6 Hidden Spots to Visit in the Saga Arashiyama Area

Arashiyama is a part of Kyoto that’s full of famous and incredible locations, like the Sagano Bamboo Forest and the Monkey Park, and beautifully scenic spots like the Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryu-ji Temple. But the list certainly doesn’t stop there. These temples are just a few hidden spots you should visit on your next visit to Arashiyama!

1) Daikaku-ji Temple
Daikaku-ji was once the imperial palace of the Emperor Saga, and has since been converted into a large temple, whose grounds include the elegant Shinden Hall, or emperor’s residence, which was moved and reconstructed from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Osawa Pond, a nationally-designated site of natural beauty with beautiful cherry blossoms.

Distance from Station: 16 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 32 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 22 minutes walking
from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)
Price: Adults 500 yen, Children (Elementary, Junior High, and High School age) 300 yen
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: https://www.daikakuji.or.jp/english/

2) Jojakko-ji Temple
Jojakko-ji Temple’s temple grounds are buried in the beautiful maple leaves that cover the side of Mt. Ogura, and the top of its two-storied pagoda offers a panoramic view of Kyoto City. Whether you’re looking for the vibrant reds of autumn, or the fresh, bright green of spring and summer, you’re sure to find this temple beautiful.

Distance from Station: 20 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 26 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 16 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)
Price: 500 yen
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: https://www.jojakko-ji.or.jp/

3) Gio-ji Temple
Arashiyama’s legendary bamboo is still visible from Gio-ji Temple, but it’s when the sunlight shines through the trees in the temple ground and on to the mossy carpet below that the temple truly becomes magical. This incredibly green location is a wonderful natural escape.

Distance from Station: 20 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 30 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 20 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)
Price: Adults 300 yen, Children (Elementary, Junior High, and High School age) 100 yen
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: http://www.giouji.or.jp/en

4) Nison-in Temple
Nison-in Temple is located on the side of Mt. Ogura, and when you pass through its main gate, which was brought here and reconstructed from Fushimi Castle, you’ll be met by a temple road lined with red maple trees.

Distance from Station: 17 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 26 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 15 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
Hours: 9:00 – 16:30 (Reception closes at this time)
Price: Adults 500 yen, Children (12 years and younger) free
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: http://nisonin.jp/?lang=en

5) Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple is undoubtedly most well known for the 8,000 Buddhist statues that stand solemnly in rows in a spectacularly unusual scene. In summer, these stone statues are lit with candles during the Buddhist Memorial Service with a Thousand Lanterns. In autumn, visitors can enjoy the look of these statues together with the autumn leaves.

Distance from Station: 29 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 40 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 29 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30 / At 15:30 during December, January, and February)
Price: Adults 500 yen, Junior High & High School Students 400 yen, Elementary School Students and younger free
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: http://www.nenbutsuji.jp/（Japanese Only）

6) Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
You’re sure to feel like you’re traveling back in time to a different age in Japan on the approach to this temple, when you’ll pass through the Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street. At the end of the street you’ll find a large, grand red torii gate.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple itself is a unique temple for its 1,200 original statues. Each one was created by a different artist, and each has a different look and expression.

Distance from Station: 39 minutes walking from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line, 50 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Line, 40 minutes walking from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Randen Line
\*Because this temple is the deepest into Arashiyama, you may want to return to the station via bus (Take Kyoto Bus 62, 72, 92, 94 to either Saga-Arashiyama Station or
Hankyu Arashiyama Station).
Hours: 8:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:45)
Price: Adults 300 yen
Location: See on Google Maps
Website: http://www.otagiji.com/