Arashiyama (嵐山) is one of those corners of Kyoto where the autumn colors, the Togetsukyo Bridge, the Hozu River and the bamboo grove all come together in one view. It is also one of Kyoto's busiest sightseeing areas, and the Sagano Romantic Train, one of the area's biggest draws, sells out fast in November. If you are planning ahead, the two things worth nailing down before you arrive are when the leaves peak and how to get a seat on that train. This guide walks through both, plus temple admission and how to dodge the crowds.
For the wider picture across the city, see our guide to Kyoto autumn leaves 2026.
All seats on the Sagano Romantic Train are reserved, and in autumn it sells out. If your dates are fixed, book online the moment tickets open, one month before your ride.
Peak foliage: mid to late November
In Arashiyama the colors are usually at their best from mid to late November. The exact window shifts a little each year with the weather, so treat that range as a guide rather than a fixed date.
The 2026 forecast is not out yet as this article goes up. Japanese weather services generally start publishing their autumn foliage predictions from around September, so if you are pinning down exact travel dates, check the latest forecast closer to your trip.
Booking the Sagano Romantic Train
The Sagano Romantic Train (Sagano Scenic Railway) is the highlight of an Arashiyama autumn visit. It runs the 7.3 km from Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station along the Hozu River gorge in about 25 minutes. A one-way ticket is ¥880 for adults and ¥440 for children (ages 6 to 11).
Every seat is reserved. You can buy tickets from one month before your ride date on the Sagano Scenic Railway's official website. In autumn the reserved seats go quickly, so if your dates are set, aim to book the moment sales open.
Once the reserved seats sell out, same-day tickets go on sale at station windows on a first-come basis. As a rough guide, sales start around 8:35 a.m. at Torokko Saga Station and around 8:50 a.m. at Torokko Arashiyama Station. When trains are full, a limited number of standing tickets may also be sold.
- Fully reserved seating; book from one month ahead on the official site
- Same-day tickets sold first-come at station windows (all stops except Torokko Hozukyo)
- Standing tickets may be released once seats sell out
Booking through JR West's ticket windows and the e5489 system ended in March 2024, and reservations now go through the railway's own website. The train normally does not run on Wednesdays, but it does on some Wednesdays during the autumn season. Because the operating days change year to year, check your ride date against the official calendar.
Temples and admission
Several temples around Arashiyama are at their best in autumn, with the colors seen from their gardens and grounds. Here are the main daytime admission fees.
Spot | Admission (adult) | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Tenryu-ji (garden) | ¥500 | 8:30–17:00 |
Jojakko-ji | ¥600 | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30) |
Nison-in | ¥600 | 9:00–16:30 |
Togetsukyo Bridge & Bamboo Grove | Free | All day |
Tenryu-ji (天龍寺), a UNESCO World Heritage temple, is the one most people build their visit around, with the maples reflected across its Sogenchi garden pond. The garden is ¥500, and adding the main halls costs another ¥300. During the foliage season it opens early for special morning viewing: in 2026 that runs from November 14 (Sat) to November 30 (Mon), with the garden open from 7:30 a.m.
Jojakko-ji (常寂光寺) and Nison-in (二尊院), both a short walk north, are quieter temples wrapped in maples and worth the detour if you have the time.
Hogon-in (宝厳院), a sub-temple of Tenryu-ji, usually holds an evening garden illumination in autumn. In 2025 it ran from November 14 to December 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (last entry 8:00 p.m.), with admission of ¥1,000. The 2026 dates, price and whether a reservation is needed have not been announced as this article goes up, so check Hogon-in's official site before you go.
Beating the crowds & what to wear
Arashiyama draws some of Kyoto's heaviest foot traffic, and the Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo grove get especially packed through the middle of the day. If you want space to walk, go early.
Tenryu-ji opens its garden at 7:30 a.m. for part of the foliage season (in 2026, during the November 14–30 early-viewing period; before that the usual opening is 8:30 a.m.). Arriving right at opening is your best shot at photos without the crowds. On a day you ride the train, it helps to walk the bamboo grove and the bridge in the same morning, before the midday rush.
November mornings and evenings in Kyoto can be cold, often dropping into the single digits Celsius even when the afternoon feels mild. If you plan on an early temple visit or an after-dark stroll, pack a warm layer. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Kyoto 2026.
Getting to Arashiyama
From Kyoto Station, the JR Sagano Line (San-in Line) reaches Saga-Arashiyama Station in about 15 to 20 minutes. Torokko Saga Station, the starting point for the scenic train, sits right next to it.
You can also reach Arashiyama on the Randen (Keifuku) tram or the Hankyu line, each with its own Arashiyama station. For getting around the city during the busy foliage weeks, see getting around Kyoto's autumn 2026.
Staying in Arashiyama itself lets you start before the crowds arrive; for picks by onsen, view and price, see where to stay in Arashiyama: 7 ryokan and hotels.
If you have time, one nice loop is to take the train out to Kameoka and drift back down to Arashiyama on a Hozu River boat.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
