Kyoto: Arashiyama Backstreet & Hidden Temple Guided Tour

The first stop on the tour is Arashiyama and the famous Wataratsuki Bridge, one of Kyoto's most scenic spots. The view of Arashiyama with the bridge has been written in various waka (Japanese poems) and is well known among Japanese people.

The bamboo groves of Arashiyama are one of the first places you should visit when you come to Japan. The sound of the wind in the silence, the rustling of bamboo leaves. Please feel the mysterious and ethereal beauty of the scenery with all your senses.

From this temple, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, onward is an area of Arashiyama that does not attract that many tourists. The temple grounds, still unknown to many tourists, are lined with numerous moss-covered stone Buddha statues, creating an “apologetic” atmosphere.

Even deep inside Arashiyama, the area around this temple was a place of burial called “Adashino. Numerous stone pagodas are lined up in the center of the temple, and these have mourned for many people over the long history of the temple. The sight of so many stone pagodas lined up in an orderly fashion is beautiful in its own quiet way, and evokes the beauty of the Japanese spirit.

Further steps lead up a gentle slope toward the mountain. This area is the approach to a temple located deep in the mountains, and has been crowded with visitors since ancient times. The area is known for its rows of straw-roofed Japanese houses, and special care has been taken to preserve this scenery.

The tour concludes with a visit to Qingliangsi Temple. Arashiyama has long been a busy vacation spot for Kyoto residents, and numerous temples have been built in the area. Among the many historic temples lining the street, Seiryo-ji Temple is one of the best temples to see.