The Kimono Forest of Arashiyama

Person wearing a colorful, patterned shirt and black pleated skirt standing between kimono forest decorated cylindrical pillars with various floral and abstract designs.

Located right outside the station on the Keifuku Arashiyama Line, the “Kimono Forest of Arashiyama” is a vast outdoor installation of 600 cylinder-shaped pillars displaying one of Japan’s most beautiful assets, it’s kimono textiles.

Child walking in a colorful fabric shop on a rainy day, holding an umbrella.  Arashiyama "Kimono Forest"

A person standing in a dark room with illuminated cylindrical decorations (Kimono Forest ) featuring colorful patterns on the wall behind a round table with a large iron ball on top.

The designer behind this stunning outdoor installation is Yasumichi Morita, who asked our artisans at Pagong to dye patterns from our archives, using a traditional dye method called “KYO-YUZEN”.

Visitors who come may leisurely stroll among the pillars during the day to admire the beautiful designs, or visit the station at night and watch as each pillar is illuminated by LED lights, giving the entire area an enchanted elegant feeling.

The Kimono Forest of Arashiyama also leads its visitor to a small pond, Ryu no Atago, or “Guardian Dragon of Atago”, where many people come to say their prayers and make wishes.

Arashiyama Kimono Forest Web Page: