Is a Kyoto trip over Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kin/Ginkaku-ji Temple, and Arashiyama? The Ohara area, slightly outside of downtown Kyoto, is home to a number of temples with beautiful picture-framed gardens in a quiet setting. It is not yet well known to Koreans, but it is said to be a place where locals and Japanese tourists alike visit thanks to the gardens that are breathtaking in all seasons. Kansai, where the leaves change color a little later than in Korea, is at their peak right now. We will also introduce Oharaโs picture-framed gardens in autumn, as well as nearby food.
Jikko-in
"Let's meet in Kyoto in the fall"
Kyoto, with its faded film-like colors, also dons a brilliant hue in autumn.
Unlike Seoul, which stands between seasons, it announces the late-peak autumn of Kyoto.
The first place to introduce is a small temple, Jikkoin, with a garden in the Ohara area on the outskirts of Kyoto.
โฑ
๐ Jikkoin
๐ท 187 Oharashorinincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
๐ฐ Daily 09:00 - 16:00
๐ด Admission fee 500 yen (800 yen with snack set)
Sanzen-in Temple
If you go to Kyoto, come to Ohara. The second trip to Osaka spent more than half in Kyoto. When incorporating Kyoto into the journey, many courses visit Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji centered around Kiyomizu-dera, but from my experience of visiting small towns several times, I feel that the Japanese flavor is felt better in the outskirts rather than the glamorous main tourist spots. - The places I introduced yesterday, this place, and the next place to introduce are all located in an area called 'Ohara', about an hour away from Kyoto. It feels like Sintanjin in Daejeon, Gijang-gun in Busan, a bit far from downtown, but there are temples where you can enjoy beautiful scenery in a quiet ambiance, attracting not only locals but also tourists from other areas every season. - Especially, Sanzenin, boasting the largest scale among them, should be the first place to visit when you come to Ohara. Popular even among Japanese, it's an ideal spot to start the journey with restaurants and tea houses lined up nearby. The scenery in the photo is filled with colorful autumn leaves, but in spring, flowers; in summer, hydrangeas; and in winter, snowscapes fill the space, so it's good to visit regardless of the season. Apart from Sanzenin, there are several temples in the Ohara area that contain framed gardens, each with its distinct personality and scenery, so if you go to Ohara, I recommend visiting them all. If asked about places to visit in Kyoto in the future, might my only response be this one sentence. "Definitely come to Ohara."
โฑ
๐ Sanzenin (Sanzenin, ไธๅ้ข)
๐ท Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Sakyo Ward, Ohararaikoincho 540
(540 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)
๐ฐ Daily 09:00 - 17:00
๐ด Admission fee 700 yen
Hosen-in
Kyoto's framed garden, Hosenin, located in the Ohara area, is counted among the top three gardens along with Sanzenin and Shilkwangwon, previously introduced. Sanzenin captivates with its vast scale and orderly moss forests, while Shilkwangwon charms with its compact beauty. Meanwhile, Hosenin overwhelms visitors immediately upon entering with a towering tree within its framed garden. This tree is over 800 years old. Having stood the test of time for about half of the millennium, this ancient tree stretches its hefty branches towards the sky as if having overcome all its trials. It seems both human and tree instinctively yearn to move forward. Regardless of the direction, the result will be as beautiful as this 800-year-old tree. ๐ Hosenin (Hosenin, ๅฎๆณ้ข) ๐ท Located in 187 Oharashorinincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto ๐ฐ Open daily 09:00 - 17:00 ๐ด Admission fee 800 yen (includes basic tea service)
Shลrin-in Temple
Looking from afar and up close are different. Nested between Sanzen-in and Hosen-in, the expansive temple, Shourinin, might seem easy to pass by from the outside, but it represents the most authentic temple atmosphere. From a distance, it appears as if its grand scale is all there is, but up close, the charm of its old, weathered tiles is truly impressive. Everything looks different from afar and up close. It calls for multiple looks and from various angles.
Onomiyasu
Considering dango merely as simple skewered rice cakes is a mistake. The taste significantly varies depending on whether the dango is coated with sweet red bean paste, sprinkled with soybean flour, or the ingredients and even the method of grilling. On the way to the bus stop from Sanzen-in, this general store that grills dango over charcoal captures the attention of passersby. Although it's a touristy street food, the mix of miso and soy sauce made freshly in the shop was excellent, and the chewiness of the freshly grilled rice cakes was also very impressive. This is the third time I've had dango outside a convenience store, but no matter how well a convenience store is managed, it seems factory-made products just can't compare to those made on the spot. Dango should be bought and enjoyed outside of convenience stores. ๐ Onomiyasu (ใใฎใฟใใ) ๐ท 110 Oharashorinincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto ๐ฐ Daily 09:00 - 17:00
Jingobe-jaya
Do you know Oyakodon? Sometimes, when posting about meals cooked at home, after curry, Donburi (rice bowl dish) is what I often make. The sweet and salty Tsuyu base makes the flavor almost like a cheat code, and since it only requires slicing ingredients and simmering them, there's nothing more convenient than this one-pan dish from the East. - In Japanese restaurants, Donburi is as easily available as curry, but while Gyudon and Katsudon are easily accessible in Korea, Oyakodon is still a menu known only to those in the know. The base is still Tsuyu, but the unique thickness and savory taste of lightly undercooked eggs mixed with chicken are very attractive. - The naming of Donburi changes depending on what's put on top of the rice. Oyakodon's naming is quite unique and somewhat chilling. Gyudon means beef (็) on rice (ไธผ), Katsudon means cutlet (ใซใ) on rice, and Sakedon means salmon (ใตใฑ) on rice. Then what about Oyakodon? As you might have guessed from the chicken and egg, Oyako (่ฆชๅญ) means parent and child. The meeting of chicken and egg, thus, gets named 'Parent Child Rice Bowl,' but despite the chilling interpretation, it seems to be accepted as a synonym among locals. It's like how we donโt explicitly unfold Sino-Korean words. Maybe a tragic name, but if it's delicious, thatโs all that matters. - Letโs digress; this store is the old establishment located in the previously introduced Ohara area. Run by an elderly couple, it's not too salty and is located on the path to the bus stop back to the city, seeming to attract many people. A table set outside in autumn truly portrays a picturesque scene, so it would be good for those planning a trip to Kyoto soon to keep this in mind. โฑ ๐ Jingobe-jaya (Jingobe-jaya, ็ไบๅ
ต่ก่ถๅฑ) ๐ท 17, Oharashorinincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto ๐ฐ Daily 10:00 - 17:00