If you leave the Tenryu-ji garden by the back gate instead of the front, about 500 m away there’s a temple famous for its autumn leaves called Jojakko-ji. Jojakko-ji itself is lovely, but the walk there is a work of art too. This was my sixth trip to Kyoto, and every time I come I discover somewhere completely new. There are still so many places I haven’t seen. Autumn and spring are way too crowded, so coming in summer or winter to wander around slowly and enjoy things in peace might be a nice idea.
Step out of the back gate of the Tenryu-ji garden and a path through tall bamboo stretches on like this.
The photo doesn’t really do it justice, but these bamboo are incredibly tall and thick.
A pond along the way
Travel feels even more fun when you stumble on a gorgeous view you weren’t expecting.
When I got there, the leaves at Jojakko-ji were at their peak. It was a little early, but the colors still made my heart race. There are lots of famous temples along the back roads of Arashiyama. Don’t just stop by the Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryu-ji; head further in. You’ll discover a hidden side of Kyoto.
Now, enjoy the photos.
This is the Tahoto pagoda, famous all over Japan.
And that wrapped up my sightseeing in Arashiyama. By the time I was leaving, there were really a lot of tourists. There were a few more temples worth visiting, but we had to leave early to avoid the traffic, so I gave up and headed off. Looking at these photos makes me want to go back.