Young tourist enjoying the sunset in Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, one of the most famoust places in Kyoto, Japan

INIGO CIA DA RIVA / Stocksy United

Arashiyama & Sagano

Arashiyama and Sagano, two adjoining neighbourhoods at the base of Kyoto’s western mountains, form the city’s second-most-popular sightseeing district after Southern Higashiyama. Foreign and domestic tourists flock here to see Tenryū-ji, a temple with a stunning mountain backdrop, and the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. There are also several small temples scattered around and a not-to-be-missed hilltop villa with gardens – Ōkōchi-Sansō – making it a great place to escape the city and simply wander.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Path through bamboo forest

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    The thick green bamboo stalks seem to continue endlessly in every direction and there’s a strange quality to the light at this famous bamboo grove, which…

  • 562993703 Travel Destinations, Travel, Horizontal, Outdoors, Japan, East Asia, F Saiho-ji Temple, which is said to have been established by the monk Gyoki 1300 years ago, was restored and converted into a Zen temple by the monk Muso Soseki in 1339. The precincts are covered by more than 120 types of moss, resembling a beautiful green carpet - thus its other name, Kokedera Temple, which literally means Moss Temple. The garden, designated as a special place of scenic beauty, consists of a lower landscape garden surrounding a pond shaped like the Chinese character kokoro (heart), and an upper dry landscape-style rock garden built by Muso Soseki. This garden has exerted a great deal of influence on later Japanese gardens. The temple is registered as UNESCO World Heritage site as part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

    Saihō-ji

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    Saihō-ji, one of Kyoto's best-known gardens, is famed for its superb moss garden, hence the temple's nickname: Koke-dera (Moss Temple). The heart-shaped…

  • Kyoto, Japan - April 27, 2017: Hojo Hall and picturesque Sogen Garden or Sogenchi Teien with a circular promenade centered around Sogen-chi Pond in Tenryu-ji Zen Temple in Arashiyama. Springtime. 925512942

    Tenryū-ji

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    A major temple of the Rinzai school, Tenryū-ji has one of the most attractive gardens in all of Kyoto, particularly during the spring cherry-blossom and…

  • 500745590 2015; Arts Culture and Entertainment; Asia; Autumn; Buddha; Buddhism; Building Exterior; Built Structure; Bush; Cultures; East Asian Culture; Famous Place; Foliage; Forest; Formal Garden; Grass; Green Color; Higashiyama-ku - Kyoto; History; Holiday Villa; Horizontal; House; Japan; Japanese Culture; Japanese Garden; Katsura; Kyoto City; Kyoto Prefecture; Leaf; Monument; Mountain; No People; Ornamental Garden; Outdoors; Photography; Pinaceae; Pine Tree; Place of Worship; Religion; Rinzai Zen Buddhism; Royalty; Shrine; Spirituality; Temple - Building; Travel; Travel locations; Tree; Villa; Wood - Material; Zen-like; Kyoto, Japan - October 5, 2015: Japanese gardens and main house (Daijokaku) in the Okochi Sanso villa in Arashiyama, Kyoto, the former home and garden of the Japanese period film amor Denjiro Okochi.

    Ōkōchi Sansō

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    This is the lavish estate of Ōkōchi Denjirō, an actor famous for his samurai films. The sprawling gardens may well be the most lovely in all of Kyoto,…

  • Katsura Imperial Villa Garden in Kyoto, Japan

    Katsura Rikyū

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    Katsura Rikyū, one of Kyoto’s imperial properties, is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Japanese traditional architecture and garden design. Set…

  • Japanese snow monkey & park bench

    Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    Though it is common to spot wild monkeys in the nearby mountains, here you can encounter them at a close distance and enjoy watching the playful creatures…

  • Togetsu-kyō

    Togetsu-kyō

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    The dominant landmark in Arashiyama, this bridge is just a few minutes on foot from either the Keifuku line or Hankyū line Arashiyama stations. The…

  • Giō-ji

    Giō-ji

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    This tiny temple near the north end of the main Arashiyama sightseeing route is one of Kyoto's hidden gems. Its main attraction is the lush moss garden…

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