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Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour Review: Is It Worth It?

ByPaige Watts

When the sun goes down and all the tourists head back to their hotels, Saga-Arashiyama feels nearly deserted. And that’s the perfect time to take a ghost tour of the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

When we visited Kyoto, we wanted to visit the Bamboo Forest, but we didn’t want to fight the crowds. So I found an alternative solution — touring the forest at night on a ghost tour. Our Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour took us deep into the darkened grove as we listened to stories of Kyoto’s haunted spots and Japanese legends.

If you’re looking to take this Kyoto ghost tour, here’s why I recommend this one and what to expect.

#1 Pick
Quiet path in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at night lined with bamboo and dense trees, with a few streetlights casting soft light along the path. The dark foliage and empty lane create a calm, secluded atmosphere on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour Overview

  • Small-group nighttime walking tour in Saga-Arashiyama
  • Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove after dark
  • Japanese ghost stories, yūrei, and yōkai legends
  • Complimentary drink included at the start of the tour
  • Solo walk through the Bamboo Forest
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Quiet path in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at night lined with bamboo and dense trees, with a few streetlights casting soft light along the path. The dark foliage and empty lane create a calm, secluded atmosphere on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

What Is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour?

This Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour takes place after dark in Saga-Arashiyama. It combines local Kyoto ghost stories, Japanese urban legends, and a nice, long walk through the quiet streets of Kyoto.

The route takes you from the train station, past cemeteries and shrines, through residential neighborhoods, across haunted railroad tracks, and deep into the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

The final “challenge” of the tour is to walk through the haunted Bamboo Grove by yourself without a flashlight (and, spoiler alert: with the possibility of a jump scare).

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What Happens During the Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour?

The Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour lasts about 2.5 hours and gradually gets creepier as the night goes on. You’ll start with eerie stories in the quiet streets of Arashiyama, then work your way deeper into the neighborhood before ending in the Bamboo Grove after dark.

Here’s what the tour looks like from start to finish.

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Meeting in Saga-Arashiyama

A quiet neighborhood street at dusk, with traditional Japanese style buildings, bamboo landscaping, and warm lights glowing near a narrow entrance path. Utility poles and overhead wires cross the cloudy blue evening sky, contrasting with the calm residential setting on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.
A narrow residential street in Japan at dusk, lined with small buildings, potted plants, overhead utility wires, and signs for nearby shops and restaurants. A storefront on the right reads "Ci Cafe Osporuto", while warm lights glow deeper along the lane beneath the blue evening sky on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

We met our guide at the Saga-Arashiyama train station right outside the ticket gates. It’s a small group tour with a max of 12 people, and we had a full group. It’s definitely a popular tour!

Once the whole group had gathered, our guide took us to a nearby convenience store where we picked out something to drink on our walk (drinks could be alcoholic or non-alcoholic), paid for by our guide. There’s no bathroom on this 2.5-hour tour, so keep that in mind when selecting your drink, or deciding if you want to drink it on your walk or save it for later.

With drinks in hand, it was time to explore the streets of Arashiyama after dark.

Walking Through Haunted Arashiyama

A traditional Japanese house at night, with dark tiled roofs, stone walls, and neatly trimmed shrubs lit by bright exterior lights along the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan. A small roadside shrine or altar with flowers sits beside the entrance, adding a quiet spiritual detail to the residential scene.
A small Japanese temple or shrine courtyard at night, with stone statues, memorial markers, and a red torii gate arranged around a stone path on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan. A bright lantern near the entrance illuminates the dark wooden building and surrounding religious monuments.
A narrow bamboo-lined path at night is washed in intense red light, with a lowered barrier visible at the far end. Stone and wooden fencing border the dark walkway, creating an eerie, dramatic atmosphere on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.
An empty neighborhood playground at night, lit by bright park lamps beneath dense green trees. A long metal slide, low concrete play structures, and a bench sit on the sandy ground, giving the quiet park a slightly eerie after dark atmosphere along the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.
A dark wooded path leads beneath a large Shinto torii gate wrapped with a sacred rope and white paper streamers, toward a small shrine glowing red in the distance on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan. Dense trees, stone steps, and Japanese signs frame the quiet nighttime shrine setting.
Nonomiya Shrine glows at night beneath dark trees, with red lanterns covered in Japanese writing hanging across the front on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan. Wooden prayer plaques and posted notices surround the fenced altar, creating a quiet, atmospheric scene.

We took to the streets of Arashiyama as twilight quickly started to fade. Our journey took us through deserted residential streets that seemed peaceful and serene, until our guide started telling us Japanese urban legends.

We came across a cemetery, which the Japanese don’t enter at night because they believe restless yūrei wander the cemetery at night. We crossed haunted train tracks with a ghostly red light. We visited a shrine lit only by the red glow of lanterns. And we walked around a playground where the ghosts of children still play.

During the tour, we learned about some of the haunted spots we passed in Arashiyama and their tales of tragedy and death. But we also learned some broader cultural legends and myths about the yōkai (all the Japanese monsters, spirits, and shapeshifters). And it seemed like every story of someone meeting one of these ghosts ended in that person dying shortly after.

I’ve done a lot of ghost tours, and I don’t normally get spooked. But these stories and these deserted streets were just eerie enough that I found myself looking over my shoulder a few times.

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Walking Through the Bamboo Forest at Night

A very dark paved path runs through dense bamboo and trees at night, with a low bamboo fence lining the left side. A single greenish light glows in the distance, faintly illuminating the otherwise shadowy route along the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.
Dense bamboo branches and leaves form a nearly black canopy overhead, with irregular patches of pale sky showing through the gaps. The low light makes the wooded setting feel enclosed and shadowy on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.
A nearly black passage is framed by dense bamboo, with only small patches of pale sky and foliage visible overhead on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan. A tiny brighter opening appears in the distance, making the path feel enclosed, shadowy, and difficult to see through.
A nearly black path is enclosed by dense bamboo on both sides, with only a narrow strip of gray sky visible overhead. Faint silhouettes of rooftops or structures appear in the distance, making the route feel secluded and difficult to see at night on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

The tour took us through the forest, which was sprawling. It seemed like we turned a corner and were suddenly just surrounded by bamboo.

We made our way to the top of the bamboo grove trail — the famous part where the trail curves around and disappears into the dense bamboo forest, with stalks towering high above so that you see nothing but bamboo.

This is the part where the darkness really sets in, and it looks a whole lot different than the influencer photos you’ve seen. Throughout the rest of the forest path, there have been some street lights. Here, it’s just you and the bamboo.

This is the part of the tour where the guide told us to walk through the bamboo forest alone, one person at a time, or two at a time if you absolutely can’t go alone.

Now, I kinda figured what was coming (spoiler alert: someone was going to jump out at us). And I don’t like being jumped out at, and I’m prone to nightmares. And if I’m not sleeping, then Kevin’s not sleeping, so I forced him to walk down with me. Plus, it’s the cute couple-y thing to do to walk arm-in-arm through the haunted attraction. It’s romantic, right?

The guide went down first to be able to meet us at the bottom. Our tour group was left at the top to space ourselves out so that we could each have time alone in the forest.

We walked down the bamboo trail without flashlights. Our eyes had adjusted to the moonlight by that point.

Up ahead, Kevin and I could hear some shouts and screams (because again, spoiler alert: someone jumps out at you). So I was well prepared for what was coming. But I was still startled nonetheless. We actually got two scares: the tour guide and then, just when you think you’re safe, a girl dressed as a classic Japanese spirit (white dress, long black hair, looking like she’s out of The Ring) also comes out at you.

We gathered at the bottom of the path as we waited on the rest of the group to make it out of the forest alive. And then we just casually bid farewell to our ghostly friend as if she didn’t just scare the crap out of some people.

The guide then took us back through the streets of Arashiyama and ended the tour back at the train station.

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My Experience Taking the Ghost Tour

Paige in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at night on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour, Kyoto, Japan
Kevin in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour, Kyoto, Japan

I take a lot of ghost tours, and usually I feel like they aren’t that spooky, mostly because it’s hard to get that creepy atmosphere on a crowded city street.

But Arashiyama after dark was different. The area really felt like a ghost town. We arrived for dinner, while the sun was still out, and we could already tell the difference between that and Kyoto’s city center. When the tourists are gone, there’s not much going on in Arashiyama.

We spent most of the tour not seeing a single other person. The cemetery and the playground were probably the creepiest stops for me because they were already unsettling before our guide started telling stories about yūrei, yōkai, tragedy, and death.

Then came the Bamboo Grove. I knew there was probably going to be some kind of scare at the end; that’s kind of the point of the gimmicky “walk through the forest by yourself” feature. Even though I had already guessed that someone would jump out at us, the final walk still got me.

