No matter how many times you visit, you can always discover new charms in Kyoto.
Premium Japan will be introducing fascinating experiences and places in Kyoto that many people may not yet know about, organized by theme.
This time, we focused on spots where you can enjoy autumn leaves at your own pace, away from the crowds in the city center. We will suggest a route that you can travel around using public transportation from Kyoto Station, the gateway to Kyoto.
Kyoto Station
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↓ Kintetsu Kyoto Line or Subway Karasuma Line (about 25 minutes)
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Spot 1 Jonangu Shrine (Fushimi)
The first place you should visit is Jonan-gu Shrine, which was founded about 1200 years ago to the south of the capital when the capital was moved to Heian-kyo, in hopes of protecting the capital and ensuring peace and prosperity for the country.
The gardens of Jonangu Shrine are also known as the "Tale of Genji Flower Garden."80You can enjoy the changing scenery of the seasons along with the many species of flowers and plants.
In the Rakusuien garden, which covers an area of approximately 1 square meters and surrounds the elegant shrine building, which was built in the architectural style of the late Heian period, approximately 11 trees, including Japanese maples, are in full bloom from mid-November to early December.
The "Heian Garden" has a pond that spreads out from the Kaguraden hall, which is built in the Shinden-zukuri style to resemble the mansions of Heian period aristocrats.
The garden is made up of five areas, and the Heian Garden is a particularly beautiful area, with gently curving streams and a carpet of lush moss.
The contrast between the bright red leaves and the moss, and the autumn scenery reflected on the surface of the pond, are captivating.
◆Jonangu Shrine
[Address] 7 Nakajima Toba Rikyucho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City
[TEL] 075-623-0846
[Opening hours] Shrine garden: 9:00~16:30 (last admission: 16:00)
[Admission fee] Shrine garden: 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary school students (varies depending on the season)
[Access] About 15 minutes walk from Takeda Station on the subway or Kintetsu line
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↓ Kyoto City Bus (about 25 minutes)
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SPOTS2 Fushimi Jikkokubune (Fushimi)■
Next, we head to a spot where you can enjoy the scenery of Fushimi, the town of sake breweries.
The Fushimi Jikkokubune sightseeing boat slowly sails along the river where sake breweries stand out against the willow trees lining the river.
Enjoy a leisurely moment gazing at the waterside scenery colored by cherry blossoms and autumn maple leaves.
Fushimi was the castle town of Fushimi Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and during the Edo period it developed as a key water transportation hub connecting Kyoto and Osaka.
Wholesalers, inns, and sake breweries lined the river that runs through the town, and 10-koku boats carrying rice, firewood, charcoal, sake, and other necessities, as well as 30-koku passenger ships, passed back and forth.
On the Horikawa River, which was the outer moat of Fushimi Castle, and the Uji River tributary that connects to it, you can take a leisurely ride on the "Jikkoku-bune" sightseeing boat, which has been revived in modern times, and enjoy the townscape that evokes the atmosphere of the past on a round trip of about 100 meters.50You can enjoy a 1-minute boat trip.
*The final day in 2024 will be December 12th.
◆Fushimi Jikkokubune
[Address] 247 Minamihama-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (Jikkokubune Pier)
[TEL] 075-623-1030
[Operation period] Saturday, March 2024, 3 to Sunday, December 16, 12
【営業時間】 10:00~11:20 13:oo～16:20（11月25日～12月8日は15:40が最終便）
[Days off] Mondays (except for public holidays, but operates on Mondays in April, May, October and November)
[Access] 5 minutes walk from Chushojima Station on the Keihan Main Line
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↓ Keihan Uji Line (about 30 minutes)
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SPOTS3 Manpukuji Temple (Uji)
From Fushimi, take the Keihan train to Manpukuji Temple, a famous temple known only to those in the know.
This is the head temple of the Obaku sect, one of the three major Zen sects in Japan.
Founded by the Chinese monk Ingen Zenji, this is the head temple of the Obaku sect of Buddhism, and the temple grounds are all Chinese in style, from the layout of the temple buildings, with all the buildings connected by corridors, to the style of the Buddha statues. The architectural techniques and designs, such as swastika balustrades, circular windows, and arched ceilings, which are never seen in Japanese temples, create an exotic atmosphere.
