Arashiyama is a touristy district at the outskirts of Kyoto. I didn't think we would have time to go there in the planning stage, so I didn't pay much attention to its attractions. The brochure we got at Kyoto tourist information office recommended a walking path with many temples along the way. Since we had been to so many temples by now, we only wanted to go in one more in Arashiyama area. We chose Tenryuji Temple. After that we walked through a bamboo forest and the area a bit more before heading to our final destination in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Shrine. Now sitting at home, looking online about Arashiyama, I learned that besides Tenryuji Temple and the bamboo forest, Arashiyama is also famous for Togetsukyo Bridge, Hozu River Boat Tours and Sagano Scenic Train Ride. Wish I had knew that. Or, maybe not. If I had knew it, I would be in a dilemma of choosing between staying longer in one place, and going to another place.
1. On the way from JR Saga Arashiyama Station to Tenryuji Temple.
2. Garden entrance.
3. Sogen Garden.
4. Sogen Garden.
5. Sogen Garden.
6. Within Tenryuji Temple.
7. Main Hall.
8. A house we saw on the walking path.
9. Not sure what that mountain is. Several Japanese women passing by, excitedly taking pictures of it, and trying to tell me something about it, but I couldn't understand a thing.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is the head shrine of Inari, Shinto god of rice. People worship Inari for wealth. Thousands of donated torii gates lining the hiking trails of mount Inari are what draw me here.
10. Torii gates. The words on this side say "donate".
11. Torii gates.
12. Torii gates. Donor's name and date are written on the other side.
13. Torii gates.
14. A young couple posing to have their photos taken at an overlook along the trail.
15.
16. More torii gates ahead. The whole trail is ~4 km (2.5 mi). It takes ~2 hours to finish.
(To be continued)
