Arashiyama, the place for red leaves, a must to visit in Kyoto

Red Leaves
red leaves

The first time of hearing the place for autumn foliage probably are Arashiyama, Katsuragawa and Togetsukyo Bridge. It is for sure Arashiyama is the best place of Kyoto for red leaves. No matter this is your first time to visit or you are an experienced tourist, it is still worth coming more than one time. Please refer hereunder trip plans, enjoy the sceneries of red leaves in Kyoto!

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For tourists who come for the first time! Half day tour for red leaves sceneries in Arashiyama

Tenryu-Ji Temple

Tenryu-Ji TempleIt is one of the Kyoto’s World Heritage. There is a Sogenchi Garden which the borrowed scenery from Arashiyama, built by Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk Muso Soseki. A good place for enjoying red leaves.
Opening hours:21st October to 20th March: 8:30am to 5:00pm (North entrance 9:00am to 16:30pm)Garden open in the morning (11th November ~ 3rd December 2017, Open at 7:30am)Fee:Gardens (Sogenchi Garden, Hyakkaen Garden): 500 Yen high school, 300 Yen for secondary and primary school, Free for childrenHalls (Large Hojo, Academies, Pagodas): Extra 300 YenHatto (Dharma Hall) for Cloud Dragon Painting: 500 Yen per person

Address:

68 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Arashiyama Station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line
  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 13 mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama Station by Hankyu Railway, 15mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama Tenryu-Ji bus stop by City bus
  • Get off at Keifuku Arashiyama bus stop by Kyoto Bus
  • Car park for 100 cars

Red maple leaves period:Mid November to Early December

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Hogonin Temple

Hogonin TempleIt is the Tatchu sub-temple of Tenryu-Ji. The most popular is “Lion’s Roar Garden” that borrows the scenery of Arashiyama. There will be lightened up at night.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm ( Last entrance 4:45pm )Light up event: 10th November to 3rd December 2017 (Last entrance at 5:30pm ~8:15pm) Fee: 500 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for secondary school, 300 Yen for primary school

Address:

36 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 10 mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama Station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 3mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama Station by Hankyu Railway, 10mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama Tenryu-Ji Temple by City bus, 5mins walk
  • Get off at Keifuku Arashiyama Bus Stop by Kyoto Bus, 5 mins walk
  • Car park: charged (Tenryu-Ji Temple)

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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Nonomiya Shrine

Nonomiya ShrineAccording to history, when new emperor took place of the old one, he would choose Saio (priestess) from unmarried female of the royal to represent the emperor to attend Ise Grand Shrine’s Saiku village. Nonomiya Shrine is the place for these Saio to tidy up their bodies and minds. Now here is famous for the God of marriage. In every autumn, places near the building are in contrast with the green tree, red and orange pictures.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pmFee: Free

Address:

Sagano Miyamachi 1, Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 10 mins walk
  • Get off at Nonomiya bus stop by City or Kyoto Bus
  • Get off at Arashiyama Station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line

Red maple leaves period: Mid to Late November

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Bamboo Forest Path

Although no red leaves, no other place in Japan will have same scenery. It is unique. Here is too famous that you have to come earlier for taking photos. If you come late, better join the night event of ”Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro “.
Opening hours: 24 hoursFee: Free

Address:

Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamacho

  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Sagano-kanko sen Railway, 3mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 12mins walk
  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 17 mins walk

Red maple leaves period: Mid to Late November

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Jojakko-ji Temple

Jojakko-ji TempleThere is the address of Shigure-tei, the holiday cottage of Fujiwara no Teika. A Japanese poet in early Kamakura period who collected the Japanese poets Waka and made the book named “Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Here famous for red leaves since Heian period. These red leaves around Niomoncho and Pagoda are extraordinary beautiful.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm ( Last entrance at 4:30 pm)Fee: 500 Yen

Address:

3 Sagaogurayama Oguracho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 15 mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 20 mins walk

Red maple leaves period:Mid to Late November

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Nison-in Temple

Nison-in TempleOn the foot of Mount Ogura, here is also named as “the race of red leaves” (Momiji-no-baba, that means Maple tree lined approach). Sceneries of red leaves around the worship sidewalk, Chokushi-mon and the main hall are well-known.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:30pmFee: 500 Yen for older than secondary school, Free for below primary school

Address:

27 Saganisonin Monzen Chojincho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 15 mins walk
  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 19 mins walk
  • Get off at Saga Shaka-do bus stop by City Bus, 10 mins walk
  • Car park for 10 cars (Free)

