Afternoon Plan for Arashiyama and Sagano

A landscape symbolizing the Sagano area that was first opened up over a thousand years ago as a villa site for the noble class. You can enjoy a comfortable stroll as you hear the sound of bamboo leaves rustling against each other. Walk through the bamboo forest from Nonomiya Shrine to reach Okochi Sanso.

Okochi Sanso is the former villa for the period film actor Denjiro Okochi who was active in the early part of the 20th century. You can view the splendid garden that changes throughout the four seasons with the environment of Arashiyama in the background. Matcha tea is served so that you can take a break while admiring the garden.

An ancient temple that was built at the beginning of the 17th century with a pagoda that soars up to 12m. Go up the stone steps to reach the temple grounds built on the side of the mountain. Another highlight is the view of Kyoto from the grounds.

The majestic main gate was moved from Fushimi Castle to Nison-in Temple. The temple is famous as a site for the fall colors after late November, and once you get past the gate, “The Tunnel of Autumn Leaves” is a famous sight that goes off into the distance.

This is a very popular temple with women as a place where tragic love occurred. Although it is a small temple, take a walk through the modest grounds with the plain thatched-roof hut and garden which is covered in soft moss. In the bamboo forest garden, there is a rest area and a shop where you can enjoy a set of matcha tea and Japanese confections. It’s recommended that you take a rest here after touring the temples.

Located deep in Sagano, visit this temple that was built on an ancient funeral site. There is the amazing sight of countless stone Buddhist images placed on the Saiin-no-Kawara (Riverbank of the Western Temple). The bamboo forest leading up to the temple is also very popular for its mysterious scenery. The walk from Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station takes 30 minutes.

Kyoto Station is the gateway to the ancient capital boasting a thousand years of history. In the Kyoto Station Building, there are plenty of restaurants and souvenirs characteristic of Kyoto. The attraction doesn’t end at the terminal.