Between the total darkness, the towering bamboo, the Japanese ghost that are definitely out to kill you, and the two jump scares, this tour actually gave me chills.

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Pros of the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour

A glowing red lantern stands beside a small Japanese shrine at night, with more red lanterns and vertical signs covered in Japanese writing under a wooden roof. Dark tree branches frame the shrine, while the illuminated lanterns create a warm focal point in the otherwise shadowy setting on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

The biggest advantage of this tour is getting to experience Arashiyama after the daytime crowds have disappeared. The Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto’s busiest attractions during the day, but at night, the streets and forest are much quieter.

  • You avoid the daytime crowds: The tour takes place after dark, when Arashiyama is almost empty compared to the daytime rush.
  • It gives you an evening activity: This is a good way to keep exploring after the major attractions have closed.
  • The atmosphere is genuinely creepy: Empty streets, cemeteries, dark railroad tracks, shrines, and the Bamboo Grove all add to the mood.
  • You see the Bamboo Forest in a different way: The famous bamboo path looks completely different in the dark, especially once you reach the section with no lighting.
  • It’s fun for ghost-tour and folklore fans: The tour mixes local haunted stories with broader Japanese legends about yūrei and yōkai.

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Cons of the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour

The main drawback is that you’re not getting the classic daytime Arashiyama Bamboo Grove experience. That is part of what I liked about this tour, but it also changes what you’ll actually see.

  • Visibility is limited: Much of the tour takes place on dark streets and paths, lit only by very few streetlights and your flashlight, and the Bamboo Grove itself gets very dark.
  • You won’t get the classic Bamboo Forest photos: If you want bright photos of the bamboo stalks and the famous path, you’ll still need to visit during the day.
  • The final walk has jump scares: The ghost stories build up throughout the tour, and the last walk through the Bamboo Grove includes jump scares, which I know is a dealbreaker for some people.
  • There’s a lot of walking: The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and takes place entirely outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

None of these were dealbreakers for me. They’re just things to know before booking so you understand that this is a nighttime ghost tour first and not really a Bamboo Forest sightseeing experience.

Who Is This Kyoto Ghost Tour For?

Quiet path in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at night lined with bamboo and dense trees, with a few streetlights casting soft light along the path. The dark foliage and empty lane create a calm, secluded atmosphere on the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour in Kyoto, Japan.

The Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour is a good fit for if you’re a fan of ghost tours, are looking to learn more about Japanese folklore, or are just looking for something unusual to do in Kyoto after dark.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want to see the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest without the usual daytime crowds, or repeat visitors who have already seen the forest during the day and now want a brand new experience.

If your main goal is getting the classic photos of the Bamboo Forest, you’ll want to just come during the day. The tour also isn’t great for getting nighttime photos because you’re on the move with a tour group, so if you want good nighttime photos of the forest, I’d recommend just visiting on your own at night.

If ghost stories and dark, deserted streets and jump scares make you uncomfortable, then I’d pick a different tour.

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Location and Things to Do Nearby

Path through the towering Arashiyama bamboo grove in Kyoto, Japan, with tall green stalks rising on both sides and soft light filtering through the canopy. Visitors walk along the center trail, adding scale to the dense bamboo forest and the narrow path lined with dried brush fencing.

This Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour takes place in Saga-Arashiyama. It’s location is really easy to fit into a day of seeing the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in the daylight, hiking up to Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, browsing nearby shopping streets, and visiting nearby temples. You can grab dinner before meeting your tour guide at the Saga-Arashiyama train station.

Adding this tour to a day in Arashiyama lets you see both sides of the Bamboo Forest: the busy daytime photo op and the much quieter after-dark version once the crowds have left.

Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour Alternatives

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour is pretty unique, but there are several other Kyoto tours that cover Japanese folklore, nighttime sightseeing, food, and the Bamboo Forest if you need an alternative tour.

