Arashiyama: Saga-Arashiyama, Hankyu Arashiyama or Randen — Which Station Should You Use?

If you are visiting Arashiyama in Kyoto, choosing a station can be confusing.

You may see several different station names:

• JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
• Hankyu Arashiyama Station
• Arashiyama Station on the Randen line

They all serve the wider Arashiyama area, but they are different stations operated by different railway companies.

The best station depends mainly on where you are coming from and what you want to visit.

Quick Answer

Here is the easiest way to think about it:

From Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station

From Osaka-Umeda or the Hankyu Kyoto Line → Hankyu Arashiyama Station

From Shijo-Omiya or via Randen-Tenjingawa → Arashiyama Station on the Randen line

For sightseeing:

Tenryu-ji Temple → Randen Arashiyama is the closest of the three

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove → JR Saga-Arashiyama or Randen Arashiyama are convenient

Togetsukyo Bridge → Randen Arashiyama is especially convenient

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama → Hankyu Arashiyama is especially convenient

There is no single “best” Arashiyama station for every visitor.

JR Saga-Arashiyama Station

If you are starting from Kyoto Station, JR Saga-Arashiyama is usually the simplest choice.

Take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station.

Kyoto City’s official travel guide recommends this route and notes that both rapid and local trains stop at Saga-Arashiyama.

A rapid train takes approximately 11 minutes from Kyoto Station.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

After arriving, follow the signs toward the central Arashiyama sightseeing area.

JR Saga-Arashiyama is especially useful if you are coming directly from Kyoto Station and want a straightforward rail journey.

Arashiyama Station on the Randen Line

Arashiyama Station on the Randen line is the western terminal of the Randen Arashiyama Main Line.

You may also see the railway referred to as:

Keifuku Railway

or

Randen

This station puts you directly in the central sightseeing area of Arashiyama.

It is especially convenient for:

• Tenryu-ji Temple
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• central Arashiyama
• the area leading toward the Bamboo Grove

Kyoto City’s official guide says that Togetsukyo Bridge is about a 4-minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Randen line.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

Randen can also be a useful alternative when other routes are crowded.

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Hankyu Arashiyama Station is on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line.

It is on the south side of the Katsura River.

If you are traveling on Hankyu Railway from Osaka or central Kyoto, this station can be very convenient.

From the Hankyu Kyoto Line, transfer at Katsura Station to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line.

Hankyu Railway – Arashiyama Station Official English Page

From Hankyu Arashiyama Station, walk toward Togetsukyo Bridge to enter the main sightseeing area.

Which Station Is Best for Tenryu-ji Temple?

For Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama Station on the Randen line is the closest of these three stations.

Tenryu-ji’s official English website gives these approximate walking times:

• Randen Arashiyama Station → about 5 minutes
• JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → about 13 minutes
• Hankyu Arashiyama Station → about 15 minutes

Tenryu-ji Temple – Official English Access Guide

So if Tenryu-ji is your main destination, Randen is particularly convenient.

However, if you are coming directly from Kyoto Station, JR Saga-Arashiyama may still be the easier choice for the overall journey.

Which Station Is Best for the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove?

The famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is in the Saga-Arashiyama sightseeing area near Tenryu-ji.

For many visitors, either:

JR Saga-Arashiyama

or

Arashiyama Station on the Randen line

is convenient.

Randen brings you directly into the central sightseeing area near Tenryu-ji.

JR Saga-Arashiyama is especially convenient if you are coming directly from Kyoto Station.

Hankyu Arashiyama can also be used, but you approach the main sightseeing area from the south side of the river.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Saga & Arashiyama

Which Station Is Best for Togetsukyo Bridge?

All three stations can be used for Togetsukyo Bridge.

Arashiyama Station on the Randen line is particularly convenient.

Kyoto City’s official guide says the bridge is about a 4-minute walk from the Randen station.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

If you arrive at JR Saga-Arashiyama, follow the signs toward Arashiyama’s main sightseeing area and continue toward the bridge.

