[2025 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Saimyō-ji Temple (Updated Apr)

There are many temples and shrines around Arashiyama in Kyoto. Among them, there are two temples that are close to each other and hidden in the mountains: Saimyoji Temple and Goshinji Temple. I should say there is another Gaoshan Temple that I did not visit because I was too tired! ! ! When visiting during the fall foliage season, it is recommended to check the weather and the color change of the maple leaves in advance to ensure that you can enjoy the most beautiful scenery. When visiting the temple, please keep quiet and respect religious beliefs and cultural customs. With its long history, unique Zen spirit and beautiful scenery of all four seasons, Saimyoji Temple has become a rare tourist destination in Kyoto. To be precise, the Japanese red leaf season 🍁 should be from November 20th to December 10th, when the red leaves are at their peak. Ximing Temple was first built in 832 by Zhiquan, a disciple of the eminent monk Kukai. It was originally a branch of Jingoji Temple and has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Attractions: Beauty of the Four Seasons: Spring cherry blossoms, summer greens, autumn leaves and winter snows constitute the changing beauty of Ximing Temple throughout the four seasons, especially the maple leaves in late autumn, which are as bright red as fire and complement the quaint temple architecture. Strong Zen atmosphere: Every corner in the temple exudes a strong Zen atmosphere, making people feel as if they have traveled back to the Tang and Song dynasties in China. Cultural Treasures: The temple houses many precious Buddhist cultural relics and artworks, such as Buddha statues, murals and scriptures, which attract many art and history lovers to visit. Transportation: Take bus No. 1 from Kyoto Station to Shijo Nishiomiya and transfer to bus No. S. Tickets: None

After leaving Kozanji Temple, walk through Japan's oldest tea garden and along the Kiyotaki River to reach Saihoji Temple, which is dotted with maple leaves. The mountain path is short, with stone lanterns and stone tablets engraved with the names of donors on both sides. After a few steps, you will see a beautiful Japanese bridge. I personally think that this red bridge is the biggest highlight of Saihoji Temple, and the bridge is even redder than the maple leaves. The bridge looks particularly beautiful against the backdrop of the withered branches and fallen leaves, and I seem to understand the beauty of Japanese culture in an instant. Saihoji Temple is located by the mountains and rivers, and the babbling stream of the Qinglong River makes the temple full of cherry blossoms in spring, green in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snow in winter, bringing a variety of styles to the temple. The ancient mottled gate and copper bell pavilion, as well as the moss-covered stone pagodas and stone lanterns, all tell visitors that this is an ancient temple with a long history. Saihoji Temple was built in 832 AD by Master Chiquan, a disciple of Master Kukai, and is also known as the Heijoshinoin. The entire temple is not large, and it takes about 20 minutes to walk through, but because it is relatively unpopular, you can enjoy it slowly. Every early November, the maple leaves here turn golden yellow first, and the yellow maple leaves are all over the Kiyotaki River, as if the sky accidentally knocked over the yellow paint, which is saturated and dazzling. Travel tips: Since it is located between Kozanji Temple and Jingoji Temple, many people use Saihoji Temple as a resting place, leisurely drinking tea and enjoying the precious warm sunshine of autumn. There is a small, quaint tea house in the temple where travelers can sit down and rest, enjoy a Japanese tea experience, and enjoy the maple leaves. Leaving Saihoji Temple, walk along the road next to the Kiyotaki River to Jingoji Temple. The air is cold but pure, and when you look back at the maple tree at the entrance, the sparse leaves are fiery red, and the green moss on the stone lanterns is bright green in the sunlight. The quiet and delicate Saihoji Temple can indeed bring a touch of leisure to the busy maple viewing itinerary, without being affected by the surrounding maple viewing crowds, and appearing in a hurry.

If you're planning to visit Kansai, Japan for autumn foliage, I highly recommend Kyoto's Takao. There are three temples here: Saimyoji, Jingoji, and Kozanji, all famous for their autumn scenery but not yet crowded with tourists. The three temples are close to each other, but it takes a whole day to explore them thoroughly. 🚌 Take the bus and get off at Takao Station (Google directly navigates to Takao Station), walk a few hundred meters along the road to reach the village, and you can enjoy the autumn scenery and the village along the way. It is said that you can hike to Arashiyama from here, but the route is unknown. 🌉 The suspension bridge is located at the entrance of an old-style hot spring inn called 'Momijiya Bekkan Kawa no Iori'. It's very picturesque 🍁 〒616-8289 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Ukyo Ward, Umegahata Nishinobatacho 💡 The bus from Kyoto Station takes about 1 hour. Since it's in the mountains, the sun sets early, around 4 PM. There are a few mountain restaurants here, so you won't have any problem filling your stomach.

I took a bus from Kyoto Station to Takao Mountain, and it was raining heavily. I walked around the mountains of Seimei, Kobe, and Kozanji. The maple leaves were a little red, and I couldn't imagine how beautiful it would be when the maple leaves were in full bloom 🌳🍁 I was in the mountains on a rainy day, The mountains and fields are free. The sound of rain falling, The smell of grass in the air, Immersed in an increasingly ethereal atmosphere. 📍 Kyoto · Takao Sanzan If you want to get away from the crowds, Takao in the suburbs of northwest Kyoto is quieter than Arashiyama. A hiking trail connects the three temples of Takao, with three ancient temples: Kozanji, Seimei, and Jingoji. 🚶 Route Seimei - Jingoji - Kozanji 🚌 Transportation ▫️ From "Kyoto Station": Take the JR Bus Takao/Keihoku Line (Takao/Toganoo direction), 55 minutes by car, Get off at "Makinono" station and walk 10 minutes to Seimei. ▫️ Or from "Shijo Karasuma": Take the city bus No. 8, and you can go directly to the station.

The autumn colors of Kyoto always begin quietly in the mountainous areas in the far suburbs. How to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery? A magical one-day tour route that connects three temples in Kaohsiung, where you can visit ancient temples, enjoy red leaves, and get close to nature. Please check it out! 👇 🍁｜Jingoji Temple｜ The red maple leaves in Kyoto are mostly in temples, and the road leading to Jingoji Temple is full of graceful autumn colors. Mountains, forests, streams, rivers, grass, leaves...are all "painted" with a different kind of beauty. The beautiful autumn colors are embodied at this moment! Climbing up the steps, you will see towering ancient trees and a towering ancient temple hidden among the orange, yellow, tangerine and green colors standing before your eyes. The feeling of sudden enlightenment can only be felt but not expressed in words. Easter eggs: Jinyun River in the valley, the teahouse "Yanshi Pavilion" halfway up the mountain (there is a suspension bridge in the autumn scenery nearby) 🎫Ticket price: 600 yen 🍁｜Ximing Temple｜ It is about a 10-minute walk from Jingoji Temple, crossing the vermilion Shigetsu Bridge, to reach Saimyoji Temple. Different from the solemnity and majesty of Jingo-ji Temple, the courtyard landscaping of Saimyo-ji Temple is exquisite and restrained, with changing scenery as you move around, expressing the graceful and timeless beauty of "still holding the pipa, half covering her face". Easter eggs: the stunning maple scenery at Zhiyue Bridge and the moss-covered stone lanterns 🎫Ticket price: 500 yen 🍁｜Koyama Temple｜ It is most appropriate to describe the artistic conception of Gaoshan Temple with the poem by Wang Wei: "No one is seen in the empty mountain, but the sound of people's voices can be heard. The reflected light enters the deep forest and shines on the moss again." The temple is full of towering ancient trees and winding paths. Ishisui-in, built in the Kamakura period, is the oldest tea garden in Japan and a world cultural heritage. Easter egg: The national treasure of Japan, "Birds, Animals and People Playing Paintings" in the temple 🎫Tickets: 500 yen (during the autumn leaves period) Ishisuin 1000 yen