I’m going to Kyoto for the first time in mid-November, and I only have one and a half day. I really want to visit Arashiyama Bamboo grove and Ryoan-ji, but I’m not sure how to best organize my morning to avoid the crowds. (I’m already visiting the eastern side of Kyoto the day before)
So far I’m planning on getting to Arashiyama at 7AM and spend about 1.5 hours there (I’m not going to the monkey park). These are my options :
1 – Cab to Ryoan-ji from Arashiyama and get there around 9 – 9:30 AM. I don’t know if this is early enough to avoid the crowds, as it would be on a Saturday?
2 – Go to Ryoan-ji around 3:30 – 4 PM. Would the tour buses be gone by then and the crowds be less intense?
3 – First go to Ryoan-ji at 8:00 AM then get to Arashiyama around 9 – 9:30 (But I’m worried the forest will be too crowded by then, it seems to be a more popular attraction)
4 – Are the crowds actually not that bad at Ryoan-ji (On a Saturday, mid-November) so I shouldn’t plan around them/anytime is good?
Thank you, and please any suggestions around Arashiyama ad the surrounding areas are more than welcome!
3 comments
I can’t speak to the crowds at Ryoan-ji at that time of year but I was able to do Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Ryoan-ji the same day back in May and of the three, Ryoan-ji was the least crowded. The main rock garden had a full audience but the rest of the grounds around the temple were very sparse. Could be different with the fall colors though!
It’s Kyoto. There will be crowds. You can minimise exposure to them at particular locations by going places early or late, but then the crowds are just going to be at the other places you go during the middle of the day. It helps to be zen about crowds.
I am not sure you are getting what you are bargaining for. arashiyama is great, and when you are there, why not hop in and see the bamboo grove.
but when you have 1.5 days in kyoto, modeling everything around the bamboo grove is pretty d…. ehrm, its not recommended. I would never tell anyone to head to arashiyama just for the bamboo grove
I fully support ryoanji, its a great destination. opens at I believe 830am.
kyoto will have crowds. i am sure you will be fine at ryoanji (and if you are interested kinkakuji next to it) even with crowds.
you can only be “early to beat the crowds” once per day. if you MUST go to the bamboo grove and are willing to spend considerable time and cash for the taxi, then be at around 7 and head to ryoanji after