Have you ever considered visiting Arashiyama, a small historical and cultural town on the outskirts of Kyoto, on a shoestring with a neuro-divergent tween? If this is you, you are not alone. I took my twelve-year-old son to Arashiyama without taking a tour or taxi. And here is our story.
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My oldest, who has autism and other conditions, namely ADHD and anxiety, wanted to visit Japan. He was into anime and wanted to see the characters he learned from books and Netflix. So, in addition to making a pilgrim to Akihabara, an Anime City in Tokyo, I took him to Arashiyama to experience the cultural aspects of Japan.
Why Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a charming town on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It is well-known for its bamboo groves, beautiful location, and famous cultural heritage, such as the famous Unesco Zen Temple Tenryu-ji.
This town is not big but has a lot to offer. I didn’t take tour packages because I wanted to give ourselves more flexibility to visit the places at our own pace.
What this means for us is – more walking and dragging our bags from train stations to hotels and vice-versa.
Though this town is not as big as Kyoto, I underestimated how much we walked. If I could redo this trip again, I would stay longer even if I didn’t plan to cover all the tourist attractions.
Pro-Tips when traveling to Arashiyama with a Neuro-Divergent Tween.
#1. Bring a portable stool. The stool allows them to sit and rest when they are tired.
#2. Carry a water bottle so they have something to drink when thirsty.
#3. Bring a packet of wet wipes to clean or sanitize their hands or to wipe the table.
#4. Have a few zip lock bags handy. I used it to bring back leftovers, a trash bag, and almost anything it could do.
#5. Bring some snacks – some are candy – they need sugar.
#6. Headsets or Noise Cancellations Headsets to block out the noise from the cars and train.
#7. Cap or hat to protect heat from the sun and act as blinkers to reduce anxiety in crowded places.
#8. Sunglasses to block out the sun and also act as blinkers to reduce anxiety in crowded places.
#9. Fidgets to calm them down or to keep them occupied
#10. Wear comfy walking shoes so they can walk far with ease
#11. The Fit + Fresh All the Things Tote Bag to dump stuff and not worry about space.
#12. Travel suitcases with wheels to wheel your bags from the train station to your hotel.
#13. Infinity pillow to serve as a shawl, back support, neck support and just about anything to soothe a neuro-divergent kit
#14. International travel adapter (US to Japan) to charge your devices
#15. Portable battery charger for smart phone and action camera.
#16. Portable wifi – you can’t leave home without wifi.
#17. Mindful of vehicles since the streets are narrow.
#18. Watch travel videos before taking them to famous sights.
#19. Use public bathroom at hotels to assist them if help is required.
#20. Use Google Translate to read the menu and to communicate with locals who don’t speak English well.
#21. Take their lead. They are happy, and so will your travel!
What I learned about Arashiyama after we got there
It is a breathtaking town. It retains Japanese charm – low-rise buildings with a wooden square door- and we can see men, women, and children walking in the kimono.
Locals who do not speak English kept their distance from tourists. We’ve been ignored even when we waved for their attention. But it is not all doom and gloom—there are saviors around—just lesser than we experienced when we were in Tokyo.
Having Google Translate Apps has helped with communication barriers, reading directions, and menus that are in Japanese. I suggest you download this App before coming to Japan.
The restaurant typically closes at 4 p.m. By 6 p.m., the streets are emptying. By the way, we visited this place in the fall. I am unsure if this is the case in spring and summer when the days are longer.
Cash is king, so have some Japanese Yen ready to try the snacks and ice cream.
POV: Arashiyama is not highly recommended for traveling with someone in a wheelchair, as the streets are narrow. The tourist spot is almost always crowded, and you may feel frustrated sharing space with commuters and travelers. If you bring someone in a wheelchair, I suggest you come on less overcrowded days like weekdays and stay overnight so you can visit early in the morning before the big tour buses arrive.
Lastly, bring a ziplock bag. It comes very handy when you bring leftovers back to the hotel and are in need of a to-go trash bag. Trash bins are allocated at certain areas in Arashiyama. You need a map to look for one.
How many days in Arashiyama
If you are traveling with a special needs kid, I highly suggest that you spend at least three nights. There is much walking to do, and the crowd can be overwhelming, especially over the weekends. Spending three nights allows you to visit more places, relax whenever you or your child have had enough, and truly soak into the ambiance of this charming town.
Where to stay
I stayed at Riverside Arashiyama Hotel because it has great reviews, spacious rooms, free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and is within walking distance of places of interest.
