Ine is located in Kyoto’s famous Saga-Arashiyama.
Enjoy a memorable picnic in this land of rich wilderness and deep history.
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The bridge known as a symbol of Arashiyama was named by Kameyama Joko since it looked like a moon walking on the bridge. Not only we can enjoy landscape of cherry blossom during spring and maple leaves during autumn, but various events are held such as cormorant fishing in early summer and a music festival during autumn, which has fascinated people for many years.
Tenryuji is the highest ranked temple among Kyoto’s so-called Five mountains according to Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, 3rd shogun of Muromachi shogunate, and registered as a world heritage. It is known as the main temple of Tenryuji brancho of Rinzai Buddhism which values magnificent scale and high nobility, and has plenty of sights to see such as historical buildings and Japanese garden.
The bamboo forest covers approximately 100 meters radius between Tenryuji and near Okochi Sanso.
The silence created by bamboo trees heading towards the sky and the fence of brushwood wrapped in nostalgic mood brings you an effective healing experience while you are on a picnic.
This nostalgically designed trolley train runs parallel to Hozu valley starting from Sagano.
You’ll be refreshed once you run through the valley between high mountains while watching Hozu river quietly running. It is also fun to listen to the conductor making comments once in a while.
A boat ride of approximately 16 kilo meters between Kameyama and Arahsiyama.
In this two hours of boat ride, you can enjoy not only the veteran skipper’s exquisite pole handling skill while going through dynamically between rocks, but a different kind of view of the valley which you cannot see from the ground.
Arashiyama consists of 3 districts. In Kameyama district which covers between places, such as Ogura mountain and Okochi Sanso in the mountain, and the banks of Hozu river, you can enjoy rich wilderness such as cherry blossoms and red leaves, as well as fresh verdure and rhododendron flowers.
Nonomiya is the place where Saigu purified herself before going to Ise shrine.
This holy place is surrounded by Sagano’s bamboo trees, and allows you to feel the atmosphere of Heian era, appreciate the moss garden and make a wish
The rickshaw, a must ride for sightseers in Arashiyama, is renowned for its humorous puller who knows every inch of Kyoto.
It’ll surely be a great memory when you see the elegant view from slightly above the ground while feeling fresh wind and comfortable vibration.
There are a variety of event in Arashiyama throughout the year.
In this section, we introduce main events for each season.
Setsubun festival is held in Tenryuji and Nonomiya shrine.
In Tenryuji, you receive a holy bamboo leaf in front of the main gate,
and trip around seven gods of fortune to get talismans from Toto Shichirikiji.
They also hold the following; bean throwing, tea party, local student’ calligraphy and art exhibition.
They plant trees in mountain wishing Arashiyama would be more famous.
Sponsored by Kyoto Arrashiyama Hosho-kai and Kyoto-Osaka forest management office.
A boat ride of approximately 16 kilo meters between Kameyama and Arahsiyama.
By going through the narrow space of river, you will hear the sound of a puddle echoing deep beneath
the river while water splashing against rocks.
It is a traditional coming of age ceremony where boys and girls in their 13th year would receive wisdom
from Akasagarbha in Horyuji located right next to Togetsu bridge.
Torch lighting ceremony of Seiryoji is one of the 3 biggest fire festivals in Kyoto.
They forecast how much rice plant they can harvest that year while recreating the scene of cremating Buddha
by lighting 3 huge torches.
It is said that Nison-In located at the foot of Ogura mountain is the first place to make bean jam
from adzuki beans from Ogura.
While cerebrating that, Ogura Zenzai is offered to visitors starting 11:00 am for free of charge.
Approximately 200 cherry trees of various kinds, including yoshino, wild, double, and weeping,
blossom through the end of March to the middle of April every year.
You can see the entire city of Kyoto from hill located in west of the ground.
The trolley runs approximately 7.3 kilo meters between Saga station and Kameoka station in 25 minutes,
and operates through March 1st to December 30th, thus providing beauty for every season,
such as cherry in spring, greenery in summer and red leaves in autumn.
It is a festival for Kumazaki shrine dedicated to the god of entertainment.
In order to recreate royal pass time in Heian era, they put ships to dedicate gagaku, bugaku and modern style.
It is a festival of both Atago and Nonomiya shrine. 5 pikes offered from towns of Saga would
be dedicated in various places according to the portable shrine’s progress.
A tasting party for charcoal boiled sweetfish to cerebrate the opening of fishing in Hozu river,
where you can enjoy the smell and taste of young sweetfish while seeing the greenery of Arashiyama Nakanoshima park.
Cormorant fishing is Arashiyama’s summer tradition.
During July in Hozu river, you can enjoy watching traditional fishing which cormorants catching sweetfishes in fires.
A festival in Atago shrine, officially known as Thousand day overnight festival. It is believed that you’d be
rewarded with protection from fire if you visit the shrine after sunset of July 31st and before sunrise
of August 1st. If the child under 3 visits, s/he would be protected through their entire life.
You can see a magical view of lantern sending out ancestor’s spirit into heaven at Togetsu bridge.
You can also see Daimonji and Torii shape, because Sending fire of Kyoto Five Mountains is also held on the same night.
They light candles to more than 8000 stone figures and monuments inside
Adashi-no-Nenbutsuji in order to repose the neglected souls in Adasgu plain.
To cerebrate the historical event of an unmarried princess going to Ise shrine as a Saigu,
100 to 150 people dress in costumes of Heian era, such as Saigu, a lady of court, public servants, and walk the street of
Arashiyama from Nonomiya shrine.
An event cerebrating red leaves of Ogura mountain known for a poem in Hyakunin Isshu,
as well as introducing historical spots and culture in Rakusei area.
You can enjoy a variety of dance and music performed on ships rolling down Hozu river and
Noh farce and Geisha dance on the banks of the river.
A masterpiece consists of approximately 2500 lighting and colourful ikebana
created without ruining the landscape and historical heritage of Saga-Arashiyama,
which urges you walk down the whole 5.2 kilo meters of pathway.
Akasagarbha, which Horyuji dedicates to, is the god of arts and crafts including sewing.
They hold a service by sticking big konjak with old needles from all over the country, a textile worker lady in
an ancient costume comes out to dance after reciting surta, and scatter fortune papers wishing improvement for arts and crafts.