We've put together a list of various places in Kyoto where you can feel the seasons.
Hosen-in
Traveling about 50 minutes north from Kyoto, you encounter the town of Ohara. Among the temples in Ohara, 'Hosen-in' may not be as grandiose and splendid as Sanzen-in, but it's a perfect place for enjoying a quiet cup of tea and some serene moments. The cleverly laid-out pillars allow for a view that resembles a scene encased in a frame, making the Kakuheuchi garden a photo spot. The entry fee of 700 yen, which includes matcha and wagashi (mochi), is well worth the beautiful scenery. If you're curious about new landscapes in Kyoto, this is definitely a place I recommend visiting.
40 Ōharashōrininchō
Descending from the Ohara Station in the north of Kyoto, one finds the path leading up to Sanzen-in. The road, mingled with beautifully embroidered autumn leaves and lush green forests, creates a stunning landscape that naturally stops you in your tracks. It is highly recommended to fill your eyes and enjoy the ascent.
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.
╱
📍 Jikkoin
🏷 187 Oharashorinincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
🕰 Daily 09:00 - 16:00
💴 Admission fee 500 yen (800 yen with snack set)
Sanzen-in Temple
One of the temples in Ohara, Kyoto, is 'Sanzen-in'. The premises are quite spacious, and if you take a detailed look around, it's about an hour's course to walk through. Inside, there are two gardens located: Shuheki-en, with its pond and rocks, and Yusei-en, simply decorated with cedar and maple trees. It is recommended to visit in the early morning when it's less crowded or around dusk.
Somekobo Yumeyusai Inc.
Many people have been asking for the location, so I'm quickly posting this reflection. The Kyoto autumn foliage spot is too beautiful 😊 I went on a rainy day, but you can see an even prettier sight on a clear day 😊
📍 Arashiyama Yusai Tei
✔️ Entry Fee 2,000 yen
✔️ You can enter quickly by reserving in advance on the website.
✔️ Reservation site https://yusai.kyoto
✔️ 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
✔️ Upon entering, you form a line and proceed through the viewing. So, even with many people, you don't have to jostle for a spot to take pictures like the one shown, but the downside is that it can be hard to take pictures leisurely during the autumn foliage season if the line is long.
✔️ The third picture is from the last spot where you can relax comfortably if you find a spot.
✔️ Despite the crowd in Arashiyama, the museum was relatively free of congestion.
📮 〒616-8386 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Ukyo Ward, Sagakamenoocho 6, Arashiyama Yume Yusai
Murin-an Garden
Kyoto's beautiful garden Mirenan. Adults can view the beautifully landscaped garden with the house for an entrance fee of 600 yen :)
Tetsugaku No Michi
The path of contemplation, the path of philosophy
It is said that a long time ago, a Japanese philosopher often took a walk on this road. It's also a nice place to walk along the small waterfront under the wooded path. The promenade is well established, and there are cute little cafes and shops around, so if you walk around once, time passes quickly.
As the name suggests, you want to walk slowly and contemplate, but it is easy to walk because the cherry blossoms are in full bloom during the most famous spring season. If you visit in other seasons, it is better to walk a little more leisurely.
(Instead, if you visit early in the spring to avoid the crowds, you can see a really beautiful cherry blossom road, and after that, you can see a small waterside covered with cherry petals.)
The entire road is about 2km long, so it would be better to enjoy a short walk while visiting the most famous Silver Pavilion in this area rather than walking the whole path.
Nanzen-ji Temple
Located near Keage Station in Kyoto, the 'Nanzenji' Temple is a place where you can experience the beautiful autumn leaves decorating the temple's interior and the landscape harmoniously created by the greenery, even outside of fall, the space contains landscaping beauty, so it is highly recommended to visit when you come to Kyoto.
Suirokaku (Waterway Bridge)
‘Suirokaku’ next to Nanzen-ji, the aqueducts creating a landscape. It’s a place that gets crowded with people taking photos, thanks to its fairly large scale and antique charm. The fact that there’s no admission fee is also a plus. Personally, I recommend visiting in the morning hours when you can capture the quiet yet beautiful scenery without the crowds.
Karatohana Bridge
Situated near Higashiyama Station, this location with a stream leading to Gion Street is impressive with a path lined with weeping willow trees. After visiting Nanzenji, Keage Incline, or Murin-an, it is recommended to drop by as it lies in between these spots and Gion Street.
Kamo River
The autumn of the Kamogawa River in Kyoto, which is now heading towards its end, was nice because it could capture the fall. Not only is the low autumn scenery along the river beautiful, but the sunset and night views are also pretty, so I highly recommend visiting together.
Kiyomizu-dera
The Reason You Must Visit Kiyomizudera in Kyoto
Today, let the photos do the talking.
Many travelers who visit Kiyomizudera say, "It was under construction," but now, Kiyomizudera is at its peak beauty following the completion of the construction.
Facing west, Kiyomizudera offers even more beautiful views at sunset.
