Kyoto Day Trip: Sanzen-in Temple & Arashiyama

[ArashiyamaLocated in the northwest of Kyoto, the area attracts many tourists with its world-famous bamboo forests and beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons. The area is dotted with temples, ancient imperial villas, and famous historical sites, many of which are national treasures or even recognized as world heritage sites. The entire area has been designated as a scenic spot. • Sagano Train:The Sagano Sightseeing Train departs from Sagano Station to Kameoka Station, and travels slowly along the scenic Hozu River Valley. The one-way way trip takes about 25 minutes. You can see cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green in summer, maple leaves in autumn, and sometimes the world of silver in winter. You can enjoy the different beauty of the four seasons by taking the train in different seasons. • Togetsukyo Bridge:The Togetsukyo Bridge was built in the Heian period in the first half of the 9th century. It was destroyed by floods several times and rebuilt. It is said that the name Togetsukyo Bridge came from the fact that the emperor of the Kamakura period was admiring the moon while taking a boat to Arashiyama and exclaimed that the moon seemed to be moving across the bridge. • Bamboo Forest Trail:The Bamboo Forest Trail is located in Arashiyama and is about 500 meters long. Walking through the bamboo forest, you can hear the natural sound of wind blowing through the bamboo leaves. This sound has also been rated as one of the 100 sounds worth preserving in Japan. • Tenryuji Temple:Tenryuji Temple was built in 1339 as a large temple complex consisting of more than a hundred sub-gardens. Today, only a few structures remain, and the gardens are one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese garden design. [Sanzen-in Temple] is a temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, founded in 1118. The main wooden statue of Amitabha and the statues on both sides are important cultural properties of Japan. The temple is full of towering old trees, moss, gurgling streams, cherry blossoms in April, azaleas in May, hydrangeas in July, and red leaves in autumn. The natural scenery is pleasing to the eye all year round.