Arashiyama and Takao are located northwest of downtown Kyoto. The area is rich in nature, including the Watarigatsu Bridge and the bamboo forests of Sagano. The area is crowded with many tourists during the fall foliage season. The area is a treasure trove of tourist attractions, including the World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji Temple.
Arashiyama and Takao are home to such tourist attractions as Togetsu Bridge, Sagano, bamboo forests, Tenryuji Temple, Monkey Park, Matsuo Taisha Shrine, Katsura River, Hozu River, Jingo-ji Temple, and Takayama Temple.
Local delicacies such as yudofu, yuba, Saga tofu, tofu, and obanzai are also recommended.
The Hozu River Boat Ride takes visitors on a scenic journey of approximately 16 kilometers from Kameoka to Arashiyama in Kyoto. The trip takes around two hours and follows the Hozu River, also known as the Katsura River, through the spectacular Hozukyo Gorge, a designated natural park area. The route features enormous boulders, dramatic rock formations, and constantly changing river scenery. Pass...»
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, also known as the Bamboo Forest Path, is one of Kyoto’s most iconic sightseeing destinations. Towering bamboo stalks stand in orderly rows on both sides of a path, extending high into the sky and creating a spectacular green canopy overhead. The carefully maintained bamboo groves stretch for approximately 400 meters. Visitors can enjoy the gentle rustling of bamboo le...»
Togetsukyo Bridge is one of Kyoto’s most celebrated landmarks and a symbol of the scenic Arashiyama district. The bridge spans the Katsura River at the foot of Mount Arashiyama, a 382-meter-high mountain famous for its cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn. The combination of the gently flowing river and the green mountains in the background creates one of Kyoto’s most recogniz...»
The Sagano Romantic Train offers a relaxing rail journey through the beautiful Hozugawa Gorge in Kyoto. Traveling at a leisurely pace, the train takes approximately 25 minutes to pass through a scenic area designated as a natural park, offering passengers wonderful views of the river and surrounding mountains. Each season brings a different landscape. In spring, wild cherry blossoms and azaleas b...»
Saihō-ji Temple, popularly known as Kokedera, or the Moss Temple, is famous for its grounds carpeted in beautiful green moss. The soft, velvety landscape creates the impression of a lush green carpet, giving the temple a tranquil and almost otherworldly atmosphere. The temple garden consists of two distinct styles: a dry landscape garden created by the renowned Zen Buddhist monk and master garden...»
Nonomiya Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine nestled within the famous Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama and Sagano in Kyoto. It is dedicated to deities associated with academic success, romantic relationships, safe childbirth, and fertility, making it a popular destination for visitors seeking good fortune in love and family life. The shrine is also associated with The Tale of Genji, the celebrated lite...»
Jingoji Temple is an ancient Shingon Buddhist temple located halfway up Mount Takao in the northwestern mountains of Kyoto. The spacious temple grounds feature historic buildings, including the Kondo (Main Hall), Karamon Gate, and the mausoleum dedicated to Wake no Kiyomaro. The temple preserves an outstanding collection of Buddhist art and historical treasures, including a National Treasure stat...»
Tenryu-ji Temple was founded in 1343 by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, to commemorate Emperor Go-Daigo. Closely associated with both the Ashikaga shoguns and Emperor Go-Daigo, the temple was ranked first among Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples. The temple is especially famous for its magnificent garden, designed by Muso Soseki, a distinguished Zen Buddhist monk and one...»
Daikaku-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in the Saga area of Kyoto, originally established as an imperial villa for Emperor Saga. Today, it serves as the head temple of the Daikaku-ji school of Shingon Buddhism and is renowned for its elegant palace-style architecture, beautiful gardens, and deep connections to Japanese imperial history. The temple buildings, designed in the style of tradi...»
Jojakko-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple nestled halfway up Mount Ogura in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto. Surrounded by lush greenery and renowned for its spectacular autumn foliage, the temple offers a peaceful retreat where visitors can appreciate the changing beauty of Japan's four seasons. The temple is associated with the Buddhist priest Nichishin Shonin, who chose this quiet mountains...»
Suzumushi-dera Temple, also known as Kegon-ji Temple, was founded in 1723 as a temple of the Kegon school of Buddhism. It is now affiliated with the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Nestled at the foot of Mount Matsuo in western Kyoto, the temple stands at an elevated location reached by climbing a flight of stone steps. From here, visitors can enjoy sweeping views across Kyoto City. The temple is ...»
