, west of the Oi River, the three Arashiyama peaks—Mount Matsuo, Arashiyama itself and Karasugatake—and, on the east bank, Mount Ogura and Mount Kameyama; the mountain slopes are the setting for many temples and shrines and the nearby station area is often referred to as Sagano.

History and origins

Arashiyama’s modern character owes much to deliberate planting and medieval activity. In the late 13th century the retired emperor Kameyama (Kameyama Jōkō) is recorded to have transplanted several hundred cherry trees from Yoshino. Later, the Zen master Musō Kokushi is recorded to have transplanted thousands of yamazakura (mountain cherry) from Yoshino and to have overseen additional plantings of cherry and pine. On the mountain summit lie the ruins of Arashiyama Castle, which was built in Meiō 6 (1497) by Kozai Motonaga.

Heritage, national forest and protections

Much of the forest at Arashiyama’s foothills belonged historically to Tenryū‑ji. Under the Meiji era policy that brought temple lands into state ownership (the shaji jōchi order), those woods were incorporated into government land and later became the Arashiyama National Forest. The national forest covers 59.03 hectares and has a layered set of legal protections: under the Forest Law it is a protection forest for landscape and for erosion control; under the Cultural Properties Protection statutes it is classed as a Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty; it is also designated in urban planning as a landscape preservation district, under the Old Capital Preservation Law as a specially preserved historic environment, and under wildlife law as a protected bird and beast area. The gorge and surrounding area were formally designated in 1927 as the historic‑scenic “Arashiyama Gorge” and in 1930 the area received a landscape preservation designation.

Rivers, bridge and river trips

The district is closely identified with the river that runs through it. The bridge that spans the central stretch is Togetsukyo, which sits over the river that is called the Oi (Oigawa) upstream of the bridge and the Katsura downstream. Although photographs often suggest a wooden structure, the bridge’s main body is reinforced concrete; its railings are wooden and the bridge carries motor vehicles. At night the bridge is lit using power from a small hydroelectric generator installed upstream. The Hozu River route that terminates at Arashiyama was, historically, the downstream end of timber transport; that same course is now used for the tourist boat run commonly referred to as Hozugawa kudari, which is operated from Kameoka toward Arashiyama.

Temples, shrines and cultural spots

Arashiyama’s foothills host many named temples and shrines. Principal temples listed for the district include Adashino Nenbutsu‑ji, Otagi Nenbutsu‑ji, Gio‑ji, Jojakko‑ji, Seiryo‑ji, Daikaku‑ji, Takiguchi‑dera, Tenryu‑ji, Senko‑ji, Nison‑in, Hogon‑in, Horin‑ji, Rinsen‑ji and Rokuoin. Major shrines named in the district include Ikutani Munakata Shrine, Ooi Shrine, Kurumazaki Shrine, Denden‑gu, Nonomiya Shrine, Matsuo Taisha and Mikami Shrine. Other attractions in the district recorded in local listings are the Sagaarashiyama Bunkakan (the former Shigureden), the Fukuda Museum, the Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel (music box) Museum, Okochi Sanso, the Bamboo Grove path, the Kimono Forest installation, the Arashiyama Park (Nakanojima), and Arashiyama Onsen (a hot spring drilled in 2004). A small museum dedicated to Misora Hibari reopened in 2008 under a new name but was later closed and the building has since been demolished.

Trails, parks and wildlife

The standard approach for hikers is to follow routes that link the Kyoto Isshu Trail and the ridgewalk that runs from Mount Matsuo toward the Hozu Gorge. Main trailheads begin west of Hankyu Arashiyama Station or near Saiho‑ji (the Moss Temple); the normal walk to the summit via the Kyoto Trail and Mount Matsuo (elevation 275.6 m) is recorded to take about one hour from the Hankyu Arashiyama Station trailhead. A frequent ridge route is the traverse from Mount Matsuo (275.6 m) to Arashiyama (382 m) and on to Karasugatake (398 m); beyond Karasugatake the path toward JR Hozukyo Station is reported as not well maintained. Along these routes are historical traces too: the summit of Arashiyama contains the castle ruins of 1497, and the Mount Matsuo ridge preserves a cluster of ancient tumuli.

Arashiyama also records a wildlife presence: the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is cited as holding a single group of about 140 Japanese macaques; from its observation platform, at a height of 155 m, there is an outlook across Kyoto city.

Development, tourism and flood history

The district’s modern tourist economy changed noticeably in the late 20th century. In the 1980s a rapid increase of celebrity‑oriented shops north of Togetsukyo drew many young visitors and school groups; criticisms of atmosphere followed and, after the economic bubble burst, most of those shops disappeared. From the 1990s a number of small museums opened around the area, and in 2004 Arashiyama Onsen was developed. Visitor seasons bring severe traffic congestion at times; local authorities have experimented with private car restrictions and with park‑and‑ride schemes using peripheral low‑cost or free parking areas and shuttle buses.

Arashiyama has also experienced major floods and landslides. In July 1951 concentrated heavy rain caused a landslide that crushed four people to death. On 16 September 2013 a large flood damaged many ryokan and shops; restoration work proceeded quickly and most facilities had reopened by early October, in time for the autumn foliage season. As a flood countermeasure, by 2021 a movable stop wall about 260 m long was installed on the north bank upstream of Togetsukyo in the section with high‑end riverside restaurants; the wall is 80 cm high, made of aluminum, stored underground in normal times and deployed during high water. That system was operated for the first time on 8 July 2021.

Access and transport

Rail access is provided by multiple operators: the Hankyu Arashiyama Line serves Arashiyama Station and Matsuo Taisha Station; the Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen) has Arashiyama Station and the Randen Saga area; JR West’s Sanin Main Line (the Sagano Line) stops at Saga‑Arashiyama Station. The Sagano Scenic Railway (the Torokko train) departs from Torokko Arashiyama Station and runs along the Hozu Gorge, and the line is described in local listings as linking Torokko Saga and Torokko Kameoka stations. Local bus services are provided by Kyoto Bus and Kyoto City Bus. Major roads crossing or serving the district include Nagatsuji‑dori, Marutamachi‑dori and Sanjo‑dori.

FAQ

What is the elevation of Arashiyama?

Arashiyama is 382 metres high.

Which bridge is the symbol of Arashiyama?

Togetsukyo Bridge spans the river at the heart of Arashiyama; upstream of the bridge the river is called the Oi (Oigawa) and downstream it is called the Katsura.

How long does it take to reach the summit from Hankyu Arashiyama Station?

The general required time from Hankyu Arashiyama Station to the summit is about one hour via the Kyoto Trail and Mount Matsuo.

What flood countermeasure was completed by 2021?

A roughly 260‑metre movable stop wall, 80 cm high and made of aluminium, was installed on the north bank upstream of Togetsukyo; it is kept underground in normal times and was first deployed on 8 July 2021.