Arashiyama bamboo grove vs Take-no-michi

Hello. I started doing research 6 months ago for a first time trip to Japan. What started as must-visit sites has turn into �gi would rather look into off the beaten path.�h I am going during cherry blossom season, but I am rather anxious about the crowd levels. Granted that I am also a visitor contributing to the crowd, at least I am not placing a selfie stick over anybody. I just want to enjoy the moment, However, i do want to see a bamboo grove and my daughter is all hyped about it. Has anybody visited Take-no-michi ? Would you recommend as an alternative to Arashiyama? I i really wanted to visit Togetsukyo bridge and kimono forest, but I would be unable to fit both the latter plus Take-no-michi on the same day.

The closest train station to Take-no-Michi is Higashimuko Station. From the train station it's either a 30 minute walk or roughly 6 minutes by taxi.

As for whether you can fit in Take-no-Michi and Arashiyama in the same day, I don't see why not. From Higashimuko Station to Arashiyama Station (Hankyu Railway), the train journey is 16 minutes. And from Arashiyama Station (Hankyu) to Togetsukyo bridge it's about a 5 minute walk.


And my advice is to get there as early as possible. I've visited Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at 7am before and people were starting to turn up.


Higashimuko Station to Arashiyama Station
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Higashimuko+Station,+%E5%B0%8F%E4%BD%8...

Take no Michi (or Rakusai Chikurin Park) are good alternatives to Sagano - still nearly unknown to the guidebook "experts", and hence far fewer people. Take no Michi is also a bit less than 2 km long.
It's more time consuming and troublesome to get to though.
Another alternative is at the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple (the bamboo is at the very back).

I went about a week ago (by accident) and really liked it.
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2023/12/d1-shrines-prepping-for...
It is a vast area and quiet. Nothing to compare to the road in Arashiyama that gets incredibly full of tourists. (I cherish my Covid 19 travel to Kyoto where I saw it empty: http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2020/04/arashiyama-without-tour... )

For Take no Michi I would recommend to rent a bike (or one of those electric rollers). As PP said it�fs not very close to any train station and the area itself is also quite vast.

You could make a day out if that area visiting (by bike) Nagaoka Tenmangu, Katsura imperial villa (I think you need a reservation), Yoshimine dera and/or Yokukuji.
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2019/02/osaka-to-kyoto-and-up-t...

If you are there in Sakura season you could also go to Sewaritei a park at the confluence of Kizugawa and Yodogawa.

For all this I would strongly recommend a bicycle. Up to Yoshimine dera you�fd maybe need to push it for a while or see if you can get an electrical one.

Thanks for the replies. I will visit Adashino. I even found a bus to go there and come back next to the bridge. I will not even stop at the crowded version.

I would also do Take-no-michi if I was by myself, but I have to consider all family members. But thanks for the advice.

https://www3-nhk-or-jp.translate.goog/lnews/kyoto/20231122/2010018894....

Honestly, I prefer Kameyama Park and it�fs observatory much more than the congested bamboo forest.

Kameyama Park

https://www.bronwyntownsend.com/blog/things-to-do-arashiyama-kyoto

Congested Bamboo forest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsGSH89dLHU