If you arrive at Hankyu Arashiyama, you will approach the bridge from the south side of the river.

Which Station Is Best for Arashiyama Monkey Park?

For Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, Hankyu Arashiyama is especially convenient.

Kyoto City’s official tourism information gives approximate walking times of:

Hankyu Arashiyama Station → about 5 minutes

JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → about 15 minutes

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

The entrance to the monkey park is on the south side of the main sightseeing area near Togetsukyo Bridge.

So if the monkey park is your main destination, Hankyu can be a practical choice.

Coming from Kyoto Station?

The simplest route for many visitors is:

Kyoto Station → JR Sagano Line → Saga-Arashiyama Station

Kyoto City’s official travel guide describes the JR Sagano Line as the most convenient route from Kyoto Station.

A rapid train takes approximately 11 minutes.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

During busy periods, Kyoto City also recommends another rail-based option:

Kyoto Station → Subway → Uzumasa Tenjingawa → Randen-Tenjingawa → Randen Arashiyama

This route can help you avoid concentrating on the JR line or crowded buses.

Kyoto City Official Guide – Kyoto Station to Arashiyama by Subway and Randen

Coming from Kyoto-Kawaramachi?

If you are around Kyoto-Kawaramachi, you have two useful rail options.

Hankyu Route

Take the Hankyu Kyoto Line from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station toward Katsura Station.

At Katsura, transfer to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line and continue to:

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

Randen Route

Take the Hankyu Kyoto Line from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station to Omiya Station.

At Hankyu Omiya Station, follow the signs for the transfer to Keifuku Railway (Randen).

Walk to nearby Shijo-Omiya Station, then take the Randen Arashiyama Main Line to:

Arashiyama Station

Hankyu Railway – Omiya Station Official English Page

Kyoto City Official Guide – Getting Around Kyoto by Subway & Train

This route brings you directly into the central Arashiyama sightseeing area.

If you are confused about Gion-Shijo and Kyoto-Kawaramachi, see:

Gion-Shijo or Kyoto-Kawaramachi? Which Station Is Better for Gion?

Coming from Osaka-Umeda?

If you are traveling from Osaka-Umeda on Hankyu Railway, take the Hankyu Kyoto Line toward Kyoto.

Transfer at:

Katsura Station

Then take the Hankyu Arashiyama Line to:

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Hankyu Railway – Arashiyama Station Official English Page

If the many Umeda station names are confusing, see:

Lost in Umeda? Osaka Station vs Umeda, Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda

Are the Two “Arashiyama Stations” the Same Station?

No.

This is important.

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

and

Arashiyama Station on the Randen line

are different railway stations.

They are operated by different railway companies and are located in different parts of the Arashiyama area.

JR’s station has a different name:

Saga-Arashiyama Station

So if your route simply says “Arashiyama Station,” check the railway company before you start walking.

Do You Need a Bus in Arashiyama?

Usually, not for the main central attractions.

The Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji and Togetsukyo Bridge are all within the walkable central Saga-Arashiyama sightseeing area.

Kyoto City’s official tourism information recommends using trains and walking when practical, as buses in popular sightseeing areas can become crowded and slower.

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide – Comfortable Access to Saga/Arashiyama

For destinations farther into Saga and Okusaga, another bus or a longer walk may be useful.

The Easiest Rule to Remember

Choose the station based on where you are coming from:

Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama

Osaka-Umeda / Hankyu → Hankyu Arashiyama

Shijo-Omiya / Randen → Arashiyama Station on the Randen line

And based on your main destination:

Tenryu-ji → Randen Arashiyama

Bamboo Grove → JR Saga-Arashiyama or Randen Arashiyama

Togetsukyo Bridge → Randen Arashiyama is especially convenient

Monkey Park → Hankyu Arashiyama is especially convenient

The closest station is not always the easiest station for your entire journey.

Choose the railway that makes sense from your starting point, then enjoy Arashiyama on foot.

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Information checked in 2026. Railway services, station layouts, walking routes and congestion conditions may change. Always follow the latest station signs and check official transportation information before traveling.