Kyoto in winter - Arashiyama / Sagano / Hozukyo / Kameoka
Arashiyama is one of the most popular sight-seeing areas of Kyoto. Cherry blossoms in spring, green trees in summer, colorful leaves in autumn and snowy landscapes in winter attract millions throughout the year to the location Heian era aristocrats once used for parties and pampering. Sagano on the other hand retains its atmosphere of yesteryear with temples, whispering bamboo groves and paddy fields. Large but quiet, Sagano is really a great place in which to spend a relaxing day anytime of the year - especially in winter.
  Arashiyama / Sagano
The well known Togetsukyo Bridge, viewed against Mount Arashiyama is one of Japan's most famous images and a walk back from the bridge by the main train station and through an area crammed with teahouses and souvenir shops will bring walkers to Tenryuji Temple. Tenryuji is the head temple of the Tenryuji School of the Rinzai-shu sect of Buddhism and was first established by Ashikaga Takauji; founder of the Muromachi Shogunate, in order to pray for the repose of Emperor Godaigo's soul. Comparatively large temples, both Tenryuji and Daikakuji Temple are similar in size with the famed garden at Tenryuji known to take advantage of the surrounding backdrop of Arashiyama landscapes.
Nonomiya Shrine is not far from Tenryuji and is the starting point of a road through a bamboo thicket leading to Okochisanso. The bamboo, as tall as an average house in places, leaves the road in darkness much of the time. Okochisanso itself is the former villa of Japanese actor Denjiro Okochi and is a lesson in sophistication. The garden is approximately 20,000 sq. m. in size and was designed for strolling. From the observatory in the garden; at the top of the hill, it is possible to look out over the town below with Mount Hiei and the Hozu River both visible.
 One of the charms of walking in Sagano is the distance between the temples and shrines while another is the road layout and relative lack of traffic when compared to other parts of the city. After Okochisanso, the road leads around to Jojakkoji - a quaint temple perched on the hillside of Mount Ogura. With an impressive thatched Niomon gate, passing through, a series of steep stone steps will take visitors to the main hall further up the mountain slope. The steps are themselves surrounded in greenery from spring to summer, and come autumn the greenery turns scarlet. A rustic yet typical Sagano-style temple, Jojakkoji is famed for its autumnal display and does see more visitors than usual making their way up the steps at this time.
A quiet lane around a nearby field then leads to Rakushisha; the small thatched house built on the flat land at the foot of the mountain. The house formerly belonged to Mukai Kyorai, one of the disciples of the haiku poet Matsuo Basho - perhaps Japan's most famous poet during the Edo period. The small, rustic house fits in perfectly with its peaceful surrounds as do a straw raincoat and woven hat at the entrance.
Walking up the path by the house will then take you to Gioji Temple - a quiet nunnery where another thatched building - this time a hut, stands in the moss garden.
 Adashino was once the burial grounds of the dead and Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is believed to date back to the time the priest Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi) wished to inter the remains of local dead who went unclaimed. Collecting stone Buddhas and tombstones from around the Adashino area, his efforts resulted in the approximately 8,000 pieces seen today.
 Walking north from the front of Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple will soon bring you to an area that looks like it belongs in a history book known as Saga-toriimoto. The area once prospered as a shrine town as it stands in front of Atago Shrine; its street winding its way through the town and up to the Ichi-no-tori of the shrine proper. The vermillion tori stands out against the mountain backdrop and is a sight to behold - even from a distance. The large thatched house behind the tori is called Hiranoya - an old restaurant famous for its ayu (fish) dishes.
Between December 9th and 18th, 2006, the Arashiyama Hanatouro will be held in the illuminated Arashiyama, Sagano and Daikakuji areas and will see exhibitions of Japanese flower arrangement as well as some of the temples remaining open into the night.
Hozukyo / Kameoka
The Sagano Scenic Railway train runs at a leisurely pace down the Hozukyo Valley - famous for its breathtaking views. (NB: the service started March 1st and will end December 29th.)
 The run takes about 25 minutes from Trokko Saga Station to Trokko Kameoka Station. In Kameoka, Kameyama Castle, built by Akechi Mitsuhide (the warlord who killed Oda Nobunaga) is worth a visit as is Yunohana Onsen to the southwest; a quaint old hot spring set amid quiet mountains.
For the more energetic though, why not try the 16km "Hozugawa kudari," boat trip along the Hozugawa River from Kameoka to Arashiyama via Hozukyo Valley? Rush down the rapids surrounded on all sides by outstanding views.
 Kyoto in winter
Higashiyama
Traditional performing arts of Japan
Kyogashi
A walk around the heart of Kyoto
Miyama / Tango
Let's try Hands-on activities
Maps
 Japan Railway Map PDF 414 KB
Central Kyoto PDF 769 KB
Arashiyama / Sagano / Hozukyo / Kameoka PDF 171 KB
Links
Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto City
Kyoto City Tourist Association
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