Autumn leaves can be seen all over the temple grounds. The best time to see them is usually11Late month ~12Early month.
After strolling through the temple grounds decorated in autumn colors, you'll want to try some Chinese-style vegetarian cuisine called "fucha ryori," brought to you by Zen Master Ingen.
All fucha dishes, including the "Special Fucha Gozen"3Reservations must be made a day in advance.
The restaurant serves a variety of elaborate dishes, including "shunkan," a large platter of boiled seasonal vegetables and dried foods, "yuji," a tempura-style dish, and "modoki," dishes made with plant-based ingredients that resemble grilled eel and kamaboko (fish cake).
◆Manpukuji Temple
[Address] 34, Gokasho Sanbanwari, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture
[TEL] 0774-32-3900
[Business hours] 9:00~17:00 (last admission 16:30)
[Price] Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students
Fucha cuisine (reservation required) from 3,300 yen (tax included)
[Access] 5 minutes walk from Obaku Station on the JR Nara Line or Keihan Uji Line
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↓ Keihan Uji Line or JR Nara Line (about 20-25 minutes)
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Spot 4 Koshoji Temple (Uji)
You should also head to the center of the Uji area and visit famous autumn foliage spots.
A tunnel of beautifully colored maple leaves covers the approach to the shrine.
Koshoji Temple, the oldest training hall in Japan founded by Zen Master Dogen, is a spot known for the beauty of its approach to the temple, Kotozaka, lined with old maple trees.
Crimson-hued maple trees stretch out their branches from both sides of the gentle 200m slope leading to the mountain gate, covering the sky above.
The view of Kotozaka from the mountain gate is also beautiful.
Other highlights include the Tenarai Kannon statue, the blood-covered ceiling of the lecture hall, and the nightingale-bari corridor, which are all historic sites related to the Tale of Genji's "Uji Chapter."
◆Koshoji Temple
[Address] Ujiyamada, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture27 - 1
【TEL 】 0774-21-2040
【business hours】 10:00~16:00 *Entry restrictions may apply depending on events
[Fee] 500Yen
[Access] JRGet off at Uji Station on the Nara Line and walk for about 30 minutes.Minute About 20 minutes walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line
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↓ Walk (about 15Minutes)
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SPOTS5 Matcha Roastery (Uji)
After enjoying the spectacular autumn scenery, stop by Matcha Roastery, a cafe where you can enjoy a new style of matcha in a Japanese-modern space with a townhouse motif.
There is also a wide selection of sweets on the menu that make use of the flavor and roasted texture of Uji matcha.
Here you can enjoy:400 This unique "roasted matcha" is made by slowly roasting tencha, the raw material for matcha, which has been produced in Uji for years, and grinding it into powder using a traditional stone mill.
Roast depth: light, medium, dark3Variety. Enjoy Uji matcha with a coffee-like flavor..
By roasting the tea leaves, the original flavor, aroma, and mellow taste is brought out, and the bitterness is reduced, allowing us to offer original drinks and sweets made with "roasted matcha."
◆Matcha Roastery
[Address] Uji Myoraku, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture146
【TEL 】 0774-34-1125
【business hours】 10:00am ~ 17:30am(LO17:00）
【No regular holiday
[Price] Roasted matcha drink500Yen (tax included), Roasted Matcha Basque Cheesecake500 yen (tax-included)
[Access] JRGet off at Uji Station on the Nara Line and walk for about710 minutes walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line10Minute
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↓ JRNara Line (approx.30Minutes)
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Kyoto Station
Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City have launched the "All Kyoto" project to promote tourism around each area by unifying the diverse charms of "Another Kyoto (four areas: Seaside Kyoto, Forest Kyoto, Tea Kyoto, and Bamboo Village/Otokuni)" and "The Best of Kyoto (six areas: Fushimi, Ohara, Takao, Yamashina, Saikyo, and Keihoku)."
Premium JapanHere we will introduce a plan that allows you to experience "All of Kyoto" and discover new charms of Kyoto.
This guide includes a special route that will allow you to enjoy Kyoto's beautiful autumn leaves in a tranquil setting while avoiding the crowds.
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