Ninna-ji Temple was founded in 888 by Emperor Uda. From that time onward, members of the imperial family who had entered the Buddhist priesthood served as its head priests. The temple was known as Omuro Gosho, meaning the residence of Omuro, reflecting its close ties to the Imperial Household. As a prestigious temple traditionally headed by imperial princes, Ninna-ji has a distinguished history a...»
Toei Kyoto Studio Park, known in Japanese as Uzumasa Eigamura, is a film-themed amusement park in Kyoto. The Uzumasa area has long been associated with Japanese cinema and is often described as the birthplace of Japanese period films, earning a reputation as Japan's answer to Hollywood. The park was created to help preserve the tradition of filmmaking in Kyoto. Its main attraction is an open-air ...»
Okochi Sanso Garden is a beautiful Japanese garden in the Sagano area of Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. It was developed over approximately 30 years by Denjiro Okochi, a celebrated Japanese film actor of the early Showa period. The garden reflects his passion for Japanese landscapes and his distinctive aesthetic sensibility....»
Yoshimine-dera Temple, also known as Nishiyama Yoshimine-dera, is a historic Tendai Buddhist temple located in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto. Founded in the 11th century, it is the 20th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a traditional pilgrimage route connecting 33 temples dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist deity of compassion. One of the temple's most remarkable features is the Yūryū no Matsu, or “C...»
Ryoan-ji Temple is a historic Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple belonging to the Myoshin-ji school, located in Kyoto. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and is best known for its iconic dry landscape garden, one of Japan's most celebrated examples of Zen garden design....»
Myoshin-ji Temple, located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, is the head temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. Founded in 1337, the temple was established when Emperor Hanazono converted his former imperial retreat, known as the Hagiwaradono Palace, into a Zen monastery. The expansive grounds feature a collection of grand temple buildings and 46 subtemples, each with its own history and char...»
Nison-in Temple is a historic Buddhist temple nestled at the eastern foot of Mount Ogura in the Saga area of western Kyoto. Its name comes from the two principal Buddhist statues enshrined here: Shakyamuni Buddha and Amida Buddha. Known for its impressive temple buildings, peaceful grounds, and beautiful seasonal scenery, Nison-in is a popular destination for visitors exploring the Arashiyama and ...»
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, also known as Iwatayama Natural Park, is a popular attraction in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. Set on a forested hillside, the park offers visitors the opportunity to observe Japanese macaques roaming freely in a natural environment while enjoying spectacular views of Kyoto city. The park covers approximately 6.6 hectares and is home to a troop of wild Japane...»
Kyoto is famous for several distinctive tofu dishes, including Gion tofu, known for its grilled miso topping; Nanzenji yudofu, a traditional hot tofu dish; and Sagano tofu, which is closely associated with the origins of silky tofu in Kyoto....»
Kyo koka-bu are small Kyoto turnips prized for their glossy white flesh, tender texture, and gentle sweetness. They are primarily cultivated in the Keihoku, Hiyoshi, and Kameoka areas, where the cool climate provides suitable growing conditions....»
Bamboo crafts are among the traditional specialties of Sagano, an area of Kyoto known for its beautiful bamboo groves. Local specialty shops dedicated to working with bamboo create a variety of handcrafted items that combine traditional techniques with practical, everyday uses. Popular products include distinctive bamboo wind chimes, woven baskets, and bamboo chopsticks. These useful items make c...»
Sanbido, a traditional Japanese accessories shop founded in 1886 in Arashiyama, Kyoto, offers a collection of Japanese-style accessories designed to suit modern lifestyles. Among its popular items are gamaguchi purses, which feature a distinctive metal clasp that opens and closes with a snap. The shop also offers a popular line of fukure-ori, a textured woven fabric series handcrafted by skilled ...»
Bamboo shoots grown in western Kyoto City and the neighboring Otokuni region are renowned throughout Japan for their exceptional quality. They are cultivated using a distinctive technique known as the Kyoto softening cultivation method, which helps produce tender shoots with a delicate flavor. The finest specimens are known as shirako, meaning “white shoots.” Kyoto-grown bamboo shoots are prized ...»