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ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama Park
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
nugget’s Advice
Good to know
The bamboo forest is stroller accessible, but you cannot hike up to the monkey park with your stroller. Plan to bring another means of carrying your baby or toddler for this part of your outing.
About This Day
You might wonder, what's there to do in Kyoto for kids? How about feeding monkeys and exploring a magical bamboo forest? This family-friendly Japan itinerary has something for everyone. Start your day with a short and easy stroll through the bamboo forest. Then, continue your walk through Arashiyama Park and enjoy the beautiful views. It's also a great place for kids to run around. Finally, head up to the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama for a nice hike in nature. The views are spectacular and your kids will love seeing and feeding the monkeys. It was certainly a highlight for ours!
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
, Kyoto
FREE
The walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is easy, flat and stroller accessible. This bamboo forest is truly a special place in Kyoto for kids, but even more so on a day with a light breeze, which causes the bamboo to sway and rustle in the wind. Standing amongst these giant stalks of bamboo is a unique experience that you should not miss. The walk through the bamboo grove took us about 30 minutes.
DIRECTIONS
You can get to the bamboo grove from the main street of Arashiyama. To continue through the Arashiyama Park afterward, I recommend starting your walk at the eastern end of the bamboo forest.
TIP
Though it can be busy, this is a walk even the littlest ones can do. We found the western part of the forest was far more impressive, so don't miss going all the way through this grove.
Arashiyama Park
府道29号線, Kyoto
FREE
The park is beautiful and lush, with an amazing viewpoint of the Katsura River running through the mountain valley. At the most southern end of the park, you will meet up with a beautiful, stroller-friendly river walk. Be sure to check out the famous Togetsukyo Bridge, you might recognize it from movies!
DIRECTIONS
Start your walk at the eastern end of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then walk through Arashiyama Park.
TIP
Arashiyama District - between the Arashiyama Park and the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama - has plenty of opportunities to stop for a local lunch.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
, Kyoto
$$$
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is the perfect activity in Kyoto for kids. There are over 100 macaque monkeys in the park and you can buy food and safely feed them. This was the highlight of the day for our nugget. Outside the park is a small playground (you will pass it while hiking up). Keep the playground in mind, as you may need it to bribe your kids away from the monkeys. It’s also a nice spot for a picnic lunch before visiting the monkeys.
DIRECTIONS
The entrance to the monkey park is found south of Togetsukyo Bridge, which you will come across during your walk through Arashiyama Park. Simply turn right after crossing the bridge and you will find the entrance to the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. From the entrance, it took us about 20 minutes to hike up the the park itself.
TIP
You will need to park your stroller at the entrance, so make sure to have an alternative way to carry any little ones who cannot make the climb up to the park on their own. Outside of the enclosed area at the top, the staff members do monitor the monkeys and chase away any aggressive ones, but it's best to keep an eye on your children.
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MORE NUGGET ADVENTURES
How do you recommend getting there? JR or Bus to both the bamboo forest and the monkey park? Is the monkey park far from the jR station?