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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Recommend for those who have visited Arashiyama before! Nice place for admiring red leaves

Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji TempleIt is full of traditional country side feeling. A grass house with thatched roof is at here. The ground is full of mosses with few maple leaves cover. What a colorful picture!
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Last entrance at 4:30pm)Fee: 300 Yen for adults, 100 Yen for secondary and primary schoolCombine ticket: 600 Yen (Except from 31st Oct to 30th Nov, 2018)

Address:

32 Sagatoriimoto Kozakacho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 20 mins walk
  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 20 mins walk
  • Get off at Saga Elementary School Bus Stop by City Bus, 17mins walk
  • Get off at Saga Shaka-do bus stop by City Bus, 15 mins walk

Red maple leaves period: Late November to Early December

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Seiryo-ji Temple (Saga Shakado)

It built according to the original Minamoto no Toru, the manor of Hikaru Genji of“The Tale of Genji”. There are red leaves in the corridor of the main hall, Bentendo and pagoda.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm (April, May, October, November: 9:00am to 5:00pm)(Visitors have to leave temple if there are rites in the temple)Fee: 400 Yen per person, 300 Yen for secondary school, 200 Yen for primary schoolMain hall combined ticket: 700 Yen per person, 500 Yen for secondary school, 300 Yen for primary school (Only in April, May, October and November)

Address:

46 Sagashakadofujinokicho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 15 mins walk
  • Get off at Saga Shaka-do bus stop by City or Kyoto Bus, 1 min walk
  • Car park with charges

Red maple leaves period: Late November to Early December

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Houkyou-in Temple

Houkyou-in TempleRed leaves around the Houkyou-in Temple is very famous. Beware that tripod, monopod, big and medium cameras are not allowed in the temple.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm (November: 4:30pm)Fee: 500 Yen high school, 200 Yen for secondary and primary school

Address:

9-1 Sagashakado Monzen Minamichuincho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line, 20 mins walk

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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Rokuou-in Temple

Rokuou-in TempleIt was built for the wish of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd shogun of Ashikaga shogunate. It is a little bit far away from the main temple groups of Arashiyama. Along the long and narrow pilgrimage’s path, on the both sides there are beautiful red maple leaves.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pmFee: 400 Yen for adults, 200 Yen for secondary and primary school

Address:

24 Sagakitaboricho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station by JR Sagano Line. 5mins walk
  • Get off at Rokuoin Station by Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Line, 3 mins walk
  • Get off at Saga Bus Stop by City and Kyoto Bus, 3 mins walk
  • Car park for 4 cars

Red maple leaves period:Late November to Early December

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Taking the Arashiyama Sagano Scenic Railway during red maple leaves period

The mini train starts from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Kameoka station, taking 25 minutes for 7.3km. Not only enjoy the landscape of Hozukyo valley and the red leaves, also the presentation of the train captain’s commands.Tickets can be pre-ordered at 10:00am one month before via the internet、the “Green Window”of JR West or by travel agency. They will be sold out in a few minutes during the peak time of autumn foliage.As the seats are non-reserved if you book via internet. If you want to sit together with friends, family or couples, you have to book by other means.If the tickets are not sold out yet, you can buy the tickets at Saga Station (8:35am), Arashiyama Station (8:40am) or Kameoka Station (8:50am). First come, first served basis. There are also limited tickets for upright seats.The open compartment with no windows“The Rich” (No.5 compartment) is very popular. The tickets are only available on-site. If you are lucky, you can exchange your ticket for “The Rich” ticket on-site.During the light-up night event in red leaves period (14th October to 10 th December 2017: 4:30pm to 7:30pm), there will be an extra train going and coming back. If it is on Sunday or holiday in the peak time of red leaves period, there will be two extra trains.Taking Sagano Scenic Railway is a good option to travel between Arashiyama. But if you have enough time, you can get off at Katsuragawa station and walk to Arashiyama along the mountain path. It is an interesting experience!

Sagano Scenic Railway

Service period: 1st March to 29th December (Available everyday in red maple leaves period)Fee: 620 Yen for adults, 130 Yen for children (for all areas)

EpilogueIn Arashiyama, there is a maple festival held on the 2nd Sunday of November. The ”Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro “ event will have light up event in December. Other than red leaves, a lot of fun can be found in Arashiyama. Remember to visit here when traveling in Kyot