Discover Kansai

After an eight-minute walk north of Arashiyama Station, you will feel the history that resides here as you encounter the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. Built in the Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333), the bridge received its name, “moon crossing,” by Emperor Kameyama. Spanning 155m (500 ft) over the Katsura River, rickshaws are pulled across the wooden structure, which is supported by concrete. The bridge allows visitors to feel as if they are traveling through Kyoto’s past. It is one of Arashiyama’s notable landmarks and it can’t be missed.

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is an approximately 400m (1300 ft) walkway surrounded by thickets of bamboo. It is a 20-minute walk from Arashiyama Station. Despite the crowds that it attracts, the tints of green along the naturally colored path allow visitors to feel at ease in nature. Throughout the cool fall season, you will also see people of all ages wearing kimono, emphasizing the Bamboo Grove’s refreshing traditional Japanese atmosphere.

There is also a rickshaw route which provides picturesque views within the bamboo forest. During the later hours of the day, the pathway is lit to offer a romantic stroll that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

Tenryu-ji Temple is a Zen temple established in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji. It is a registered UNESCO World Heritage site. Entry into the building allows guests to rest and enjoy hallways and tatami rooms embellished in traditional Zen decor with views of the garden.

The garden, which survived through centuries, is a must-see as it offers guests stunning views of autumn leaves as well as a central pond surrounded by rocks. Viewing the building from the foot of the pond emphasizes the beauty of Arashiyama’s colors in the fall seasons. Tenryu-ji is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm in the summer and 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in the winter. Although you can enter both the garden and temple for a combined 800 yen, there are 500 yen and 300 yen tickets for the garden and the temple separately. Make sure you hold onto your ticket to receive these prices.

A nine-minute walk from Nonomiya Shrine and through the bamboo forest is a temple built on the mountainside called Jojakko-ji Temple. During this time of the year, the pathway leading to the entrance is lined with red, orange, and yellow leaves. Walking under the sanmon (main gate), it will feel like you are entering a beautiful garden rather than a temple. Because there are no borders that separate the buildings and the forest, Jojakko-ji Temple is also known as a temple without walls.

Every step towards the top of Jojakko-ji Temple reveals another beautiful scene of Arashiyama and Sagano City. As visitors make their way up to the pagoda, there is an observatory where you can relax and admire the autumn foliage. There is a 500 yen entrance fee and the observatory is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

There is also a rickshaw route which provides picturesque views within the bamboo forest. During the later hours of the day, the pathway is lit to offer a romantic stroll that cannot be experienced anywhere else.