  • Kyoto Dark History: Yōkai, Curses & Forbidden Legends: This is another option if you like ghost stories, but it explores different parts of Kyoto other than Arashiyama, so you can get another spooky night in Kyoto without repeating the Bamboo Forest.
  • Hidden Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Hiking Tour: This daytime hiking tour is great if you want more of the Bamboo Forest itself, with lesser-known paths, mountain views, and wild monkeys. This is a better choice if you want to see the forest in the day.
  • Kyoto Gion and Pontocho Night Food Tour: If you want a nighttime tour that focuses on food and history instead of scares, this tour walks you through Gion and Pontocho and stops at small bars and restaurants for a full dinner, drinks, dessert, and three local sake tastings.
  • Kyoto Gion Night Walking Tour: If you want a tour option that explores Gion after dark, this tour focuses on Kyoto’s traditional culture, temples, shrines, and geisha district, and you may even spot a maiko or geisha.
  • Fushimi-Inari Night Tour: Fushimi-Inari is another famous Kyoto attraction that gets much quieter after dark. This small-group tour spends explores the shrine and its history, Shinto traditions, and cultural significance. This is a good alternative if what you loved about the Bamboo Forest tour was seeing a major Kyoto sight after the daytime crowds disappeared.
  • Moonlit Walk at Fushimi Inari and Gion: This private nighttime tour covers a lot more ground, combining Fushimi Inari with Gion, Hanamikoji Street, Yasui-Konpiragu, Yasaka Pagoda, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, and Yasaka Shrine. Professional photos are included, so this is the better choice for a nighttime sightseeing experience with plenty of Kyoto landmarks.

How to Add this Ghost Tour to Your Kyoto Itinerary

Kyoto Tower glows white, orange, and blue against the night sky above the illuminated Kyoto Tower Hotel. Pedestrians, including people carrying umbrellas, cross the wet plaza outside the station.

This is a great evening activity, which makes it easy to add after a full day of sightseeing or at the end of a travel day.

You can spend the afternoon exploring Arashiyama, visit the Bamboo Forest and nearby attractions in daylight, have dinner in Saga-Arashiyama, and then meet your guide at the train station.

You can also treat it as a separate evening trip after sightseeing elsewhere in Kyoto. Or you can fit it in after a travel day so that you don’t feel like you wasted a day without seeing any sights.

See exactly how I worked it into my 4 Days in Kyoto itinerary, browse more ideas in my Things to Do in Kyoto guide, and find dinner options in my Restaurants in Kyoto post.

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FAQs About the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour

How long is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour?

The Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour lasts about 2.5 hours. That time is spent walking outdoors through Saga-Arashiyama, with stops along the way for ghost stories and Japanese legends before the walking through the Bamboo Grove. The tour begins and ends ends back at the train station.

Is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour scary?

I wouldn’t say the entire tour is scary. The empty streets, cemeteries, dark railroad tracks, Japanese ghost stories, and nearly pitch-black Bamboo Grove do create a eerie atmosphere. There are also jump scares during the final walk through the forest, which is probably the scariest part.

Do you have to walk through the Bamboo Forest alone?

You’re encouraged to walk through the final section of the Bamboo Grove one person at a time, but you can go through in pairs if you don’t want to walk alone. I made Kevin walk with me, so you definitely don’t have to prove anything here.

Can you see the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at night?

Yes. The Bamboo Grove is the final major part of the tour, and you’ll walk through it after dark when the daytime crowds are gone. Just don’t expect the classic bright Bamboo Forest photos — the trail gets very dark, and this tour is much more about the nighttime atmosphere than photography.

Is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest crowded at night?

No, at least not during our tour. Arashiyama was almost deserted once the daytime visitors had left, and we spent long stretches of the tour without seeing anyone else. That lack of crowds is a big part of what made the ghost tour so eerie and also gave us a completely different experience of the Bamboo Grove than we would have had during the day.

Final Thoughts: Is the Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour Worth It?

I really enjoyed our Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour! I think it is worth it if you’re looking for a unique nighttime activity in Kyoto. It gives you a different look at one of Kyoto’s most popular attraction, it avoids the daytime crowds, and it’s a great chance to learn more about Japanese culture, history, and folklore.

It is, however, a little gimmicky with the solo walk through the Bamboo Grove and the accompanying jump scares, so if that’s not your thing, then I would suggest looking at a different ghost tour.

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Ultimate Japan 11 Day Itinerary: Tokyo & Kyoto

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Top Kyoto Tours

Where to Stay in Kyoto

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Plan your perfect Japan trip with the help of these posts:

Ready to visit Kyoto, Japan? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find accommodation: You can find top hotels in Kyoto using Booking.com
  • Pack for your vacation: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need by checking out my packing list resources.

Cheers!

Paige

Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour Review: Is It Worth It?

Would you book this Kyoto Bamboo Forest Ghost Tour? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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