There's likely no person planning a trip to Japan who isn't familiar with this location, but I've included it here mainly for two reasons:

1. When you search for Arashiyama on Google Maps (⬅️ Google Maps pin), the result may show a random location in the mountains. The first attached photo features the Bamboo Forest, but that's not the intended destination. Actually, one of my favorite walking paths is situated near this "Arashiyama" location, and I often encounter tourists heading there, seeking the bamboo forest. For the bamboo forest, you need THIS location. Ironically, the first photo of the Bamboo Forest on Google Maps is completely inaccurate—it's a different bamboo forest that's less crowded and just 20 minutes away.

2. The Bamboo Forest is composed of two parts. I sometimes receive comments under the Bamboo Forest Video asking where I captured the video. It turns out that people occasionally take the wrong turn after walking through the first part of the bamboo forest, leading them to a residential area. Please refer to one of the attached photos that indicates where to turn to reach the second part of the Bamboo Forest (the more famous section with those magnificent pictures).

A small and rather obvious tip: if you want to explore the area before it gets crowded, I suggest arriving before 7-8 am. Unfortunately, the magic dissipates after 9 am when shuttle buses carrying Japanese and foreign tourists begin to arrive.

However, another amazing time to experience the Bamboo Forest is at dusk (around 6 pm in mid-summer and 3-4 pm in winter, about 1-1.5 hours before sunset). Be sure to double-check the sunset time on the day you plan to go. The light in the bamboo forest during dusk is incredibly beautiful, and it's certainly less crowded than during peak hours.