[Kyoto ]Selected by Guide! 10 must-visit spots for autumn foliage

Eikando (Zenrin-ji Temple) is a famous autumn foliage spot mentioned in the Kokin Wakashu, and is known as the Eikando of Maples "" for its breathtaking beauty. About 3,000 maple trees are planted in the precincts of the temple, and every year when the season arrives, the buildings and the pond are dyed a brilliant red.

During the fall foliage season, the biggest attractions are the "Taiho-to (pagoda) "located halfway up Mt. Wakaoji and the "Hojouchi (Houjo-ike) "located in the center of the temple grounds. In particular, the "Iwagaki Maple seen on the way to the Dabotou "is a precious thing that can be seen only here in Eikando. "Incidentally, the term "Iwagaki maple" refers to the maple trees growing between rocks, and is derived from a poem in the Kokin Waka Shu: ""The maple leaves on the rocks of Okiyama must fall, the light of the shining sun, without time to see them.

At Houshoike Pond, visitors can enjoy the magnificent view of maple leaves planted around the pond and the upside-down maple leaves reflected on the surface of the water. You can enjoy the beautiful contrast between the blue sky and the autumn leaves during the daytime, at dusk when the leaves turn into the color of sunset, and at night when the leaves are fantastically lit up, no matter what time of day you visit. It is a representative autumn foliage spot in Kyoto, so be sure to visit.

"Facility Information "
Address: 48 Eikando-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8445
Phone number: 075-761-0007
URL：http://www.eikando.or.jp/index.html

If you go to Eikando for maple leaf viewing, be sure to stop by the neighboring Nanzenji Temple as well, which boasts an area of 45,000 square meters and is full of photogenic spots to view the autumn leaves!

"You can enjoy the brilliantly colored autumn leaves in various places, including the Sanmon Gate, which is familiar from the line ""Is this a superb view?" said by Ishikawa Goemon in the Kabuki play "Sanmon Gosankiri ", along the approach from Sanmon to Hodo, and around Suijikaku with its beautiful red brick arches.

One of the best views is from "Tenju-an ", one of the pagodas of Nanzen-ji Temple. Although you cannot enter the main hall, the view of the autumn leaves through the picture frame from the entrance is worth seeing! You can't help but take pictures of the beautiful, artistic autumn leaves. During the season, you can also enjoy the view of the garden illuminated by lights, which attracts many visitors to the temple.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒606-8435 Fukuchi-cho, Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Phone number: 075-771-0365
URL：https://nanzenji.or.jp/

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a popular tourist destination that attracts many visitors not only from Japan but also from overseas. There are approximately 1,000 maple trees on the temple grounds, and the main hall and three-story pagoda are brightly decorated in autumn when they are at their best.

The recommendation is simple! The view from Okuno-in. When most people think of Kiyomizu-Dera Temple's spectacular view, they may think of the famous main hall at "Kiyomizu no Butai ", but only in Okuno-in can you enjoy a more spectacular view of Kiyomizu no Butai, beautiful autumn leaves, and the cityscape of Kyoto in the distance.

During the special nighttime viewing in the fall, the Okuno-in Temple offers a fantastic view of the blue ray of light that represents the mercy of Kannon, the illuminated autumn leaves, and the night view of Kyoto. This time of the year is expected to be quite crowded due to the school excursion season, but the view from the inner sanctuary is still so exceptional that "you will be glad you came. "

"Facility Information "
Residence:〒605-0862 1-294 Shimizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Phone number: 075-551-1234
URL：https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/

About 2,000 maple trees of various types grow in Tofukuji Temple, including the Tongten maple (tokaede), which is said to have been brought back from China by Ennin, the founder of the temple, as well as Iroha maple and yamamomiji (mountain maple). Due to its location, the leaves change color a little later than at other foliage viewing spots, and it is considered the last place in Kyoto where the autumn leaves can be seen.

The most famous sight at Tofukuji Temple is the view of Sengyokukan (仙玉澗) from Tsutenkyo (Tsuten Bridge). When the season arrives, the maple trees planted around Senkyokukan turn red all at once, and the beauty of the valley can be enjoyed.

The autumn leaves of Sengokukan can be viewed from the Tongtenkyo Bridge, as well as from the Gagunkyo Bridge and the Bastorekyo Bridge. At the end of the season, visitors can enjoy the colorful leaves flowing down the mountain stream and the beautiful scattered maple leaves covering the ground.

"Facility Information "
Residence:〒605-0981 15-778 Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Phone number: 075-561-0087
URL：https://tofukuji.jp/

Located within walking distance from Kyoto Station, Toji Temple offers a collaboration of the five-story pagoda, long a symbolic tower of Kyoto, and the autumn leaves spreading across the temple grounds.

As the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan, there are many places where you can see the combination of the five-story pagoda and autumn leaves, but if you want to enjoy a more spectacular view, aim for the area around Hyotaike Pond. The five-story pagoda and the autumn leaves reflected in the pond are a sight to behold. Since To-ji Temple's garden is a pond garden around Hyoutaike Pond, you can also see a collaboration of Kondo and Kodo halls and the autumn leaves.