📍 Kiyomizudera (清水寺)
🏷 1 Chome-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
🕰 Daily 06:00 - 18:00 (varies by season)
💴 Admission fee 400 yen
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
One of my fondest memories of Kyoto was the morning I hiked through the thousands of torii shrine gates that wind their way up Mount Inari.
In Japan, Inari is the god of rice, sake, prosperity and the patron of business. Each gate has been donated, and inscribed on the back is the name of the donor who hopes to receive good luck & fortune for their charity.
Uzuraya
Located near Gion-Shijo Station, the yakitori place 'Uzuraya' interestingly means quail, but its yakitori is very attractive. A unique feature here is that the first menu item is chicken sashimi, possible only with chickens of good lead. The skin menu, with its crispiness and chewiness alive, and the menus for neck meat, chicken thigh meat, and buttock meat are particularly good. In addition, the grilled boar (inoshishi) menu, which is grilled with three restings, is recommended. It's also recommended to order the vegetable menu prepared with seasonal vegetables along with the yakitori. The beverage menu, ranging from sake to glass wine, is well stocked. The wine menu changes from time to time. The glassware provided is also excellent, so ordering just Kirin draft beer may be a sufficiently satisfying experience. It is recommended to enjoy this place with alcohol. If you're curious about top-notch yakitori in Kyoto, it's highly recommended to visit.
Waguri Senmon Saori
No matter how much the cafe and dessert scene in Korea has improved... it seems different from Japan. It's been a while since I had a dessert that made me unconsciously exclaim, 'Wow, this is crazy...' especially since I'm not particularly fond of Mont Blanc. But this Mont Blanc was something else! It's worth the visit even if it's hard to get in without a reservation. The dessert menu is full of chestnut-based treats. Among them, the main highlight is Mont Blanc. There are two versions: [Saori], made with regular chestnuts, and [Saori 'Sha'], made with premium Tanba chestnuts, with a price difference of 800 yen. Although they look the same, the type of chestnut varies. Of course, I went for the [Saori 'Sha'] made with Tanba chestnuts! Each menu item comes with a drink, and I chose roasted green tea.
The large dessert of Mont Blanc using Tanba chestnuts [Saori] does not specifically require coffee or tea. It was rich and beautiful on its own. It wasn't at all bland, greasy, too sweet, or any negative element. It's filled only with the delicate taste of the ingredients themselves, minimizing the sweetness of sugar. From the chestnut cream on the outside to the fluffy chestnut meringue inside, it's a menu full of joy from start to finish. It provides satisfaction worth the price.
Chestnut and Seasonal Fruit Tart: The menu ordered by my companion was a seasonal fruit dessert with chestnuts. The current dessert features Japanese pears. The chestnut cream was impeccable, and the pears that came with it matched perfectly, providing the right balance of sweetness and sourness. The delicate flavors still seem to linger in my mouth, making a strong impression on my taste buds.
In addition to these two menu items, there are parfait and rice cake options available. Plus, there are takeout options available for those who couldn't make a reservation, so it might be nice to experience the class of Kyoto Mont Blanc in this way too.
Nijo-koya
The quaint little house in Nijo, hidden in a parking lot, serves as a cafe imbued with Kyoto's charm, offering a variety of drip coffee options.
Bar Rocking chair
Have you ever tasted a space? There are many great bars with excellent cocktails. It's not hard to find bars that emanate a romantic and sexy aura with dim and warm lighting. Shall we say Kyoto's bars go a step further? Beyond drinking great drinks in a wonderful space, it feels like you're tasting the space itself. In this place where time flows slowly, I hope you enjoy the history and atmosphere of Kyoto, the ancient capital.
Bar Luckenbooth
Luckenbooth, a bar located across the river from Sanjo Station, is a testament to the quality and variety one expects from a Japanese whiskey bar. With a selection of fine whiskies and liqueurs available at the back bar, and of course, cocktails. It comes highly recommended for those wanting to experience a variety of good whiskies at reasonable prices, or for whiskey lovers.
Kingdom
Kyoto is known for its elegant, dignified, and conservative image. It conjures images of people gathering to enjoy a quiet tea ceremony with finely ground matcha and small sweets, engaging in gentle conversations.
However, contrary to this notion, it wouldn't be wrong to call Kyoto a city of liquor. It entices the desires of drinkers not to be quenched by green tea alone, with excellent Japanese sake and a collection of rare whiskies from around the world filling the backbars.
Just like hiding a dark secret behind a mild exterior, behind the bar tables lies a small garden, and opposite, a full lineup of SMWS whiskies.
The barware used includes vintage Baccarat and Kimura glasses, enhancing the taste of alcohol to its finest. Why not conclude a night in Kyoto with bar hopping?
Masuya Saketen
Located near Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, the sake specialty store 'Masuya Saketen' stocks various kinds of sake and offers servings both in glasses and 180ml (1 tokkuri) sizes. The ability to taste a variety of sakes is a major advantage, but another charm of this place is its high-quality food pairings. A variety of small dishes suitable for casual drinking are available. Personally, I recommend trying the salt-grilled sanma and matcha tiramisu dessert at least once. Highly recommended for those who like sake or want to experience various types.