Join Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo and Tenryu-ji Private Tour

Overview

Take a moment to walk through the noted Tenryuji Temple, listen to the rustle of the bamboo leaves and cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, over the Oi River.

Highlights

Key Information

Description

Arashiyama is a scenic spot in Kyoto where the cultural flavors and colors of the ancient royal court have been preserved. Take a moment to walk through the noted Tenryuji Temple, listen to the rustle of the bamboo leaves and cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, over the Oi River. Wander around the sites and in the shoes of the ancient people. Our government-licensed tour guides will show you around with warm hospitality and total dedication. Since this is a private tour, your guide will take care of you from the beginning till the end. The starting time of the tour is flexible, but it's recommended to start either between 9:00-10:00 in the morning or around 13:00 in the afternoon. Okochi Mountain Villa ↓ Nonomiya Shrine ↓ Tenryuji Temple ↓ Togetsukyo Bridge ↓ End of tour (Tour guide will assist you how to get to the subway station or the nearby bus stop for your next visiting spot or your hotel) == Okochi Mountain Villa == Okochi Mountain Villa is the villa and garden of samurai film star Denjiro Okochi (1898-1962). The grounds of the villa, located on the slopes of Mt. Ogura, are a traditional Japanese strolling garden that includes a garden, tea houses and shrines. The garden is vast and has a sense of elegance and austere simplicity. Okochi was a well-known pious Buddhist who built the Jibutsudo, a Zen meditation hall. It was said that Okochi wanted to create the perfect garden with everlasting beauty to contrast with beauty captured on film that deteriorates over time. Do you think he felt the end result was perfect? When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target. ～George Fisher == Nonomiya Shrine == Nonomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine where, in ancient times, unmarried imperial princesses stayed for a year or more to purify themselves afterwhich they were sent to Ise Shrine in Mie prefecture to serve as a representative of the Imperial family. The shrine famously appears in the tenth chapter of the Tale of Genji, a classic work of Japanese literature from the eleventh century and the world's first novel. The black torii (gate) at the entrance of the shrine is an example of the earliest style of torii - unlike later versions, the bark is exposed. It has become a popular destination for young singles who come to pray for marriage. == Tenryuji Temple == Tenryuji Temple, the head quarters of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, is the top-ranked among Kyoto's Five ZenTemples. The shogun Ashikaga Takauji built the temple in 1339 to comfort the spirit of the late Emperor Godaigo who passed away on Mt. Yoshino in Nara prefecture. This temple's garden, designed by the priest Muso Soseki, became the model for all later gardens that incorporate nature as a backdrop for their designs. It features a circular promenade around Sogen Pond, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery of the garden from a variety of vantage points. == Togetsukyo Bridge == The name "Togetsukyo",meaning "Moon Crossing Over the Bridge", comes from a description of the bridge written by Emperor Kameyama in the 14th century. He wrote that , as the moon traverses the sky , it appears as if the moon is crossing over the bridge. Visitors are enchanted by the picture perfect scenery of the cherry blossoms in spring or the colorful changing leaves in autumn. Togetsukyo Bridge crosses the Oi River, well-known for its beautiful reflection of nearby Arashiyama.. There are popular boat rides around the bridge., and at night you can also witness traditional cormorant fishing, in which retrieves fish from the throats of cormorants.