Also, during the lighting up of the autumn leaves, which began in 2015 as a commemorative event, the fantastically illuminated autumn leaves and the five-story pagoda can be seen reflected in the water mirror of Hyotaike Pond. At the end of the season, fallen maple leaves can be seen floating on the surface of the water. There are many places to enjoy the autumn leaves in Kyoto. " "If you want to enjoy the autumn scenery of Kyoto, please visit To-ji Temple.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒601-8473 Kyoto City, Minami-ku, Kujo-machi 1
Phone number: 075-691-3325
URL: https: //toji.or.jp/

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, is also a popular spot for viewing the autumn leaves. Although there are many visitors, it is less crowded than Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Tofuku-dera Temple, and is a recommended spot for those who wish to view the autumn leaves in a relaxed atmosphere.

On the west side of the temple grounds, a part of the "Midogi "gateway built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a general in the Warring States period, in the Momoyama period still remains and is now "a historic site with about 350 maple trees ". The autumn leaves seen from the walking path along the Kamiya River are magnificent, especially around Uguisubashi Bridge, where you can feel the atmosphere typical of Kyoto.

Some of the maple trees have also been growing wild for a long time, not planted by human hands. One of the most famous is the "Mitsumata no momiji (three-pronged maple) ". It is a maple tree with a trunk that literally splits into three, and is said to be over 400 years old. Why don't you take a moment to think about the history of this tree as you look at the maple trees that have taken root in this area since the time of the construction of the Odoi Gate?

"Facility Information "
Residence: 〒602-8386 Kyoto City Kamigyo-ku Bakuro-cho
Phone number: 075-461-0005
URL：https://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/

The Arashiyama area has attracted people since the Heian period (794-1185), and its scenic beauty can be enjoyed in each of the four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter. During the fall foliage season, the mountain cherry trees and maple trees on Arashiyama, which rises 375 meters above sea level, change color and mix with the thick growth of red pine trees, creating a vivid contrast of red, yellow, and green.

There are many places in the vicinity where you can enjoy the magnificent autumn leaves, such as Tenryu-ji Temple, Ninna-ji Temple, and Ryoanji Temple, but if you want to see the autumn leaves in Arashiyama, you should definitely not miss the Watarigetsukyo Bridge. The best time to visit is at dusk, and from the Rinkawa-ji area of Arashiyama Park, you can see the beautiful collaboration of the autumn leaves of Arashiyama and Watarigetsukyo Bridge as it is dyed by the setting sun.

"Facility information "*Togetsu Bridge
Address: 1-5 Sagano-baba-cho, Tenryuji, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-0007, Japan

The Sagano Trolley Train, which connects Saga to Kameoka, takes about 25 minutes and offers a scenic view of the Hozugawa River valley in autumn colors. About 1,000 maple trees and maples line the tracks, and the autumn leaves coloring the slopes of the mountains on the other side of the river and reflecting on the surface of the river provide a magnificent view at each spot.

If you ride the Sagano Trolley Train, you should also check out "Light Fantasy Train ", which is held only during the autumn foliage season. The mountains turning red and yellow and the shimmering river are lit up and illuminated to create a fantastic scene. You can enjoy the wonderful scenery up close from the train window both during the day and at night, so be sure to take the train when you go to Kyoto.

"Facility Information "
Address (Trolley Saga Station): Saga Tenryuji Kurumamido-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 616-8373, Japan
Phone number (Sagano Railway): 075-861-7444
URL：https://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/

"Sanzenin Temple, located in Ohara, known as the Kansai region's "back seat "," has slightly cooler temperatures than central Kyoto, allowing visitors to see the autumn leaves relatively early in the season. Recommended foliage spots are the two gardens, known as "the jewel box of the Orient ".

The Kyakuden garden, "Juhekien ", is a pond garden with a pond, moss, and stepping stones in perfect harmony. In autumn, trees dyed bright red are added to the garden, creating an elegant and serene autumn scene typical of Kyoto.

In addition, at "Yuseien, a garden with a circular garden with a pond, you can enjoy the contrast between moss and autumn leaves spreading across the garden. " At the end of the season, a carpet of green is overlapped by scattered maple leaves, creating a vivid and photogenic scene that is hard to find anywhere else.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒601-1242 Kyoto City, Sakyo-ku, Ohara, 540 Yingin-cho
Phone number: 075-744-2531
URL：http://www.sanzenin.or.jp/

Ruriko-in Temple has become famous through social networking services, and in recent years, visitors have had to wait up to four hours to enter the temple. The highlight is the superb view from the second-floor Shoin. The sight of the colorful maple trees spreading out through the black-rimmed windows and their reflections on the lacquered desk tops and floorboards is so beautiful that it will leave you speechless.

From the Shoin on the first floor, you can view "Ruri no Niwa ", which is different from the view from the second floor. The view from the second floor is different from the view from the first floor.

"Facility Information "
Address: 55 Higashiyama, Kamitakano, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0067
URL：http://rurikoin.komyoji.com/

During the autumn foliage season, you can enjoy the emotional autumn scenery wherever you go in Kyoto. In this issue, we have introduced some of the most beautiful spots in Kyoto where you can enjoy even more spectacular views of the autumn leaves. Although all of these places are crowded with people during the season, the scenery you see in person is incomparably more beautiful than in photographs, so we encourage you to visit at least one of these places. We hope you will visit at least one spot to enjoy Kyoto's autumn foliage.