The Kyoto-Arashiyama area has three main stations: Arashiyama Station, closest to the center of Arashiyama; JR Saga Arashiyama Station, easily accessible from other prefectures as well as JR Kyoto Station; and Hankyu Arashiyama Station, easily accessible from Kyoto City.

If you're close to Hankyu Omiya Station or Karasuma Station, you can catch a direct train from Randen Shijo Omiya Station to Randen Arashiyama Station without any transfers. The journey takes approximately 24 minutes and costs around 250 yen for a one-way trip. Once you reach your destination, it's just a short 5-minute walk to get to Togetsukyo Bridge.

If you are planning to visit Togetsukyo Bridge and coming from JR Kyoto Station or JR Osaka Station, we highly recommend taking the JR Sagano Line and getting off at JR Saga Arashiyama Station. From there, it's just a 10-15 minute walk to reach the bridge.

Here's your guide to reach JR Saga Arashiyama Station:
From JR Kyoto Station, take the JR Sagano Line train and get off at Saga Arashiyama Station. The journey will take around 17 minutes and costs 240 yen for a one-way trip.

If you're coming from JR Osaka Station, take the new rapid train on the JR Tokaido Line to Kyoto Station, then transfer to the JR Sagano Line bound for Saga Arashiyama Station. The journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes and costs 990 yen for a one-way trip.

For those arriving at JR Kansai Airport Station, your journey will be a bit longer. Take the JR Kansai Rapid Service to Osaka Station, then transfer to the new rapid train on the JR Tokaido Line to Kyoto Station. Finally, transfer to the JR Sagano Line bound for Saga Arashiyama Station. The trip will take around 2 hours and 34 minutes and costs 2,200 yen for a one-way trip.

To reach Togetsukyo Bridge, take the Hankyu Line from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station. Take the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line Limited Express to Katsura Station, transfer to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line, and get off at Arashiyama Station. The journey takes about 22 minutes and costs 240 yen for a one-way ticket. From there, it's a 10-15 minute walk to Togetsukyo Bridge.

The Togetsukyo Bridge crosses the Oigawa River, which is divided into two parts: the Hozu River upstream and the Katsura River downstream.

The bridge was constructed between 834 and 848 AD and received its name "Togetsukyo" sometime between 1259 and 1274. The bridge was reconstructed in 1934 with a concrete foundation, but the balustrade on the top part of the bridge is made of cypress and is designed to blend in with the natural beauty of Arashiyama.

The view of the Togetsukyo Bridge is truly spectacular, creating a simple and sturdy atmosphere over the calm Oigawa River. Many people visit the area to enjoy sightseeing from land or boat.

One of the best parts of Togetsukyo is that it offers an always beautiful but everchanging glimpse of the nature of Kyoto, depending on the time of the year.

In spring, the surrounding cherry trees are in full bloom, and in autumn, you can see the fascinating red leaves. The beauty of the sunrise with the backdrop of such a beautiful landscape makes it an unforgettable moment.

There are many sightseeing spots near Togetsukyo Bridge, for you to enjoy shopping, walking, relaxing, and eating local food.

The Arashiyama Park/Nakanoshima Area is a spacious natural park that extends on the south side of Togetsukyo Bridge, and it’s perfect for walking and resting. In spring the cherry trees are in full bloom and make the park even more beautiful.

The boatman uses a bamboo pole to operate the Yakatabune boat, traveling 1km upstream and then back for 30 minutes. You can also rent a 3-seater boat and enjoy the swaying river. The boarding points are located on the west side of both bases of Togetsukyo Bridge. Reserve by visiting the boarding station directly.

Another popular activity is the Hozugawa Kudari, a boat ride that takes you down the Hozu River through the valley and the sights of the area. The 16-km river descent from Kameoka to Togetsukyo is truly thrilling and it allows you to experience a different kind of connection to the area's natural scenery.

Gorgeous cherry blossoms landscapes in spring, mountain scenery with a refreshing feeling in summer, glamorous autumn leaves, and a dignified quietness in winter. Enjoy a special relaxing time, detached from everyday life.

It’s best to use the area's cute sightseeing train, the Sagano Romantic Train, to get to the Hozugawa Kudari dock. You can take the train from Torokko Sagano Station, exit at the Torokko Kameoka Station terminus, go through the tunnel under the tracks, and go to the Hozugawa Kudari boarding station by bus or horse-drawn carriage.

The street heading to Arashiyama Station from the north side of the Togetsukyo Bridge is the main street of Arashiyama. There are many souvenir shops and restaurants along the street, which is great for sightseeing.

Kyo Sagano Chikujian is a Japanese sweets shop that offers one of Kyoto's local desserts, warabi mochi. If you want to eat while walking, you can snack on a cup of fresh warabi mochi (400 yen, for a box to take home 594 yen, tax included.). This mochi with a nice texture is dusted with a generous amount of kinako (roasted soy flour) and gives you a nice moment of sweetness and happiness. There is also a small eating and drinking space in the store if you want to enjoy it indoors.

If you want to take a break from sightseeing, we recommend Yojiya Café Sagano Arashiyama, where you can rest in a relaxing space. This is a café that serves coffee produced by Yojiya, a long-established producer of oil-blotting facial paper.

The café makes stylish use of interior design in an old-style house. Yojiya's signature drinks are Yojiya special cappuccino (800 yen, tax included), and Yojiya special matcha cappuccino (850 yen, tax included). They both carry the Yojiya symbol, a cute face. The café is right next to the road that leads to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

In Arashiyama, the atmosphere and the nature of the ancient city of Kyoto have made it their home. The landscape of the river and the Togetsukyo Bridge, with a beautiful mountain backdrop, reveals a picturesque Japanese atmosphere. In this elegant setting, you can enjoy a variety of sightseeing spots, great food, and activities.

(* This article was written based on information available in August 2020 and updated in September 2024.)