Arashiyama is more than just a bamboo forest and a small train｜Okochi Sanso Maple Leaf Information.

Arashiyama is like a huge treasure trove, with many temples and gardens in the mountains. After crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge, passing through the bamboo forest, and avoiding the Arashiyama small train, the further you go, the fewer tourists there are. Okochi Sanso is the first garden after the bamboo forest, and the entrance is very inconspicuous. ❤Recommended reason: It is said that Okochi Sanso is the former villa of Denjiro Okochi, a movie actor active in the early Showa period of Japan. In 1931, when Mr. Okochi was 34 years old, he began to build this villa to preserve the film aesthetics that the film technology at that time could not achieve for a long time. In the end, he spent more than 30 years and most of his film remuneration before his death to carefully create this Okochi Sanso. 🌟Highlights: As soon as you enter the door, you will feel a strong contrast between the quiet beauty of the manor and the noisy sound of the bamboo path, which makes you involuntarily breathe a sigh of relief: it is finally quiet. ✅Architecture Entering the villa, you first come to Daijokaku. This is a traditional Japanese house that combines the Shoin-zukuri, Shinden-zukuri, and Sukiya-zukuri styles, and is registered as a national tangible cultural property. In addition to Daijokaku, the villa also has a middle gate, a Buddha hall, and a tea room "Tekisui-an" designated as a national tangible cultural property. ✅Garden The garden in the villa is a borrowed landscape garden, borrowing the scenery of Mount Hiei, known as the "Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism," and the streets of Kyoto. The garden scenery with Japanese characteristics is rated as one star by the Michelin Green Guide. The red leaves in autumn are also particularly beautiful. Different varieties of maple trees are layered in the strolling garden. ✅Observation deck Along the stepping stones, you can finally walk to the observation deck on the hillside. Here you can overlook the scenery of Arashiyama, the clear stream of Hozugawa, and Kyoto City. On a clear day, you can also see Mount Hiei in the distance. ✅Copying sutras At that time, Denjiro created a place for Zen meditation for himself. Now tourists can copy a sutra in the Zen hall and appreciate the beauty of Zen. 🎫Ticket: JPY 1,000 (Matcha tickets are not provided during the maple leaf season) ⏰Opening hours: 09:00–17:00