Kansai Airport to Arashiyama via Uji's Byodoin

Arashiyama and Uji are both in Kyoto, but one is on the west side and the other to the south, so going from one to the other by train means changing. If you are staying in Arashiyama and want to see Uji too, you can do it on the day you land: on the way from Kansai Airport to Arashiyama, stop at Uji for Byodoin, then carry on to Arashiyama to check in, as one journey with your luggage in the car throughout.

Uji: Byodoin has two sets of hours

A Byodoin visit has two parts with different hours (see the Byodoin visitor guide):

• The garden: 8:45 to 17:30, last entry 17:15.
• Phoenix Hall interior: 9:30 to 16:10, a tour every 20 minutes with up to 35 people each. It may close early once full, and can also close without notice for ceremonies or events.

To get inside Phoenix Hall, you need to arrive before 4 p.m. A morning landing gives you the most time in Uji; with an afternoon landing you may only have time for the garden, or you may prefer to come back another day.

Bags stay in the car while you look around

Ride from the airport to Uji, get out near Byodoin, and leave the big suitcases in the car. When you are done, get back in and carry on to Arashiyama. No hunting for station lockers, no dragging cases along the approach to the temple.

An extra stop can be arranged (see how extra stops on an airport transfer work). When booking, say where you want to stop in Uji, how long you plan to stay and the name of your Arashiyama lodging, and our team will confirm the plan and quote. The Alphard seats 7 with room for 6 bags; for more people, the Hiace seats 10 with room for 9.

Kansai Airport to Arashiyama: check the crowds before you choose your time

Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo grove are popular spots, and crowds peak in the autumn-leaf and cherry-blossom seasons. Kyoto's congestion forecast site shows crowd levels on a five-point scale by area and time of day, adjustable for the weather, and includes Arashiyama, with live cameras at some spots.

The advantage of staying in Arashiyama is avoiding the daytime crowds: check in in the evening and walk the bamboo grove early the next morning. Going via Uji, you will usually reach Arashiyama in the afternoon or early evening, just right for checking in and resting.

Many Arashiyama inns are on narrow lanes or in pedestrian areas where a car may not reach the door. Give the lodging's Japanese name and address when booking, and our team will confirm the drop-off point.

Please contact us for an Arashiyama or Uji quote; for central Kyoto, see Kansai Airport to Kyoto and our Kansai Airport to Kyoto transport guide; all published routes are in the Kansai Airport transfer routes overview. Send your flight, stop and lodging on the booking page.