The only drawback of this place is that it takes about 20 minutes to get there from Saga-Arashiyama train station. Taxis may or may not stop. Please don’t ask me why. We waited for an hour at two taxi stands, and no taxi stopped for us.
That said, if I were to pick another place to stay for my next visit, I would pick anywhere around Nishikyo Ward area. It is not too far from places of interest, a bit of a walk from Sago-Arashiyama station but the accommodations are affordable.
You can always arrange for a bag delivery service to deliver your suitcases to your hotel. It saves you so much pain lugging those bags with your kids (even if they don’t autism). Do this arrangement ahead of time.
Getting there
At Kyoto Train Station, go to the JR Sagano Line, also known as JR Sagano Line, JR Sanin Line, or San’in Main Line. The color code for this line looks somewhat purple, lilac, or lavender. This is the Sagano Scenic Line heading towards Sonobe, Kyoto.
Where to get off?
You get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station to reach major tourist spots such as Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park. The ride takes 15 minutes and costs 240 yen one way.
There are two exits—North and South. Call your hotel ahead of time for specific instructions to your hotel from Saga-Arashiyama Station.
To do in Arashiyama
There are many places to visit in Arashiyama. I didn’t get to do most of the places I set out to do because I underestimated the amount of walking we had to do. So if I were to redo this trip again, this is what I would do.
Day 1: Arrival Day
If you are coming from Kyoto Train Station, arrange for baggage services to deliver your bags to your hotel.
Check-in
Relax
Head for dinner by 3 pm as most restaurants close at 4 pm.
If you are not tired, check out the Kimono Forest located at Hannari Hokkori Square/Randen Arashiyama Station. There are places to eat and shop in and around the station and a foot bath to soak your feet after a long day of walking.
Day 2: Train and Boat Ride
Catch the first Sagano Scenic Train, also known as the Romantic Train Ride, followed by a boat ride on the Hozugawa River. These are two separate activities. They are very popular among tourists and require tickets. So, I suggest you buy tickets early for both rides to avoid disappointment.
You can get the tickets from Klook.
Have a nice meal.
Take pictures.
Rest at the hotel.
Day 3: Hiking and Walking Day
Monkey Park Iwatayama
Beat the crowd by going to Monkey Park Iwatayama as soon as it opens. At the time of writing, the park opens at 9:00 a.m. There is an entrance fee, and they only accept cash payments. It is a hike to see the monkeys. So, if you are wheelchair bound, I am afraid this trip may not be suitable for you as there are steep ramps and steps to climb.
The hike is about 30 minutes long. The sight is beautiful, and there are benches where you can take breaks.
Watch my video.
Togetsukyo Bridge
Walking along the Togetsukyo Bridge and river doesn’t get old. There is always something that catches your eye. Take a gentle stroll, row a boat or have a matcha ice-cream to enjoy the view.
Have a nice meal.
Take pictures.
Arrange for your bags to be delivered to Kyoto Train Station.
Rest at the hotel
Day 4: Check out day
Drop your bag with your concierge to get them delivered to Kyoto Station or to your next destination.
Quickly head to Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple before the tour buses arrive. They usually get to the location slightly after 9 am.
Bamboo Grove is free to enter, but the gardens and temple of Tenryuji require a fee – to the temple and the garden.
Rest.
Consider taking a Rickshaw Tour to Sago-Arashiyama Train Station.
And that’s a wrap for your four-day stay at Arashiyama.
But wait!!!
How about food?
Fortunately, there was something for my son to eat. We didn’t dine in any sit-down restaurant because the jet lag affected our appetite. We ate at a “food court” or food kiosk along the tourist area. They are affordable and fast.
What type of food you can find in Arashiyama
- Steam rice
- Japanese curry
- Tempuras – shrimp, squid, chicken, fish, surimi (fake crab)
- Deep-fried cutlets – potatoes, pork, chicken, meat
- Ice-creams
- Pancakes with fillings like red bean, chocolate, custard
- Noodles – soba, udon
- Soup-like dishes such as – sukiyaki
- Wagyu beef – prepared in hot plates
- Meat on skews – chicken, pork, beef
More cultural experience?
If you decide to stay another day or longer and wonder what else you can do … here are some suggestions.
- Be Japanese for the day by renting a Kimono outfit and walking around town like a true Japanese.
- Visit more temples and shrines in the area.
- If you are in Arashiyama in winter – check out this winter tour.
I hope you find this helpful blog. Until next time.
If you choose to buy tickets or take tours from Klook, please use my promo-code so you can earn discounts on the above suggestions.
Lastly, this blog contains affiliate links. This means that when you purchase using those links, I am commissioned at no cost to you. Thank you.
