Walking Tour of Kiyotaki to Takao ( hidden course Kyoto Arashiyama to north : Nature Tourism )

Meeting Point

JR Saga Arashiyama Station

Gohodo Benzaiten

First, you will arrive to a hidden temple called Gohodo Benzaiten. It is really hidden in the woods right behind a bus stop called " Gohodo Benzaiten ". You would definitely miss it without a guide. The temple enshrines a goddess called Benzaiten. Benzaiten is a symbol of eloquence ( art of speech to influence people ) . Gohodo Benzaiten is a temple at the hill of Mt. Toriigata. The mountain holds one of 5 symbols of our traditional summer event of building a huge formation of bonefire among 5 mountains located in different directions surrounding the city. This event is called " Gozan Okuribi " which is held to send off spirits of deceased. And this one makes a shape of toirii gate. This is the name origin of this area Toriimoto. The place is scarcely known by some people who come here to make wishes to its Benzaiten. This Benzaiten is enshrined in here as a guardian of Mt. Toriigata. This place is a real hidden treasure for viewing autumn beauty of sacred momiji.

Adashino-Mayumura

The next stop we are going to make is Adashino-Mayumura. This is a shop selling craft items made of cocoons. They are selling them as souvenir items for visitors. There is another Mayumura located right next to Arashiyama station, but this one in Toriimoto is the original. Staffs you will meet at the shop are very friendly. You can expect warm welcome from those people. You can relax and have a little shopping on your way. The items here are not heavy or bulky. You can just pack in your tiny bag to carry around. There are items with written message in beautiful letters. I can neatly translate them all.

Saga Toriimoto Town-scape Archive Hall

Go on our way up the hill you come to an old house with thatched roof called Saga Toriimoto Town-scape Archive Hall. The function of this house is to work on the project of preserving a historical landscape of this area. This place is open to public to casually visit and have look around inside the ancient house constructed in 1890's. In this place, I would like to explain how things were and how they stay the way they are today. The structure of this house displays well-preserved architectural style commonly seen from early Meiji Period in Japan. I hope that my explanation will give you a new perspective to the landscape of this area.

First torii gate of Atago Shrine

After visiting the Archive Hall, soon you will come to the 1st gate of Atago Shrine. Here is a great spot for taking photos. Let's take some beak for some photo shooting. The best time for this spot is autumn. It is also great with green leaves of momiji maple.

Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

The next stop is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple. Just go along the way up the hill. You will come to this temple. The temple displays a huge collection of stone statues. Every one of them have different impression on their face. It is said there are 1200 of them in this one place. You will surely find this fascinating. The entire ground of this temple is mostly covered in thick moss due the high humidity of this area. The atmosphere of this temple is something unique despite many other temples you see in the city are quite similar to one another. It requires entrance charge of 300 yen per person. This is the only place in this course which requires additional fee. All the rests are free of charge.

Village of Kiyotaki

Now, let's move on toward west to the tunnel. Now you came to a road splitting in three ways right before the tunnel of Kiyotaki. This is the end of Atago Kaido where it meets Kiyotaki-michi " the road to Kiyotaki ". Even though it is said that this tunnel is a scary ghostly spot, I don't think it is such a place. It might look creepy when you look at it with such idea because of the lights in the tunnel and its surroundings. There is a beautiful village called Kiyotaki after passing this tunnel. You don't have to worry because people are living in that village and it is the only way to access Mt. Atago from the city.

Water fall of Kuya

Kiyotaki to Takao trail

Takao

When we come to Takao, first you'll be guided to a restaurant called Togano Chaya which serves traditional Japanese dishes. Later on, I will offer you a complete area guide of Takao to visit 3 major cultural assets in the area and where to catch a bus to get back to the city.

Togano Chaya

Here in this restaurant I will offer to explain about what you might like to order for your preference. I have their English menu which I wrote. This place has a room surrounded by large windows to see the great view of maple along river. In case this place is closed, we'll visit another place similar to this one. After coming out from the restaurant, I will offer you area guide before you go on your way to start from Kozanji Templea which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It is likely that you have enough time to visit all the attractions in Takao before all the closing time. It takes about 3 hours to cover the entire area. In this way you are fully guided for all day. Hotaru ( fireflies ) viewing guide will be included around late June.

Ending Point

Kozanji Temple