Kyoto Day 2: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest + % Arabica + Taisho Hanana + Otaji Nenbutsu-ji + Kumonocha + Sagano Romantic Train + Kijurou. Kyoto. Japan. 3.30.2025.

On day 2 in Arashiyama, I left early and headed to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest to beat the crowd and stumbled upon this long line of characters at the entrance before 8AM. No idea what it was or why. Just that I loved it. Sadly I cannot easily upload videos here anymore (I tried multiples time already). But there is a hilarious video of this parade on my Japan 2025 highlights here.

8AM is later than I like to visit the bamboo forest as it is rather popular. Go early unless you want chaos and the opposite of serenity.

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Then it's the perfect time to walk over to the Katsura River and start lining up for % Arabica, one of my favorite and most beautiful coffee stands in the world with my favorite view. Always get the Kyoto Latte. Unless you go before it opens or drink coffee at 4PM, there will always be a long line here. Then sit outside and enjoy it by the river.







After a leisurely stroll around Arashiyama, I decided to go for lunch at Taisho Hanana. Taisho Hanana is extremely popular and often has a long line—go early and eat at odd times to avoid it. They specialize in sea bream. I got the sea bream chazuke set, because I was still agitated by the subpar chazuke at Tsujihan Ark Hills. Thankfully, this was excellent and I was satisfied AND it only cost $14.





Then I waited for the bus (which was late, I know, shocking) to go up the hill to revisit Otaji Nenbutsu-ji. I love this temple all the way up the hill and I love the gorgeous serene walk back down even more.





I am not sure which one of these I like more. I was very pleased with my art direction.













Since I had a little bit of time to kill before my train ride, I stopped by Kumonocha to try their cloud cake. Sadly they were sold out of the hojicha cake so I got a hojicha latte with a matcha cloud cake. It was a good break and a tasty treat. Nothing I would go out of my way to try though.



I walked over to the Torokko Saga Station to take the Sagano Romantic Train. Since the cherry blossoms just started blooming, I did not get to see this ride through a tunnel of cherry blossoms with my river view. To buy the ticket, I had to use my debit card as the credit card would not go through, so look out for that one if you get one. You don't have to buy a round trip ticket as there is a regular train station you can take to come back once you end up at Torokko Kameoka Station. The view was nice enough, but it would be spectacular with cherry blossoms in bloom or during peak fall foliage. 

Then since I eat dinner early, I headed over to Kijurou for an early dinner without a line for a wagyu rice bowl meal set. It was exceptional and it was only $23! I was blown away by this meal and I would highly recommend you getting this when you are at Arashiyama.