Three Special Spots in Arashiyama! Perfect for a Kimono Stroll!

When you think of Kyoto’s Arashiyama, two of the most iconic sights are the Togetsukyo Bridge and the famous Bamboo Grove Path.
This time, let us introduce the Bamboo Grove Path and its surrounding area.
It takes about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station via the Sagano Line.
From our nearest shop, the Arashiyama Store, it’s a 9-minute walk.
Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station, exit from the south gate, and walk west—you’ll arrive at the entrance of the bamboo grove.
As you walk along the path, you’ll be surrounded by a breathtaking sight: a forest of bamboo, growing straight and tall without hesitation.
Among the scenery, you’ll notice many people dressed in kimono striking poses while photographers click away.
Indeed, kimono and bamboo are a perfect match. It’s truly a must-visit photo spot.
Visitors enjoy wearing a variety of kimono styles, and as the season changes, renting a yukata is also a wonderful option.
With the wide selection available at Rental Kimono Okamoto, you’re sure to find the perfect kimono or yukata to suit your taste.

By the way, did you know how fast bamboo grows from shoots into full stalks?
After a rainfall, it can grow as much as one meter in a single day. This is one of the origins of the phrase “take-no-ko” (bamboo shoots after rain).
In spring, you can spot brown-skinned bamboo shoots sprouting before they transform into tall bamboo stalks.
It’s fascinating to realize that the bamboo shoots we eat every year grow into the towering bamboo you see here.

Following the path, you’ll arrive at Nonomiya Shrine.
Passing under Japan’s oldest kuroki torii (blackwood gate), you step into a world beautifully described in The Tale of Genji, Chapter “Sakaki.”
At the beginning of the Heian period, Nonomiya was the place where imperial princesses chosen as Saiō (priestesses serving the Ise Grand Shrine) purified themselves before traveling to Ise.
It was later established as a shrine during the Nanbokucho period.
Today, it is famous as a shrine for blessings in matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth.

If you climb the small path to the left of Nonomiya Shrine, you’ll reach Okochi Sanso Villa.
Turning right from there, you’ll come across the Sagano Scenic Railway’s Arashiyama Station, beside which lies Ogura Pond, a lotus pond.
Just across from it stands Mikami Shrine—the only shrine in Japan dedicated to hair.
The enshrined deity is Fujiwara Unemenosuke Masayuki.
During the reign of Emperor Kameyama, Masayuki’s father, who guarded imperial treasures, lost a treasured sword named Kuōmaru.
Masayuki set out with his father to search for it, and to support their livelihood during the journey, he tied the hair of village women.
This act is said to be the origin of the hairdressing profession.
To this day, the shrine is revered by people in the beauty and barber industries.
Up until the early Showa period, barbers and beauticians across Japan observed Masayuki’s death day—the 17th of each month—as their fixed holiday.

The shrine is visited not only by those praying for success in professional exams but also by those concerned about hair loss.
On votive tablets dedicated within the grounds, many heartfelt wishes can be seen, such as “May my hair grow back.”
For your trip to Arashiyama, why not stop by this unique and little-known shrine?

To make unforgettable memories in Kyoto, why not wear a kimono or yukata from Rental Kimono Okamoto and enjoy a stroll through Arashiyama?


[Author of this article]
Rental Kimono Okamoto Arashiyama Store
48-4 Sagatenryuji Kitazōro-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8374
TEL: 075-950-0805
Website: www.okamoto-kimono.com
Instagram: @rentalkimonookamoto
TikTok: @rentalkimono_okamoto
Facebook: Rental Kimono Okamoto
X (formerly Twitter): @okamotokimono
Lit.link: lit.link/rentalkimonookamoto