Arashiyama: A Serendipitous Journey

Ending up home-based in Western Kyoto, particularly in a quiet, mostly residential neighborhood, feels like the perfect stroke of serendipity. For the entire month I’m here, aside from a few overnight excursions, I could walk an hour in any direction each day and still not scratch the surface of the spectacular things to see and do. Today, my journey led me to Arashiyama.

Arashiyama is a small district nestled alongside the Katsura River and bordered by the grand slopes of Mount Arashiyama on the western edge of Kyoto. It took me a little over an hour to walk there. The first 40 minutes were spent winding through narrow residential alleyways, where I had to dodge vehicles or scooters rushing by—clearly with more important places to be than I was. But soon enough, the cityscape started to give way to something bigger.

Then, just like that, everything opened up. The sky stretched wider, the Katsura River widened beneath me, and the sprawling countryside unfolded in front of my eyes. I had intended to visit the famous bamboo grove, but my sense seemed to take me in a different direction, toward the slopes of the mountain instead. It was there that I stumbled upon my first real shrine, next to Hōrin-ji Temple—a remarkable 8th-century Buddhist temple built in 713 A.D. I was taken aback by the sheer quietude of the place; for the most part, I had the entire temple grounds to myself. Only two other people wandered through during my visit, which made the experience feel even more intimate and special.

After soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the temple, I decided to continue my journey up the mountain. The trail grew steeper with each switchback, and for a moment, I doubted whether I would make it to the summit. But I pressed on, determined. At last, I reached the top, where the views of Arashiyama and the surrounding landscape were nothing short of breathtaking.

This part of the mountain range is also home to the Japanese macaques. Monkeys!

Enjoy a few pictures of the day’s adventures…