Arashiyama Jojikkoji Temple is one of the top ten places to view maple leaves in Kyoto, and it is also a must-visit attraction for Anya. When I visited for the first time, it was dark and close to evening, and the maple leaves were already withered. I secretly decided to come back next year. The next year, we flexibly adjusted our itinerary according to the weather and took advantage of the sunny weather to visit Changjiguang Temple again. Under the sunshine, the light and shadow of the maple leaves are scattered, and the beautiful scenery is amazing. This article will share with you my experience of my second visit, taking you into this spectacular scene of red leaves and experiencing the charming scenery of Kyoto in autumn.
How to get to Jojikkoji Temple in Kyoto?
From Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Jōjiko-ji Temple, most travelers will choose to take the JR Sagano Line, get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station, and walk about 15 minutes to reach the temple. Another option is to take Arashiden to Arashiyama Station, which takes about the same amount of time to walk. If you want to enjoy the beautiful valleys and streams in the Arashiyama area, you can take the Arashiyama train or experience the Hozu River cruise to add more fun to your trip. This time we chose to take bus No. 28 from Kyoto Station, get off at Sagano Elementary School in front of the station, and then walk to the temple. This is also a convenient route choice.
Extended reading:
▲ The blue check-in point marked on the map is where the three different modes of transportation get off.
▲Attention! The Kyoto bus one-day pass (700 yen) has been discontinued and has been changed to "subway and bus one-day pass (1,000 yen)".
▲ The scenery along Arashiyama is superb!
A brief introduction to Jojikkoji Temple in Kyoto
Jojikoji Temple is located in the Arashiyama area of Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. The mountain name is Ogurayama (おぐらさん). It is said that this site was the ruins of Shiguutei, the residence of Fujiwara Sadaie, a famous singer in the Kamakura period. Fujiwara Sadaie is famous for his compilation of the Japanese song collection "Hundred People One Piece", which contains 100 outstanding singers and their representative works that he carefully selected. It is said that he was commissioned to design a Japanese-style door pattern for the villa "Okura Sanso" in Sagano, and he used this location as inspiration to compose "Okura One Hundred Poems". Therefore, Kokurayama has important historical and literary significance in Japanese culture.
When you visit Jojikoji Temple, you will find that the beautiful scenery here is very suitable as a source of inspiration for writing Japanese songs. The temple is surrounded by magnificent natural scenery. You can see the beautiful scenery of mountains and forests in the distance. Especially in autumn, the red maple scenery here is particularly charming. It is no wonder that there are many works praising the autumn leaves in "Ogura Hundred Artists". Today, when travelers come to Jojikkoji Temple, they can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of red leaves, but also take Kyoto's specialty "Okura Sanso Senbei" home as a souvenir to share this wonderful travel memory with relatives and friends.
▲ Can't help but admire.
The beauty of the red leaves at Jōjokukoji Temple in Kyoto is dizzying
The maple forest here is extremely dense and lush. When you walk into the courtyard, you will be mesmerized by the golden and orange maple leaves on both sides. Since there are many tourists on the trail, especially when the weather is good, it is a famous maple viewing spot. If you want to take pictures of the beautiful scenery without people, just waiting is not enough. If you want to avoid the crowds, it is recommended to set off at 6 a.m. and arrive before the temple opens to get the best spot. Climbing up the stairs, you can enjoy the beautiful maple leaves from different angles. The green moss and maple leaves on the hillsides on both sides reflect each other, and the color levels are quite rich and stunning.
There are many ancient buildings and pagodas in the temple. In the afternoon, the setting sun shines through the red leaves, adding to the ancient atmosphere. My favorite attraction is the clock tower, which has seating for visitors to take a break and offers great photo angles. The bell tower is set off by the maple leaves in the front and rear backgrounds, making it an ideal composition for photography enthusiasts. For photography enthusiasts, using a medium telephoto lens is more suitable than a wide-angle lens to avoid shooting crowds of people. Finally, don’t forget to bring a maple maple from Jojikkoji Temple. This autumn-limited maple book brings a perfect ending to this maple viewing trip and fulfills my wish to visit again.
▲ Come here to take pictures with your camera!
▲ The advantage of viewing maple leaves over cherry blossom viewing is that it takes a long time, is beautiful in different colors, and is still beautiful after falling leaves.
▲ Don't rush to a beautiful scenic spot, take a good look at the scenery that is different from that of Taiwan.
▲ It's really hard to avoid the crowds. (Far eye)
▲ This one has always felt a kind of contrasting fun. (You don’t have to follow the crowd, you may gain more in the opposite direction)
▲ The famous red leaf guard at Changjiko Temple.
▲If the itinerary has been planned, the rest is to hand it over to the weather forecast. If the weather is good, sprint to the must-see attractions.
Jojiko Temple, Kyoto
- Address: 3, Kokuracho, Kokurayama, Saga, Ukyo District, Kyoto City
- Phone: 075-861-0435
- Opening hours: 9:00~17:00
- Official website: http://www.jojakko-ji.or.jp/
