Jioji Temple is located on a quiet path in Arashiyama, Kyoto. The temple is paved like a carpet of moss, surrounded by bamboo forests and various plants, creating a peaceful place of its own during the changing seasons. In autumn, red leaves fall on the emerald green moss, creating a strong color contrast and making people feel the unique beauty of autumn. Perhaps because the maple viewing season is coming to an end, there are not many tourists here, but it adds a quiet atmosphere, which is exactly what we love.
Overview of the fall foliage spots in Arashiyama
There are many temples in the Arashiyama area in autumn, many of which are famous maple viewing spots. Based on our experience, no matter how strong your feet are, it is difficult to visit all the attractions in one day. The scenic spots marked on our map were actually completed in two days. I believe there are still many places that we have not visited yet. We can only wait until the little hamburger is bigger before we can re-plan a maple viewing trip. If you want to check out the list of famous red foliage spots in Arashiyama, you can click here for more information. (→ Kyoto Maple Viewing Spots)
▲ The star mark on the left is the sights visited.
▲ The entrance of Gioji Temple.
▲ The price of the worship package offered by the monastery.
Brief introduction of Gioji Temple and experience of viewing autumn leaves
Jiouji Temple once appeared in "The Tale of the Heike". It tells the story of the dancing girl Geou who was once favored by Taira Kiyomori. After he fell in love with another girl, he left the capital and became a nun with his mother and sister. Therefore, Gioji Temple is widely known as a tragic nunnery. Originally, it was affiliated with the Purana-in Temple founded by Ryojin, a disciple of Master Horan. However, as the years passed, the Purana-in Temple gradually fell into disuse, leaving only this small nunnery, which was later renamed Jiou-ji Temple. (Information compiled from the official website)
Many novice travelers worry that they will miss the red leaves if they arrive in Kyoto late. Unlike cherry blossoms, they wither quickly after being seen and green leaves sprout. However, the red leaf season is longer. Even when it comes to the end, the red leaves are still visible on the trees and covered on the ground. The red leaf carpet allows you to capture the beautiful picture of red leaves above and below.
When we visited Jiouji Temple this time, it was in the late stage of the red leaves. It was close to evening and the sky was dim. We took pictures with several Japanese uncles and we could still feel the charm of autumn. It is recommended for novice readers to set off early, especially in sunny weather to take photos and enjoy the scenery. In the evening, you can go to the street outside Tenryu-ji Temple to have a meal, and then go to Hogan-in Temple to enjoy the night maples to end your wonderful day.
▲ Most of the scenery in the late red leaves is like this.
▲ If you come a few days earlier, the red leaves on the ground will be more beautiful.
▲ Remember to keep warm when you come to Arashiyama, as the temperature drops sharply at night.
▲ Bamboo forest and red leaves are intertwined.
▲ Walk slowly and enjoy the scenery slowly.
▲Some of the maple viewing temples will provide paid refreshments, and you can also sit down and take a rest to take a look.
Gioji Temple in Kyoto
- Address: 32 Saga Torii Honkosaka-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
- Phone: +81 75-861-3574
- Opening hours: 09: 00-16: 30
- Official website: http://www.giouji.or.jp/
